Replacement headlights for Toyota Corolla

[Salty seadog]

Hi all,
I need to replace the headlight units on my 2002 T3 corolla, I have seen a few pairs of these non genuine but compatable ( made specificaly for the car) units on e-bay,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-CO...Make:Toyota|Model:Corolla&hash=item51ad3575e6

They have a 12 month guarantee and conform to standards.

Does anyone have any experience or advice regarding this sort of product.

many thanks,

ssd

 

[biggs682]

genuine parts are made to fit where as non genuine are MADE TO FIT

 

[TheDoctor]

I got a replacement headlight for a Mazda 323 IIRC a few years back - fitted easily.
Top tip - aim the headlights at a wall before you unscrew the old ones, and use that as a guide to set the aim of the new ones. Otherwise you'll end up illuminating snails with one light, and owls with the other.

 

[Mark Grant]

The car is 13 years old, I'd use the pattern (Ebay) parts.

 

[TheDoctor]

Chances are they come from the same factory anyhow. It's not like Toyota make lights...

 

[asterix]

Bought a non-genuine rear light lens for my Toyota van some years ago. It was a perfect match and is indistinguishable from the OEM part. Cost about 25% of the price of the genuine item.

 

[TheDoctor]

I found that. The Ebay part was under half the price that Mazda wanted, and the cheeky buggers wanted a hours labour on top to fit it! It took me 15 minutes, and I'd never done one before.

 

[Over The Hill]

Agree with above. It is not like it is fake designer stuff.

Some years ago I had a VW polo and a dashboard light on it went. Halfords did not have the odd size so went to VW
£13 for a bulb !! Looked like it was off a Christmas tree - nothing special.
Since then I have not gone near main dealers if I can help it.

I have never been able to tell the difference with non brand parts like this. All seem to come from the same place but with the main dealers putting an extra 0 at the end of the price.

 

[Salty seadog]

as I thought chaps, thanks for the replies.

 

[Salty seadog]

as I thought chaps, thanks for the replies.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Buy cheap buy twice as a wise man once said.

That said, I do concur that very often you'll get away with a pattern part, but with lights please do be careful, it's not always a case of the same unit but in a plain box.

I've even seen cheapo headlmap units in the past that didn't have a beam pattern on the lens

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Save a fortune by gaffer taping some torches to the front of your car for the main beam and you could use candles in jam jars as sidelights.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

That would be a waste of candles.

 

[Adam1965]

Why do you need to replace both?, I am guessing that the plastic lenses have gone milky?, mine did that, i cleaned them with T Cut

 

[Adam1965]

[QUOTE 2982645, member: 45"]Four candles.[/QUOTE]
Or fork handles?