The Guide to OEM Light Upgrades
Whether you're looking to brighten your vehicle's appearance with a sleek new pair of headlights or stand out from traffic with a European-inspired set of tail lights, AutoAnything has just what you need to personalize your stock lighting. Let's take a closer look at all the lights that you can modify, including:
When it comes to your vehicle's lighting system, headlights are the leader of the pack. They have the most important job of all the lights on your vehicle: to light up the road and guide you safely on your way. Auto manufacturers, however, usually do not spend a lot of creative time designing imaginative headlights. Squares, rectangles and triangles may have turned heads back in the 80's, but they hardly even get a raised eyebrow from us modern, cultivated motorists.
If you're fed up with the unimaginative headlights that came with your vehicle, AutoAnything has good news for you. We have total replacement headlights that you can hookup in the place of your OEM headlights. And, you don't need a degree in electrical engineering to make the trade. A few twists of your screwdriver, a couple of loosened nuts, and some wire swapping is about all it takes to install a new set. The total time it takes to transform your front end should be no more than 20 minutes for most novice handymen (and women).
When you're perusing our headlights, keep in mind that there are two basic types:
Reflector headlights have been around for a long time, and they have a proven track record. They're design is simple: take a small light source and magnify it into a powerful beam. The housing is curved and covered with a reflective material, like mirrors. A bulb is mounted right in the center, and when it's switched on, the light strikes the reflective surface and is bounced back as a stronger, brighter and larger beam. The downside to this type of lamp, though, is that some of the light will inevitably scatter away and be lost. Check out APC, IPCW and TYC for a first-class set of reflector headlights.
The latest and greatest in automotive lighting technology is projector headlight technology. They work much like the traditional reflector optics, but with an added step. After the light bounces off the reflective surface, it travels through a lens, which focuses the light into an incredibly tight, powerful beam. Hardly any light is scattered away, so you're left with brilliant illumination and a futuristic look. You�ll find eye-catching projector headlights from major brands like APC and IPCW.
If headlights are the king of your vehicle's lighting system, then tail lights are second in command. Tail lights play a more defensive role than headlights. Their job is to let other motorists know where you are and what you're doing. At night, in the fog and in stormy weather, your tail lights broadcast your presence to everyone behind you. Also, they shine when you step on the brakes, letting tailgaters know when to back off.
The same design problems that plague most stock headlights are present in nearly all tail lights. Namely, they look like they were built merely for function, not for style. You could even say that many of today's tail lights are to style what PONG is to video games: outdated, unappealing and long overdue for an upgrade.
There are two ways to take your tail lights from mild to wild. First, you can simply stick on a premium pair of tail light covers. Riding directly on top of your tail lights, these covers add sleek Euro-inspired styling to your rear end without completely replacing the whole assembly. They mount in minutes with a bit of Velcro, but their effect on your vehicle's appearance is lasting.
Your other option for augmenting your vehicle's rear end styling is to do a total tail light transplant. Besides their sharp looks, these replacement units are built tough to withstand grueling road conditions. They have tight-fitting gaskets to prevent water and moisture from building up, and heat vents to keep the bulbs from overheating.
Our selection of high quality corner lights and side markers are perfect for replacing worn-out, yellowing or cracked factory-installed gear. Of course, you can get more creative with them as well. Use them to add a bit of flair to your vehicle. Or, if you've already started redesigning your lighting system, corner lights and side markers match most clear and Euro-inspired headlights and tail lights.
As long as you have opposable thumbs, you can install a new set of corner lights or side markers. They are completely custom designed to fit exactly in place of your old lights, so you don't have to make any modifications or do any drilling to mount them. Out with the old and in with the new. It's as easy as that.
Because bumper lights and parking lights are mounted so low to the ground, they're vulnerable to a lot of unintended damage. Parking lot mishaps, driveway disasters, and fender benders can spell death to these OEM lights. What's worse, most dealerships charge an arm and a leg for replacement parts.
Luckily, AutoAnything has a stockpile of high quality bumper and parking lights that don't just replace your stock lighting, they also electrify the styling of your vehicle. Plus, they blend perfectly with other clear and Euro-style lighting upgrades.
Just like the majority of bumper lights and parking lights are incredibly easy to install. In most cases, all you have to do is remove a couple of screws, unplug a wire and then repeat those steps in reverse.