Are we OK with how bright headlights are getting?

[ruffdog]

WOW. Guess I'm sticking to my 9007 halogens at $11 a pop for a while now.

I was at a salvage vehicle yard. A young guy there was looking for a Jeep to buy the headlamp assemblies to put in his newer Jeep model. He was downgrading to use the halogen lower cost bulbs vs replacing the broken LED units.

I recall the Dollar tree once sold 6 incandescent 60W bulbs for a buck. Today 1 LED for $1.25. And the package says, lasts 14 years. Yeah right, be lucky to get 1 year out of them.

You think headlights are bad, some F150 tail lights cost thou$sand$ to replace and people are stealing them.

I Bought a 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum and Someone Stole My Taillights, It Cost Over $3,000 For the Pair, and I Was the 6th Guy Into the Dealer That Day

 

[bmaverick]

You think headlights are bad, some F150 tail lights cost thou$sand$ to replace and people are stealing them.

I Bought a 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum and Someone Stole My Taillights, It Cost Over $3,000 For the Pair, and I Was the 6th Guy Into the Dealer That Day

I know of people 3D printing tail lights now due to the theft. There is a PLA transparent and flexibly material now and a full rear lamp assembly can be printed in under 14hrs at HOME !

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Even these 350Z taillight that cost a thousand each can be made for under $20 each with the 3D printer!

Using FreeCAD or TinkerCAD for free, you too can replicate and make them plus so much more!

 

[ruffdog]

The high cost is because of the sensors for the blind-spot warning and cross-traffic alert systems are in the tail lights.

Ford F-150's Taillights Cost Insane Amount To Replace

 

[bmaverick]

The high cost is because of the sensors for the blind-spot warning and cross-traffic alert systems are in the tail lights.

Ford F-150's Taillights Cost Insane Amount To Replace

If the plastic tail light cover is only cracked or broken, you can 3D print replacements. Thus, retain all the sensors and alert ability too.

 

[Oaktree]

If the plastic tail light cover is only cracked or broken, you can 3D print replacements. Thus, retain all the sensors and alert ability too.

This is of course assuming (1) you have a 3D printer and (2) can get the old lens off to take measurements (or whatever you do to duplicate something) without breaking it/destroying the housing. Then there's re-attaching the new lens and hoping it fits and doesn't leak.
Almost sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

 

[ruffdog]

If the plastic tail light cover is only cracked or broken, you can 3D print replacements. Thus, retain all the sensors and alert ability too.

That doesn't fix the $5600 problem the guy had in the video. The wires, connectors, modules, were all corroded in the tail lamps. Over time, the corroded modules shut everything down and the truck wouldn't start. If the OEM lights were so ill fitting that allowed moisture intrusion, I doubt 3D printed ones would be better.

 

[ponytug]

That doesn't fix the $5600 problem the guy had in the video. The wires, connectors, modules, were all corroded in the tail lamps. Over time, the corroded modules shut everything down and the truck wouldn't start. If the OEM lights were so ill fitting that allowed moisture intrusion, I doubt 3D printed ones would be better.

I'm not sure that I would necessarily bet against the aftermarket 3D version being as leaky as the OEM, as there would be opportunities to correct OEM mistakes. What I would bet is that UV resistance is lower in the 3D versions.

Of course if the owner is going wild with a pressure washer, all bets are off.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ruffdog]

When I had to replace the 3rd brake light on my truck, I looked at the reviews for the cheap non-oem lenses. The cheap ones had very bad reviews so I went with a OEM as the replacement.

 

[ponytug]

Lens technology is pretty complicated; UV resistance, clarity, impact resistance. I think that it is a tough (pun intended) specification, which is why I am doubtful that a home printed lens can meet it. If one regards the home printed as a disposable item, then it is a different story.

All the best,

Peter

 

[bmaverick]

This is of course assuming (1) you have a 3D printer and (2) can get the old lens off to take measurements (or whatever you do to duplicate something) without breaking it/destroying the housing. Then there's re-attaching the new lens and hoping it fits and doesn't leak.
Almost sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

Fine, then pay the $1,700 ransom price for a new one.

I've been making CAD models now for 3 years and my brother 15 years. It really isn't hard to learn.