A standard headlight is expected to last around five years or so, but this depends on the year and model of your vehicle. Some makes and models are notorious for their headlights burning out at a much quicker rate than this standard.
This also depends on the type of bulb used in your headlights. For instance, factory-installed halogen bulbs may have a longer lifespan than newer, high-tech LED bulbs.
Today we’re giving you the low-down on car headlights. Specifically, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) headlights. What they are, what their function is, the cost to replace headlights, and the process for repairing and replacing them yourself.
What are OEM Headlights?
Before diving into OEM headlights, let’s define what headlights are. They are one of the most essential safety features for yourself and other drivers on the road. Headlights are used for illuminating the road in low-light conditions, and allow you to communicate to other drivers that you are operating a vehicle in proximity to them.
When you purchase a new car, the headlights that the vehicle is manufactured with are called stock factory headlights, or original manufacturer headlights. When your headlights get damaged, broken, burn out, or something else, you’ll likely want to look for OEM headlights to replace the originals.
OEM headlights is the term used to describe the same exact headlights that are used as the standard replacements for your original headlights. There’s no guesswork involved to determine if the headlights will work for your car, because they are the exact same as the originals.
What is the function of headlights on a car?
No matter if you drive with the most high-tech headlights or old car headlights, their purpose stays the same. They illuminate the road in low-light settings for the driver and other drivers on the road.
All cars offer low beam and high beam settings, as well as additional fog or rain lights. Low beams keep the light focused on the immediate area in front of the car, with a smaller distance and light focused lower on the ground.
High beams help illuminate the horizon, casting a higher beam of more intense light to lighten a further distance away from the vehicle. High beams are suggested to be used more sparingly, when there are less cars on the road, as the intense light beams are irritating to other drivers’ eyes.
How to turn on the headlights?
Before we can begin the replacement process, you need to know how to turn on your headlights. While the specific controls for the headlights vary slightly from vehicle to vehicle, the general location will be the same.
Near the steering wheel column, you can locate the headlight controls on the control arm, also called the headlight indicator stalk or control panel/stick. The image below shows the illustrations to look for that indicate your headlight controls.
The different types of headlights
Like we mentioned earlier, there are a few different types of car headlights. There are standard halogen bulbs, HID and LED lights. Newer vehicles or upgraded models tend to have LED lights. Some people looking to customize their headlights to fun colors will often search for the best aftermarket headlights to serve this purpose. These are different from OEM headlights.
As for the parts of a headlight, they are pretty straightforward. Be sure to locate the two bulbs responsible for both high and low beams on each side of the vehicle. They will be attached to the bulb socket with wiring.
How much does it cost to replace car headlights?
Headlight replacements are very easy to DIY, and don’t have to break the bank. Traditional, halogen bulbs can go for as little as $20 per bulb. More advanced LED bulbs can go for as much as $100 per bulb, plus labor costs if you opt for a repair at a shop.
OEM Car Headlight Replacement Process
The car headlight replacement process is pretty easy, with only a few steps required. It’s a very beginner/novice-friendly project, perfect for those that want to get to know their vehicle better without the stress of a big, expensive project.
Here are the steps to replace your car headlights:
1. Buy the OEM headlights
You’re going to need to find out what kind of lights your vehicle currently has and purchase the necessary replacement bulb(s). Our knowledgeable staff at Nationwide Auto Recycling can help you determine the best OEM headlights for your car, and can assist you in shopping our used headlight inventory.
2. Open the headlight housing
Pop the hood and find the headlight housing unit in your vehicle. Both the driver side headlight assembly and passenger side assembly should be identical. There may be screws or hinges to detach first to open the bulb socket.
Once opened, carefully detaching the wiring from the socket, being careful not to damage any of the wiring. Then, you can go ahead and twist to pull out the old, damaged headlight from the housing unit.
3. Swap out the old headlight
Lastly, you’re going to reverse the process and insert the new, replacement bulb back into the housing socket. It should twist to tighten into a fixed position, then reconnect the wiring.
Where to Find Used Headlights
Replacing used headlights is super easy and beginner friendly. You can save even more money by using OEM parts, especially from a salvage yard. Do your research to find out the exact parts you need before tackling this project, and reach out to our staff at Nationwide Auto Recycling for their expert tips and guidance.
Reach out to us if you’re interested in exploring our inventory of OEM headlight parts in Central Massachusetts. We can help assist your headlight replacement project from start to finish!