2001 GP SE AutoZone Pilot Collision Brand Replaement Headlight Lenses - Pre Aligned?

[AJ1G]

Just put a set of the subject replacement headlight lenses on my 2001 GP SE. I picked them up through AutoZone for about 80 per side. Big improvement over the originals, which were fogged on both the outside and INSIDE of the lenses. I previously cleaned up the outside fogging, but didn't want to screw around with trying to heat the lenses up in an oven to soften the glue to get the lenses off and then try to clean up the inside fogging, which looked like it was too far gone anyway.

The replacement units went in very easily and fit very well. Did not attempt to align the beams on a target. They seem to be pretty close to a correct alignment right out of the box based on a test drive. Does anyone know from experience if they are factory preset for an approximately correct alignment right out of the box, or did you have to do an aiming alignment on them?

Also, although they were listed in the AutoZone product description as not including any lamps, the ones I received did come with halogen hi/low beam bulbs installed. Anyone know from experience if these are at least as good as a standard Sylvania OEM replacement halogen bulbs? I had just put a pair of new standard Sylvania OEM equivalent high/low beam bulbs in my old head light lenses a few weeks ago, was planning on using them in the new lenses, but for now am just using the ones that they unexpectedly came with.

 

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

You always have to re-aim them, the likelyhood of them being exactly like they were is very slim.

It only takes a few minutes to do anyway if they are really out.

The bulbs should be fine, if they blow out you have back ups.

Too bad you didnt buy through rockauto, they sell the TYC brand for 40 a side. I think I've bought like 3 sets already without complaints.

 

[AJ1G]

I am going to aim them as soon as I can set up a board with targets on level ground. Re TYC ... What AutoZone has on their ordering database is Pilot Collision. What was shipped to me were TYCs. Think I will see if AZ will cut me a discount if they can be bought in RA for about half of what I paid. Maybe AZ got mine through RA and then doubled the price. If RA is retailing for about 40 per side there is big markup to the AZ price.

 

[markpa]

If the same brand. Buy them on rock auto and return them to auto zone and leave the ones you installed in.


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[idrivejunk]

I have installed many many TYC headlights in the past. Aiming headlights correctly is a science, but as you've found, folks that manufacture headlights have a good idea of where to set the new units for a speedy install. No way to "pre-aim" them due to ride height variations of individual vehicles, but their educated guess is usually not way far off. I suggest roughly aiming them at another similarly-sized car's headlights at 25 feet on level ground first, to avoid a major miss, then fine tuning the heights to match one another on a wall. If you can see good and blind no one, you're there. Aim headlights in high beam mode. The bonus bulbs you received are probably as good as any standard bulb.

 

[AJ1G]

RA price plus shipping for the TYC pair would be 78.00 including cheapest shipping (3 day Priority Mail, no faster than the AZ in store turn order turnaround). Called my local AZ, was told to take issue up with the store manager tomorrow. If they don't cut me a discount , I will tell them I am going to do exactly what you suggested, order the same items from Rock Auto and use them for returns to AZ. According to the shipping labels on what I received, they were sent to AZ from Pilot Collision, but are in fact the same TYC NSF certified assemblies that RA lists for 33.79 each. Priority mail shipping from RA would be a little more than 10 bucks for the pair.