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Ok lets hone in on Headlights

3427 Views 80 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  Random69
So my wife's SXT AWD 2019 model year just lost the drivers headlight. It burnt out which also does the high beams. I. just noticed this driving back from Dinner. I don't know how long it's been out she said she didn't notice. I said before I realized one was out, that the headlights where way worse then mine are and it looks funky. Then I realized the Drivers headlight is out.

The car has the standard headlights. I'm tempted to just run over AutoZone and grab a replacement set, might as well replace both just in case. But I'm curious if the BETTER bulbs work better than the standard models as Audtozone as an array of different replacement bulbs and levels. I don't know crap about headlight bulbs. It doesn't make it faster so I'm not interested. But we need to see so there you have it.

Any suggestions on what to replace them with? What's better than stock? My Durango had HID's which where fantastic.
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If you're open to getting drop in LED bulbs, I had Auxito Mini LED bulbs in my 2020 Charger. They were 50% brighter than the OEM halogens and no issues for the 1.5 years I've owned that car.
Another gentleman on the forums recommended them and I've had auxitos for years now no problems. No check engine light either had a tiny flicker but fixed that with putting in a canbus adapter. I didn't have the mini I had the regulars and they're bright as hell. Usually on Amazon for about 50/60 bucks.
If you have HIDs, that won't be for a long time. I still have the original OSRAM bulbs in my 2013. I replaced them for about 8 months, but the aftermarket ones burned out so I put the OEM ones back in.
When you replaced yours did you have to take the fascia off? I have a bulb out but haven’t found a bulb I want to replace it with yet that has a bright white to it other than the ones that @Rhill1124 posted above which I might try if they fit our cars too but I was told the front bumper has to come off? True?
When you replaced yours did you have to take the fascia off? I have a bulb out but haven’t found a bulb I want to replace it with yet that has a bright white to it other than the ones that @Rhill1124 posted above which I might try if they fit our cars too but I was told the front bumper has to come off? True?
What side is out?

The drivers side you just have to remove the air box assembly and you have access.

The passenger side is the pain in the ass. Turn the wheel all the way left. Remove the little plastic pop rivet things. Fold the wheel liner back, you can use the wheel to wedge it there. Remove the dust cap. The difficult part for me was removing the locking collar. I had to use an "18 flat head with a rubber mallet to knock it loose. Then you just remove the little cord that looks like a USB (it's not) and remove the bulb. Then you have to put the locking collar back on.

It's not fun, I ended up with like 6,000 little cuts all over my hand. You'll be laying on your back looking up and doing a lot of feeling around on your own without being able to see. I have larger hands so it made it even worse. A coworker with smaller hands didn't everything from above. Most people that DIY it do it the way I mentioned. Still better than $300+ at the dealer.
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What side is out?

The drivers side you just have to remove the air box assembly and you have access.

The passenger side is the pain in the ass. Turn the wheel all the way left. Remove the little plastic pop rivet things. Fold the wheel liner back, you can use the wheel to wedge it there. Remove the dust cap. The difficult part for me was removing the locking collar. I had to use an "18 flat head with a rubber mallet to knock it loose. Then you just remove the little cord that looks like a USB (it's not) and remove the bulb. Then you have to put the locking collar back on.

It's not fun, I ended up with like 6,000 little cuts all over my hand. You'll be laying on your back looking up and doing a lot of feeling around on your own without being able to see. I have larger hands so it made it even worse. A coworker with smaller hands didn't everything from above. Most people that DIY it do it the way I mentioned. Still better than $300+ at the dealer.
I believe the driver side haven’t seen my car in months so I can’t remember but I’m going to replace both so good to know it’ll be a fun job on the passenger side sounds like I’ll do that first lmao. At least the whole bumper doesn’t have to come off. I didn’t believe that when I heard it. Definitely better than 300 at the dealer.
What side is out?

The drivers side you just have to remove the air box assembly and you have access.

The passenger side is the pain in the ass. Turn the wheel all the way left. Remove the little plastic pop rivet things. Fold the wheel liner back, you can use the wheel to wedge it there. Remove the dust cap. The difficult part for me was removing the locking collar. I had to use an "18 flat head with a rubber mallet to knock it loose. Then you just remove the little cord that looks like a USB (it's not) and remove the bulb. Then you have to put the locking collar back on.

It's not fun, I ended up with like 6,000 little cuts all over my hand. You'll be laying on your back looking up and doing a lot of feeling around on your own without being able to see. I have larger hands so it made it even worse. A coworker with smaller hands didn't everything from above. Most people that DIY it do it the way I mentioned. Still better than $300+ at the dealer.
I believe I have the HIDs though bc they do flash on camera does that make anything any sifferent?
The standard halogen bulbs are much easier to change as they don't have that locking collar. I'd recommend ordering a few extra locking collars prior to you giving it a go. I've broken 3. I'd say I've had my OEMs back in for 18 months - 2 years and the drivers side locking collar is held together with plumbers tape because I broke the last locking collar I had. They're cheap on eBay.
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The standard halogen bulbs are much easier to change as they don't have that locking collar. I'd recommend ordering a few extra locking collars prior to you giving it a go. I've broken 3. I'd say I've had my OEMs back in for 18 months - 2 years and the drivers side locking collar is held together with plumbers tape because I broke the last locking collar I had. They're cheap on eBay.
I appreciate the heads up!
I like Sylvannia Ultras



Lows and Fogs
View attachment 309578
I like Sylvannia Ultras



Lows and Fogs
View attachment 309578
As far as OTC halogens, I have had the best luck with the Sylvania SilverStar Ultras. They last longer and are a little bit brighter than the Sylvania Silverstars. If you buy your headlight bulbs at O'Reilly Auto Parts, they have a one year warranty. When my SilverStars failed, I was able to return them since I had kept my receipt.

