With cars becoming more sophisticated and technologically advanced, certain car parts are increasing in price. You used to be able to simply pick up a new headlight bulb and replace it in under a minute. As that may still be effective for some models, for most vehicles this simple repair has become more complex and time-consuming. On some vehicles, it is necessary to remove the complete headlight which sometimes entails removing the entire bumper! In this article, we will give you a brief education on why headlights in today’s vehicles are more expensive to replace and/or repair. This information will be especially valuable to our friends and customers who live around Verona, NJ who own newer cars!
Let’s first talk about the difference between HID, LED, and Halogen headlights. While color and light quality are the most visible characteristics, there are still many more pros and cons to the different types of headlights. These 3 are the most popular headlights that car manufacturers are using today:
Halogen vs. HID vs. LED Headlights
Halogen Headlights
- One of the earliest automotive headlights, and are still used in the majority of cars today
- Uses a heated tungsten filament to produce light
- Produces a significant amount of heat, and it is vitally important to exercise caution when handling them
HID Headlights
- Emits bright, far-reaching white light with less heat than halogen headlights
- Requires far more power than halogens when first turned on, but they use much less to maintain their brightness once fully lit
- Though helpful behind the wheel, the added brightness of these bulbs can create an abundance of glare, effectively “blinding” other drivers
LED Headlights
- More efficient and advanced than both halogen and HID lights
- Do not produce a significant amount of heat when they light up
- The diodes themselves give off some heat at their bases, meaning cars with LED headlights must provide a way to keep the LED’s cool
- Because LED headlights are harder to design and implement in cars, they are more expensive than other headlights
Generally, LED lighting is only featured in high-end luxury cars, although they can now be found on many inexpensive cars too, such as the Acura ILX sedan, which starts at less than $30,000.
Why Are Headlights so Pricey Now?
In most cases, a burnt-out halogen headlight is relatively inexpensive to fix. But since halogen headlights don’t provide the same amount of overall illumination as HID or LED lights, some drivers prefer vehicles that are equipped with the costlier headlights.
So what does an HID headlight cost in order to replace it? The bulb alone can often exceed $100. The higher price comes from the fact that they are much more powerful than a halogen headlight. HID lights are also designed to last much longer than halogen headlights, but they can still burn out eventually.
Tip: If the headlight assembly has leaked or has been damaged in an accident, the costs can go up significantly. While a halogen assembly won’t top a few hundred dollars, an HID or LED headlight assembly can easily run more in excess of $700 — and some are even above $1,000.
If you have questions about your vehicle’s headlights or need one repaired, bring your vehicle to our shop located in Verona, New Jersey. Our technicians will take the time to correct any problems you are experiencing and answer any questions you need!
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