Faded headlight replacements!

[1weldit]

I'm looking to replace the factory headlights with some new ones. It's an 07 3500 silver. I like the look of the sport style headlights without the solid amber band at the bottom, but with the black inside or smoked lens. Does anyone have any suggestions for a decent quality replacement that's not extremely expensive? If it's a little brighter then that's ok, but I'm not in to all the odd colors of bulbs that are so popular now.


2007 3500 4x4 QCLB DRW, 5.9, G56 SBDD, Airdog II 165-4G, S&B intake, 4" straight exhaust, TS MP-8, Autometer factory match boost and pyrometer.

 

[Big E]

Ebay has a multitude of replacements in different styles. They are aftermarket (Chinese) for the most part.

I put a pair of quad replacements in my 96, I was satisfied with them.

 

[1weldit]

Ebay has a multitude of replacements in different styles. They are aftermarket (Chinese) for the most part.

I put a pair of quad replacements in my 96, I was satisfied with them.

I've looked a several on eBay and probably going that route, but wasn't sure about the quality of any of them. Just trying to feel out the crowd on any really good or really bad quality stuff. Thanks.


2007 3500 4x4 QCLB DRW, 5.9, G56 SBDD, Airdog II 165-4G, S&B intake, 4" straight exhaust, TS MP-8, Autometer factory match boost and pyrometer.

 

[seafish]

There is no question that the headlights in the 3rd gen trucks could use some sort of upgrade. That being said, there is also no question the fitment and quality of the aftermarket headlights is NOT the same as oem fitment and quality. Furthermore, it would be a mistake to expect MORE light form a headlight that has darkened an/or tinted bezels and lenses.

My recommendation would be to clean your headlights using one of the better headlight restoration kits and then coat it with a UV resistant coating to help the restoration last longer. Also, you can upgrade your bulbs to the Phillips Xtreme Vision or Xtreme Power bulbs...they are A REAL upgrade with none of the color bling associated with other high powered but also much shorter lasting aftermarket bulbs. After Daniel Stren, from Stern Lighting Consultancy (highly suggest reading what he has to say here-- http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html ) recommended them to me and I saw their improvement on my 2005 truck, I have also used them in ALL my vehicles and have not been disappointed with them ever They are that good and seem to last as long or longer then regular halogen bulbs.

All that being said, the ONLY other way to obtain even better forward lighting on these trucks is to do a complete HID projector retrofit INTO the oem headlight housings. While not necessarily LEAGL, when done PROPERLY by someone experienced and who knows what they are doing with it, they can offer excellent and MORE importantly SAFE lighting upgrade that keeps the brighter HID light focused ONLY on the road where it belongs, instead of scattering it everywhere and into the eyes of oncoming drivers like the HID "plug 'n play" ebay kits do!!! IMO one of the more experienced HID retroftiters with excellent reputation for customer satisfaction is Lightwerkz...you can find them on the interwebz!! Not only can you get safe (though not necessarily legal) forward lighting, the customization choices amongst the projectors, bezels and colors are almost endless, though you have to be willing to pay for it or do the work CAREFULLY yourself!!

 

[1weldit]

Thanks seafish! I've tried polishing the lenses with 2 or 3 different kits doing the wet sanding and stuff, but these lenses are pretty bad. I'm tired of trying to buff and polish them and just ready to replace them. I'll check those links you mentioned as well.


2007 3500 4x4 QCLB DRW, 5.9, G56 SBDD, Airdog II 165-4G, S&B intake, 4" straight exhaust, TS MP-8, Autometer factory match boost and pyrometer.

 

[seafish]

Thanks seafish! I've tried polishing the lenses with 2 or 3 different kits doing the wet sanding and stuff, but these lenses are pretty bad. I'm tired of trying to buff and polish them and just ready to replace them. I'll check those links you mentioned as well.