GTO_04
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My hands must be just small enough. (Go ahead with the jokes)
I’ve always done it from the top. Hurts like hell, but I’m not into going through the wheel well if I can avoid it.

Prior to my switch to the LED’s, I was changing them so often that I had it down to 5-10 minute job.
Locking collars? Is that prior to the 15 body change? I don’t have any of those.
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My hands must be just small enough. (Go ahead with the jokes)
I’ve always done it from the top. Hurts like hell, but I’m not into going through the wheel well if I can avoid it.

Prior to my switch to the LED’s, I was changing them so often that I had it down to 5-10 minute job.
Locking collars? Is that prior to the 15 body change? I don’t have any of those.
They're only on the HIDs, they're on 2015+ as well. They're what making changing the OEM HIDs so difficult compared to the halogen bulbs.
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When looking for your own car, I got mine at AutoZone as well. It’s not just whiter, their brighter.
They have been invaluable on summer of the roads I drive on.
not taking away from the SilverStar’s, they are very good. But they were my first attempt before the LED’s. It all comes down to your use and what you’re looking for.
Low Beams


High Beams
Wow, now that looks like one hell of an improvement! All I have are OEMs on my 2020 Charger. Even when hitting the high beams, it's not brighter, it just shines higher which doesn't help much. What is it that your using, how long do they last and are they hard to install?
Wow, now that looks like one hell of an improvement! All I have are OEMs on my 2020 Charger. Even when hitting the high beams, it's not brighter, it just shines higher which doesn't help much. What is it that your using, how long do they last and are they hard to install?
I just passed a year. They install pretty much like the OEM bulb, except that they have fans on them. Everything tucks nicely into the headlight area under the dust cap. Nothing else is needed. No flicker either.
My HIDs in my Charger don't move. Those are just self-leveling that are an option.

The yellowish color is just the color temperature. You can move to 6000k or 8000k which are a little bluer.
Your car had the HID option, that is something I didn't think about until after I took delivery of my car. Honeslty I didn't get to get my ordered car. It was gonna to take way to long to come in and my dealer had many Scat Packs coming in close to my spec both Challenger and Charger Models.
The HID headlights I think are the best in the business. My Durango headlights where awesome. They lit the road up way down the road and super clear. These stock headlights in the Charger basically suck. If I turn off my Driving lights or fog lights as some call them, it's almost unusable. It's so dim.

My Wife's Charger with the new brighter bulbs didn't really make that much of a difference after driving it a few times and then driving mine with the stock bulbs. Yeah it's slightly better and I didn't spend hardly any money. It was $37 vs $51 for replacement bulbs, the $37 model was basically the stock bulbs and the ones we got where slightly brights for a few bucks more. She's fine with it as she can see good now but for me I think I'd prefer to go back to the HID bulbs. Our Audi S4 has HID's and man they are also excellent in that car.
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i just instyalled some aftermarket hids yesterday, tested them last night, no black spots like i had with the leds from auxito, and brightness and shine are perfect, easy install as well and no dash light kit cost 70 shipped from amazon
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OK strange issue,
I just noticed last night that the lights seem to tilt left. I turned off the fog lights to see the pattern and the Passenger headlight seems to point slightly to the center of the car and the Drivers head light seem to point slightly towards the left. So both headlights looks like I'm turning left while going straight. I'll have to take a picture of the pattern tonight to show you guys.

I don't see how you an adjust them left and right. I see the adjustment for height. I put the factory bulb back in the passenger side to test and it points the exact same way so I must not have noticed this. I asked my wife about it an she said she didn't notice this at all. It must have been this way from the factory and since the new bulbs are brighter, It's more noticeable.

Is there a way to adjust them left and right?
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You can only adjust vertically, not horizontal.
If they are out of whack, try reseating them. Basically take them out and reinstall. You may not have all of the tabs in correctly which would cause them to point in those directions.
Also, if these are the SilverStars, that should be it. If you’ve gotten the LED’s you need to make sure that they are both installed with the “Dark line” going 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock.
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The worry I have with going to the LED's is driving in heavy snow or rain and the reflection back because of the brighter light. We all know what happens when turning on high beams in that type of driving. Anyone experience that type of environment with these bulbs?
The worry I have with going to the LED's is driving in heavy snow or rain and the reflection back because of the brighter light. We all know what happens when turning on high beams in that type of driving. Anyone experience that type of environment with these bulbs?
My wife's MB has LEDs and in thr scenario they're no better or worse than HIDs.
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My wife has HID and I have the LED (as you know) no problem in the rain. The reflection that you’re talking about comes more from the angle, just don’t turn on the highbeams in those situations.
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My wife has HID and I have the LED (as you know) no problem in the rain. The reflection that you’re talking about comes more from the angle, just don’t turn on the highbeams in those situations.
👍
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