I have a '99 Avant which is becoming increasingly dangerous to drive at night due to the dim headlights. They still work (just not very well), as do the high beams which put out great light and was wondering if I can just replace the bulbs or if the entire unit needs to be replaced?

Any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Chris

 

Are the lenses still transparent, and haven't become sand blasted, or fogged up from the inside?

You can try to pull out the lamps, and check if the connection is looking like it's corroded, or dirty.

 

If the high beams put out lots of light, your headlight assembly sounds Ok. Replace the bulbs, it it's still dim, then get the assemblies, they cost a lot more than justs the bulbs.

 

Do you have halogens or HID low beams?
Either way you can just replace the bulbs, or get a new HID kit... Read on...!
HID bulbs (actually capsules) tend to become dim with the years, and your car is a 99 which would fit in the category of "old" HID capsule. The trouble is that not all HID "bulbs" have the same connectors, unless you want to buy the expensive stock units. You may be better off replacing the ballast/igniter and capsules as a kit. www.cqlight.ca is a known vendor and I have been very satisfied with the kits I bought for various BMW motorcycles. A car kit (2 ballasts/igniters + 2 HID bulbs, wiring, etc) runs about $150.00.

 

www.vvme.com has some kits cheap! i got one for my car cause i had the same exact problem and getting the HID kit worked VERY well. it was about $78 shipped with 6000K. plug and play install. the hardest part i found was finding a place for the ballast. they work GREAT. no problems with them so far and they were less than $100 shipped. you're better off doing that cause i changed my bulbs to really good bulbs and they STILL weren't bright enough. almost hit a bicyclist and a cat. just get the HIDs and forget about it.