The price of technology

[Moonshot_1]

Got a 2014 Chrysler 300c. Wife's car generally.

She got a gift certificate for her birthday at a restaurant over in Sioux City.
We went there the other day.
Did a few things in the city after and headed back home. It was getting dark. I had to be up at 4 am so I was kinda wanting to get home.

The headlights were really dim. Not working at all. Wife is driving.
The driver's side was completely out and the passenger side one was aimed at something other than the road.

Been in no accidents. Both light assemblies were intact.

We stop and I check it out and there is nothing I can do to resolve the issue so we ride home, this is a bit over 50 miles, in the dimness of the lights we have. We are passed by a car and the wife basically follows it home.

So the next day I want to replace the bulb that is out on the driver's side.

It is relatively easy access after I remove the air box. Remove the back cover to expose the bulb. The socket that the bulb is in is broken. The interior lens which the bulb is in inside the headlight housing is moving all around and I can't turn the bulb to release it from the socket on the back of the lens.

The lens isn't supposed to move.

So I give up and put it back together before I start doing damage.

So to the dealer it goes.

Turns out both headlight housings, driver and passenger sides, are broken on the inside.

Now apparently these are not just headlights. They are space age, leading edge technology, automatic everything, see the face of God headlights.

$1300 for the passenger side and $1500 for the driver's side.

That is for the OEM lights.

$2800 for freaking headlights

Dealer will only do OEM lights.

Talking with an independent shop. Guy is looking for alternative after market options.  He did tell me that he did find some that are for the car but needed to be verified before he could commit to anything. Have yet to hear back from him.

If there wasn't a Twilight Zone episode like this, there should have been.

I remember when you could go to K-mart, when there was a K-mart, get a headlight for $25 and install yourself in 15 mins.

What a crock.

Might have to zip tie some high intensity flashlights to the hood. Hook them up to a switch inside the car.

Gonna need a relay....

 

[f6john]

Time to hit the salvage yards!

[Robert]

If the headlights went out in some of the newer more expensive cars or the headlight system went out it could be in the upwards of 7 to 8k to fix. Headlights roughly, 1700 ea, the ballast, 560 ea, the bulbs, 110, the front sam, 560, the headlight switch 380. Install, Programing and aiming another 1k. 

Look for some aftermarket lights yourself you may be much better off. But make sure they are returnable if they are wrong, Or like was said the salvage yards.

[Grandpot]

I'm glad I drive a 2006 Mustang,  a 1998 Pickup, and a 1999 Valk. 

The wife asked when I was going to get rid of that old truck.  I told her I don't get rid of stuff just because it's old.  I still have you, don't I?

[da prez]

Check with Rock auto or Parts geek.

       da prez

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

Rock Auto shows them (Mopar parts) for under 1K each. I know it isn't a huge decrease in price, but between the two, you'd save upwards of 5-6 hundred on parts.

[old2soon]

       When I first got my 06 Pontiac Grand Prix the headlights were rattling around in the mounts. The Plastic mounting tabs/hold downs were mostly broken. G M dlr a bit N of $200.00 per side. Oreilly Auto parts a bit S of $200.00 per side. Rock Auto a bit S of $200.00 for the Set. And the headlight bulbs themselves Are replaceable with a limited skill set. I'd check with a salvage yard or git back to the independent yer waitin on. I picked up the Entire Vehicle for $4500.00. Kinda puts a light on COST of head light repair/replace!  RIDE SAFE.

[Skinhead]

Projector lights are expensive.

[3fan4life]

I'm glad I drive a 2006 Mustang,  a 1998 Pickup, and a 1999 Valk. 

The wife asked when I was going to get rid of that old truck.  I told her I don't get rid of stuff just because it's old.  I still have you, don't I?

And, He never heard the shot! 

[scooperhsd]

I'm glad I drive a 2006 Mustang,  a 1998 Pickup, and a 1999 Valk. 

The wife asked when I was going to get rid of that old truck.  I told her I don't get rid of stuff just because it's old.  I still have you, don't I?

And, He never heard the shot! 

Exactly what I was thinking ....

[da prez]

I just looked at partsgeek. About $400.00 for a pair. Unsure of the details.
 I just replaced all the light lenses on my 01 GMC for under $300.00. Both headlights , front turns and both tail lights.

                                      da prez

    JUST LOOKED AGAIN. THEY ARE COMPLETE ASSEMBLIES

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I just looked at partsgeek. About $400.00 for a pair. Unsure of the details.
 I just replaced all the light lenses on my 01 GMC for under $300.00. Both headlights , front turns and both tail lights.

                                      da prez

    JUST LOOKED AGAIN. THEY ARE COMPLETE ASSEMBLIES

Parsgeek doesn't seem to have a listing for the adaptive light assemblies with the HID lights. All of theirs say they are for the halogen projector lamps. The lights in question are able to move the bulb position in the lamp assembly as the vehicle is turning (by servo motors), to help light up in the direction you're going, rather than straight in front of the vehicle. Pretty cool technology, but as the title of this thread says, there is a price tag attached.

[da prez]

 The first 100 years (?) the lights did not turn with the steering. ( I know , someone will prove me wrong , And I know a couple older cars that had them)  I would buy an assembly that would work , and go slower around the corners.

                                          da prez   

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I'd love to suggest retrofitting the less expensive lamps, but I have a feeling that it isn't that easy. With the way that almost every system in a vehicle has an ECU now, there would be endless fault codes relating to lost communication with lamp driver circuit "X", no response from lamp module "X", etc.

[Moonshot_1]

I'd love to suggest retrofitting the less expensive lamps, but I have a feeling that it isn't that easy. With the way that almost every system in a vehicle has an ECU now, there would be endless fault codes relating to lost communication with lamp driver circuit "X", no response from lamp module "X", etc.

Those were my thoughts too. You explained it far more eloquently.

I simply was wondering if the halogen lights would screw up the computer stuff.

But yeah, what you said.

Talked to a guy at an independent shop. Does the work on my truck.

He said he can get the halogens, they will bolt on, physically fit the car, and he probably can get them to work.

While the light may be less expensive, he doesn't know how much effort it will take to get them to work.

May have to rewire some things and reprogram the computer, he just doesn't know and won't guarantee the outcome.

He can get a set of used HID lights for 1800 bucks. Guaranteed to work and specific to this car.

Assuming the headlights are the only things broken.

So we are going that route.

It would be almost cheaper to get a night time car with cheap headlights and just drive this one in the daytime.