99 Venture - Aftermarket Headlight Assembley

[rodgerturner]

Can anyone comment on the quality of the headlight assemblies typically found on Ebay? The dealer wants in upwards of $130 and I've seen them as "cheap" as $78 on Ebay, but I'm hesitant to purchase.
One of mine is cracked and the other has a bad condensation/oxidation problem and looks terrible.

thanks!

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by rodgerturner

Can anyone comment on the quality of the headlight assemblies typically found on Ebay? The dealer wants in upwards of $130 and I've seen them as "cheap" as $78 on Ebay, but I'm hesitant to purchase.
One of mine is cracked and the other has a bad condensation/oxidation problem and looks terrible.

thanks!

$130 from a dealer? That's cheap LOL. 3 years ago, when my lenses started to pop off after going through automatic car washes, I called the dealer, since I was told there was no fix to the old ones. MY local dealers were charging $249 each! The ones I regularly see on eBay appear to be used ones and I have seen some salvage yards selling them on eBay. I've also seen them a lot cheaper than $78 , some as low as $30, you just have to be there at the right time, as price varies between sellers. I ended up gluing the lenses back on with some special glue I purchased at my local bodyshop supply store, and it has held up since. I ended up having to do both lenses one year apart. If and when it comes a time when I need to replace a headlight assembly for my van, I will get it off eBay, if I cannot find a lower price from any of my local salvage yards. So, to answer your question, those headlight assemblies appear to be just as good to use on your van, as I think they are used units off of other vans.

[67HEVN]

I bought one of those after market headlights off ebay and it was just as good as the oem lights...just alot cheaper! I think it was $62 plus shipping.

[broughy84]

I found some on ebay for real cheap. I wouldn't go to the dealer or anywhere else. EBAY IS GREAT!

[cdru]

If you keep your eye out, there is a dealer in the Chicagoland area that sells them occasionally on eBay. It's usually priced about the same as the aftermarket lights but is OEM. I just purchased a "used" OEM assembly but was never used for $60.

Which ever way you go, be sure you know what you are bidding on. Some of the auctions are for just the lens, others are for the lens and assembly.

[Kevcules]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

$130 from a dealer? That's cheap LOL. 3 years ago, when my lenses started to pop off after going through automatic car washes, I called the dealer, since I was told there was no fix to the old ones. MY local dealers were charging $249 each! The ones I regularly see on eBay appear to be used ones and I have seen some salvage yards selling them on eBay. I've also seen them a lot cheaper than $78 , some as low as $30, you just have to be there at the right time, as price varies between sellers. I ended up gluing the lenses back on with some special glue I purchased at my local bodyshop supply store, and it has held up since. I ended up having to do both lenses one year apart. If and when it comes a time when I need to replace a headlight assembly for my van, I will get it off eBay, if I cannot find a lower price from any of my local salvage yards. So, to answer your question, those headlight assemblies appear to be just as good to use on your van, as I think they are used units off of other vans.

I had the same problem with the head light lense. It disappeared one day and one dealer told me it was $300 for the assembly. Another dealer said that you didn't have to buy the whole assembly and just the light was $80 . They ended up replacing it for nothing as a "good will" or something, warranty because of so many issues.Ask them about it sometime.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by Kevcules

I had the same problem with the head light lense. It disappeared one day and one dealer told me it was $300 for the assembly. Another dealer said that you didn't have to buy the whole assembly and just the light was $80 . They ended up replacing it for nothing as a "good will" or something, warranty because of so many issues.Ask them about it sometime.

You really think the dealer would replace a lens on my van, being 9 years old, as a "goodwill gesture?"

[cdru]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

You really think the dealer would replace a lens on my van, being 9 years old, as a "goodwill gesture?"

It's a 99. So it's 7 years max. And depending on the customer, I could see a dealership possibly tossing them a bone, especially if they were long time customers or knew them personally. I doubt it would work for most people, but it never hurts to ask. Plus headlight problems on our van is common. Either the lens cover breaks off or spider web cracks in the lens refracts a lot of light out of the way.