Has anyone switched out there headlights on a 2005? If so what brand did you go with and how did it turn out? Was it straight forward plug and play or did you have to make modifications?

 

It will be be pnp as long as you're going from non-HID to non-HID (6 pin connector) if you have the base model.

If you have HID, then you'll need to swap ballasts and bulbs to the new lights (assuming the replacements don't come with them) but the 8 pin connector should be the same.

 

 

what's going on with your original lights??

 

 

Depot is the brand you want if not going OE.

P&P swap going from HID to '06+ HID unless, as noted previously, you buy bare shells only. Depot are usually complete.

 

+1 to Depots...

 

I sourced some cheap 03-05 headlights off of fleabay solely for the purpose of taking out the lenses and putting them on my new headlights. I think they were about $135 and they used halogen bulbs with the 6-pin connector. The lenses fit perfectly in the OEM housings.

It's a little bit more work than just plug n play, but if you feel like splitting them with either a heat gun or baking them open, it would be the cheapest option. Or, you can cut out the bottom insert for the ballast and swap over the wiring from your old lights to the new ones.

Otherwise, I would reiterate everyone else with Depo 06+ headlights - about $400 on fleabay. They do not come with bulbs or ballasts. You'll need to get D2S bulbs (I would recommend nothing higher than 5500K) or you can carefully scrape the small strip off your OEM D2R bulb. Your '05 Matsushita ballast will swap over, but you will need to do some slight wiring and ground your ballast. You'll also need 3157 bulbs for the parking signal.

If I were you, I would try to re-finish the lenses using this thread first, and if it doesn't turn out, then get some new lights.

I'm a headlight nerd.

 

+2 on Depo, got mine on Bezo complete with everything. I have a 2005 with HID and purchased the 2006 headlight. It was plug n play. Just installed yesterday.

 

If they are just faded, you can clean them up easily:
Wetsand with 1000->1500->2000->3000
Buff with a good polishing compound



Any set of headlights for the Z will eventually fade unless you apply UV protection on a regular basis.

Also, I'd give a +1 on Depo 06-08. It's a bit of an upgrade over the 03-05 style, 3inch bi-Xenon true projector vs 1.5" reflector projector.

I could be wrong as I'm finishing up some lighting mods on mine, but 06-08 don't have a true "DRL" that comes on with the car ignition, just a better parking light (still gotta use the stalk to turn them on [that's what she said])