2007 3500 4x4 QCLB DRW, 5.9, G56 SBDD, Airdog II 165-4G, S&B intake, 4" straight exhaust, TS MP-8, Autometer factory match boost and pyrometer.

Well then your next bet is to search for "ram headlights" under auto parts on your local and other nearby Craigslist Ads. I like to use searchtempest.com which is a craigslist aggregator that you can use to search by a chosen distance from a chosen zipcode. VERY often the oem headlights, some in still very good conditon, are available for sale as people upgrade for the ones with more bling. Obviousl;y you will need to confirm their condition as well as that they are the oem factory installed ones before comitting to buying them.

Also, some of the CL ads that searchtempest displays will be older and perhaps no longer available, but overall it is an extremely easy to use source when looking for parts. You can also set your "preferences" to exclude both ebay and amazon results from their searches, whivch they also include because it is a revenue source for them.

For example, here is a link to a searchtempest I just did using zip 35006 which is somewhere in Alabama and up to 1000 miles around that zip.

http://www.searchtempest.com/search...minAsk=min&maxAsk=max&minYear=min&maxYear=max

 

[Prairie Dog]

I have bought two different sets from fleabay with good results. They're meant to be collision replacements and they are DOT approved. I've found that the clear plastic actually held up better with the aftermarket lights.

 

[Killer223]

i replaced mine with TYC from rockauto, and i can't tell the difference from the factory ones. they came loaded sockets and bulbs. fitment was great, i'm totally happy with them.

 

[GrantP]

I also bought the TYC headlamps from Rock Auto for my 06. Fit on one side was perfect, not quite right on the passenger side but good enough. My big complaint is that there is some sort of clear coat on the lenses that is starting to flake off. They are still clear and totally functional but it's annoying that the coating is coming off after only a couple years. FWIW, my truck is always garaged so it's not like it's getting pounded by the AZ sun all of the time.

 

[Killgore]

I tried everything from toothpaste to the more expensive kits and found all of them coming up short to my expectations. Somebody on here recommended using a mosquito spray that contained DEET. I thought what the heck! And, guess what? It works!

- Ed

 

[1weldit]

I tried everything from toothpaste to the more expensive kits and found all of them coming up short to my expectations. Somebody on here recommended using a mosquito spray that contained DEET. I thought what the heck! And, guess what? It works!

- Ed

The DEET works according to a close friend of mine, but only for a short period of time. He said when if started fading again it was way worse than before so he replaced his lights.


2007 3500 4x4 QCLB DRW, 5.9, G56 SBDD, Airdog II 165-4G, S&B intake, 4" straight exhaust, TS MP-8, Autometer factory match boost and pyrometer.

 

[DavidC]

DO NOT USE DEET. Yes the lights look good initially but the bug spray destroys the plastic with very little success of salvage later. I use a polishing compound and either a rotary or DA to eliminate the yellow for now. When and if I tire of the routine I will sand and shoot with 2k clear.

Dave

 

[Jim W]

Doesn't anybody check out Geno's Garage any more for replacement parts on our Ram trucks?

Look in the catalog on page 46 for replacement head lights, the cost is $85.00 each + shipping.

 

[BLNRAY]

I used the Depot brand that Geno's carries very happy with the fit and its as good or maybe a little better at down the road lighting than oem.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I used the Depot brand that Geno's carries very happy with the fit and its as good or maybe a little better at down the road lighting than oem.

One of the sets I bought were Depot brand and I think they were the best.

 

[verk]

Although this doesn't necessarily meet original posters "low-cost" goal, I've just learned that there are LED headlight replacements ( i.e. entire light assembly not just LED bulbs that fit in incandescent assemblies ) for 3rd generation trucks. Does anybody have experience with such lights ? A friend just purchased for his Jeep and seems impressed. Below is a link:

https://www.carid.com/2004-dodge-ram-headlights/

Additionally, I also see Xenon HID offerings in following link:

http://www.protuninglab.com/02-05-dodge-dakota-projector-headlights.html