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Car aftermarket headlights

4 Aftermarket Headlights And The Ups And Downs Of Each Option

By Aftermarket, Headlights

The Scoop on Aftermarket Headlights

One of the most common ways to upgrade a vehicle is to add new headlights. Aftermarket headlights tend to be a lot brighter than standard headlights, and for many, the added improvement to aesthetics makes it a worthwhile investment.

That being said, not all aftermarket headlights are road legal. Using the wrong ones can land you a hefty fine, not to mention the risk you may face when driving.

So, to ensure you do not end up with aftermarket headlights that put you at unnecessary risks, let’s talk about the various aftermarket headlights you can buy and the benefits and drawbacks of each option:

1. Xenon HID Headlight Bulbs

HID bulbs have become incredibly popular, but many people still wonder if they’re road legal. In most cases, they’re fine for the road. However, when misused, they can become too bright, which poses a hazard to other drivers. The brightness can also result in fines because there will be rules on specific headlight brightness depending on where you live.

Apart from brightness, HID headlights also come in the wrong color. Standard headlights come in yellow or white, while HID headlight bulbs have a cooler, blue-er color. HID headlights don’t only aim the light down onto the road to top it off. They spread the light everywhere, meaning that the headlights could blind other drivers coming your way.

2. Tinted Headlights

Tinted headlights are pretty common these days. You see them on many cars, and for many people, it’s simply a case of wanting their car to look a bit different from others.

One of the big problems with tinted headlights is that they do not give off enough light. This makes them a safety hazard. A police officer looking at your car from a distance may not be able to tell if your lights are on or not. This is a hazard to them and other drivers on the road. So, make sure you don’t just pick out any tinted headlight, but pick legal ones.

3. Projector Headlights

Projector headlights are another standard upgrade for cars. As the name suggests, these headlights allow you to project light in a particular direction. This can make it a lot easier to see things in front of you.

The main issue with projector headlights is that they can be too bright. They can also strain the driver’s eyes because the reflection is too strong.

4. Xenon HID Fogs

Fogs are a common upgrade for many people. They’re generally a bit safer than other headlights because they add another level of brightness. It’s also easier to see things at night when using fogs because the light is brighter and spreads across a wider area.

Like HID headlights, HIDs fogs can also be too bright. This is especially true at night. Lights that are too bright can cause safety hazards and result in a fine. It’s best to find a balance when it comes to light levels.

Conclusion

In the end, the most important thing to remember is that you should stick to road-legal headlights. Illegal headlights can cause many problems, and even if they are not technically breaking the law, they’re not particularly safe either. If you want to get legal headlights, you will need to do a lot of research to ensure the aftermarket headlight you pick is a road-legal one!

Kar Parts Direct is your one-stop-shop for all your aftermarket auto body part needs and more. If you are looking for aftermarket headlights, check out what we have for you!

Car aftermarket headlights

Signs That Tell You You Need Your Headlights Replaced

By Headlights

Perhaps one of the most important components of a vehicle is your headlights. And sadly, it’s easy to disregard the importance of your vehicle’s headlights when you’re driving down a highway on a sunny afternoon.

Driving with a faulty headlight can be extremely dangerous during low visibility situations or at night. Not only will you put yourself in harm’s way, but you’ll also affect other drivers and people on the road.

When you notice that you’re having issues with your headlight, it’s best to take your car to a specialist and have a headlights replacement service to ensure that your headlights are back to their working state.

As mentioned earlier, many are unaware of how to spot a faulty headlight, so with that being said, we’ve compiled some tell-tale signs you may need to take your car to an auto shop for headlight replacements.

Sign #1: You Have Dim Headlights

One of the first signs that your headlight is affected is if your headlights are dim. This is usually caused by a faulty headlight bulb or faulty wiring in your headlight assembly.

A simple fix of changing the headlight bulbs usually fixes the issue. If that doesn’t work, there may be an issue with the wiring or the battery of the vehicle. Take your car to a professional to have your headlight checked or get your headlights replaced if the headlight bulbs aren’t working.

Sign #2: Flickering Headlights

If you have flickering headlights, it means your headlight doesn’t have enough power to operate properly. It might also mean that the wiring within the headlight assembly is faulty and needs replacement.

Flickering headlights also indicate issues with your car’s battery, especially if the headlights flicker when you’re turning on your headlights.

Sign #3: One Headlight is Out

If you have one headlight out and the other is working fine, it means that the wiring from the vehicle to the headlight bulb is faulty. A simple way to fix this is by buying another headlight bulb for the faulty headlight and replacing the damaged headlight assembly with the new one.

In some cases, the headlight assembly will need to be replaced completely.

Sign #4: Headlight Won’t Come On

If your headlight won’t come on, there may be issues with the headlight assembly due to faulty wiring or a faulty headlight bulb.

Replacing the headlight bulb usually fixes this issue. However, if it doesn’t, you may need to check the wiring as it may need to be replaced as well.

The Bottom Line: It’s Best to Take Your Car to Specialists If You’re Experiencing Any of These Issues

If you’re having problems with your headlights, it’s best to take your car to specialists as they are better equipped to handle these situations as they are specialists in headlights replacement.

Trust us—you don’t want to be driving with a broken headlight because not only will you put yourself in danger, but you’ll also put other people and motorists in harm’s way as well.

How Can We Help You?

If you’re looking for headlights replacement in North Hollywood, you’ve come to the right place.

Kar Parts Direct is your one-stop-shop for all CAPA and Aftermarket replacement and auto body parts. For over 15 years, we’ve served greater Los Angeles with high-quality auto parts—you might be our next one!