Aftermarket headlight opinions wanted

Post by **FireFox31** » 13 Dec 2022, 22:33

What brand of aftermarket headlight have you had a good experience with? I need to buy headlights for two 2000 V70 I will be selling so want the best quality at a reasonable price. I don't want LED or other odd conversions, just the direct factory replacement.

TYC makes lamps in the original fluted style, available for $120 at IPD and $90 at Amazon (ships and sold by Amazon, the only source I trust). Eddystone posted this great light comparison using TYC, but I wonder how they work in real world usage.

DEPO makes lamps in the jewel style, available for $190 at Amazon. Two years ago, they were $140; a note about recent inflation. Can anyone who used them comment on how well they perform compared to OEM lamps?

What other brands are out there? Amazon had some which I wasn't familiar with. I'm hesitant to buy some random knock-off brand if it will perform poorly, thus be a waste of money.

Heck, I have a set of new OEM jewels. Maybe I'll buy the TYC and DEPO and do a three way comparison.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 14 Dec 2022, 01:53

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Have you considered refurbishing? Middle and towards end of page.
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viewtopic.php?t=100706&start=20

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Post by **abscate** » 14 Dec 2022, 02:39

From user googlechrome13

I bought new headlights for my 2000 V70 in December 2020. Getting a used one seemed like a bad idea because they'd have been through the same 20 years as mine, likely also faded. Here are my notes:

Car-part.com shows jeweled headlights for about $100 - $150 each.
Eerie Vo-Vo may have them used, call to check stock.
eBay Motors shows jeweled selling for $100 - $150 each. A set sold for $220.
FCP has new V70 (fluted) headlights for $300 each. 8628402 and 8628403
FCP has new C70 (jewel) headlights for about $365 each. 9467892 and 9467893
Depo aftermarket jewel lights for $140 each at Amazon. But their light output is worse than OEM.

I decided to get OEM jeweled headlights, paying "just a little more". I found the best price at Tasca. Here are my notes:
Volvo - $315 left + $456 right
FCP - $348 left + $384 right + $0 ship
eEuro - $343 left + $343 right + $0 ship
IPD with both bulbs - $330 left + $364 right + $0 ship
Tasca - $281 left + $295 right + $39 ship
VolvoWholesaleParts - $306 left + $322 right + $47 ship
VolvoPartsWebStore - $274 left + $317 right + $109 ship

You should get clear turn signals to match the jeweled headlights (9467896 and 9467897). Unfortunately, Volvo and every online retailer (I contacted each one) no longer has the left one (9467896). My local dealership found me "the last one in the country" sitting on a shelf at a dealership in Des Moines, Iowa. Of course I bought it, even at a 50% premium.

Ive got TYCS on two of my cars and they have lasted well for 3 and 5 years respectively in the Northeast. They are currently $120 at Amazon

There is new option at CarPartscom.com under their Evan-Fischer brand ? At $110

Parts geek link, 4 new options there dec 22

https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/1999/ ... embly.html

Post by **foggydogg** » 14 Dec 2022, 06:35

I have junkyard jewels on the '99, and they are much better than worn out Hella factory stuff. Jewels are getting hard to find though - except for Robert; he seems to stumble across one a week, but he is in junkyards daily.
I have TYC on the 850, but that's a whole 'nuther sport.
I would still counsel avoid URO anything and I've never had good luck with ProParts.

Post by **FireFox31** » 14 Dec 2022, 12:33

Thanks. I'll order the TYC for Geronimo, my lowest-end car. At $90 each from Amazon with a 3-4 week wait, that's a fair price. Hopefully that wait will decrease.

Has anyone tried DEPO? They have fluted for $150 and jewel for $190. Jewels would be nice even if they're aftermarket. They'd go on my nicer 2000 V70 which I'll eventually sell.

I am considering refurbishing the reflectors but that's a long term project which might fail. Currently, I'll collecting cores to send many away for recoating at once.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 14 Dec 2022, 14:16

FireFox31 wrote: ↑14 Dec 2022, 12:33 Currently, I'll collecting cores to send many away for recoating at once.

What will it cost to have them coated? Have you seen the quality of work on an end product?

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Post by **wizechatmgr** » 14 Dec 2022, 19:11

Have depo's - jeweled. After 5 years the chrome like reflector coating is starting to bubble. Thankfully it isn't occurring where it will be an issue just yet. They are NOT the quality of the OEM ones.

Post by **FireFox31** » 14 Dec 2022, 22:13

wizechatmgr wrote: ↑14 Dec 2022, 19:11 Have depo's - jeweled. After 5 years the chrome like reflector coating is starting to bubble. Thankfully it isn't occurring where it will be an issue just yet. They are NOT the quality of the OEM ones.

Thanks, this is really helpful. If the quality is bad, I might as well get fluted TYC instead of paying the premium for jewel. I'll keep watching eBay for a good used set of jewels though.

I have not contacted any recoating companies. That is being discussed at length in this reflector thread.