SMOKED OR CLEAR HEADLIGHTS ?????

sneaky98gt · Jan 1, 2011

bonestock87 said:
Those look great on your car Sneaky. I'm sure the light output is nice.

crzyhrse99 - I am defintely in favor of going back to OEM, but everything I keep reading says the aftermarket ones, even from AM, are a lot darker than they thought they'd be. I do have Silverstars on my wife's van, and love them. I need a new set of headlights on my car because of condensation, and just generally rough looking lenses. My only concern with the clear looking '99-'01 lenses are that against my silver paint, it'll look like an elbino...

Thanks! The light output is at least 3 times better than the stock, and I have HIDs coming this week! Going to REALLY throw some light out there when I get those installed.

Have you looked at the "Black Mustang Replacement Headlights" from AM? They aren't smoked, just have a black housing, which looks pretty similar to the stock headlights. I'm pretty sure these are the closest thing to what you are looking for.

mransr · Jan 1, 2011

better an albino than a raccoon

I think on a silver car clears are the ONLY way to go

bonestock87 · Jan 1, 2011

better an albino than a raccoon

Touche my friend.

That pic helps alot, I think for me the difference is this: Clear looks cool and clean, smoked looks mean and a bit sinister. Just have to decide if seeing at night > the mean look.

Twista · Jan 1, 2011

smoked

- clear/stock looking lights suck

bonestock87 · Jan 1, 2011

- clear/stock looking lights suck

Thank you for that well thought out insightful analysis.

Jeffrey · Jan 1, 2011

I think the clear lenses are totally underrated, they look very good with the silver.

ItsStock02 · Jan 1, 2011

Jeffrey said:
I think the clear lenses are totally underrated, they look very good with the silver.

you mean chrome housings?

Honestly, I really dont like them that much. But when I saw MM&FF's Mach 1 with them, my opinion changed.. At least with that car.

Sonic04GT · Jan 1, 2011

ItsStock02 said:
you mean chrome housings?

Honestly, I really dont like them that much. But when I saw MM&FF's Mach 1 with them, my opinion changed.. At least with that car.

Does look damn good.

txredgt · Jan 1, 2011

ItsStock02 said:
you mean chrome housings?

Honestly, I really dont like them that much. But when I saw MM&FF's Mach 1 with them, my opinion changed.. At least with that car.

Does look damn good but I think it also has to do with the foglights, those look like what Sonic's look like, clear and that adds alot since they look bright as well. I still personally would like the black look, not smoked but black.

bonestock87 · Jan 28, 2011

Amazon.com: 1999 - 2004 MUSTANG HEADLIGHT SET BLACK WITH XENON BULBS "BRAND NEW", 2000 2001 2002 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA GT 99 00 01 02 03 04 HEADLIGHTS HEADLAMP HEADLAMP: Automotive

Went with these. They're supposed to be here tomorrow . Clear lenses with black housings. I'm fully expecting the "xenon" bulbs to be cheesy blue tinted bulbs and I'm prepared to install Silverstars. These are half the price of AM's (God forgive me, I love those guys). I'll post pics.

I believe these are made by the same company that made the ones I put on my 93 last year. So far those have held up great and still crystal clear with no leaks.

bonestock87 · Jan 29, 2011

View attachment 198004
Love 'em! Will post more later.

NASTY04GT · Jan 30, 2011

I would go smoked. Just put on mine 3 days ago and love them!. I can see just fine out of them.

bonestock87 · Feb 1, 2011

I would go smoked. Just put on mine 3 days ago and love them!. I can see just fine out of them

Were there any true OEM options (besides, well OEM....$$$) I would have gone that route. Love the smoked lenses. I'm a little bit of a purist and want my stangs to always look stock save for classy and sublte mods. My problem is that here in rural TN there are blind hills, blind curves, seldom lit streets so I needed night vision. The aftermarket "stock" versions were too dark. With the black housings inside these clear lenses I have the best of both worlds. They really don't have that clear look but when the lights come on the light gets out.

View attachment 197804

01GT eibach · Feb 1, 2011

I think what gets confusing is that many people confuse smoked lenses with smoked housings. These are two different things. Smoked lenses look awesomely wicked but are - IMHO - not practical on any car driven at night due to the reduction in light output. Also, they are flat-out illegal in most states, I believe. The smoked housings (made OEM on GTs starting with 2001) look far better than the previous chrome housings. However, I will concede that chrome housings do look pretty good on white and silver cars ...

Green&GoldGT · Feb 1, 2011

I really don't see a difference between the AM ones and some of the ebay pairs.

I used to have the all clear ebay ones. They looked awesome except for in direct sunlight, they looked awful.

Now I have OEM smoked

01GT eibach · Feb 2, 2011

Green&GoldGT said:
I really don't see a difference between the AM ones and some of the ebay pairs ...

Years ago, if you wanted the OEM look, your only choice was true Ford OEM parts ... which were expensive (still are, actually). Now they are selling OEM knockoffs ... as they look exactly like the true Ford part, but are not. From what I understand, there are different flavors of these knockoffs with some having fit and leakage issues, and others having no issues at all. The important thing to take away when comparing is that even though two headlights look exactly the same as the OEM lights, they may differ in quality. We know some have had problems, so do not make it all about the price. It is important to look at the user reviews. Just my opinion.

nancygrl · Feb 2, 2011

Hey Bonestock87....Were there any issues with adjusting those headlights you got thru Amazon? I read some of the reviews and they said they only had up/down adjustment, but no left/right adj. I'm shopping for headlight also and was curious about the quality/fitment/adjustability?

WLD_WST · Feb 2, 2011

both can look good but I prefer smoked on my stang

bonestock87 · Feb 5, 2011

Hey Bonestock87....Were there any issues with adjusting those headlights you got thru Amazon? I read some of the reviews and they said they only had up/down adjustment, but no left/right adj. I'm shopping for headlight also and was curious about the quality/fitment/adjustability?

Sorry for the delayed response. To be honest I didn't have to adjust them, but I did only notice and up and down adjuster. And when I ordered them they were $74.99 but two days later I looked at the exact same link and they were $94.99.

I'm very pleased with the purchase. I did go ahead and seal them up with the clear RTV. AM's instructions say to buy 2-3 tubes. Dude, I may have used 1/3 of a tube and even though I was neat, I laid it on pretty thick. Didn't want to have to do it again. Also, I paid the extra $3 for the "xenon" bulbs and I'm not impressed. Advance just ran a sale ad for Silverstar Ultra's so I think I'm going to get a pair.

SMOKED OR CLEAR HEADLIGHTS ?????

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