The headlights on both sides of my 2004 F150 have spring a leak, or getting serious condensation problems, and to top it off, they are getting badly hazed toward the top, turning yellow. It is time to replace them...

But with what?

I want to go with a Harley type headlight but I don't want to replace a leaker with a leaker... So what have folks used that actually seem to hold up well? How much $$ am I looking at here and who has the best deals on them?

I am not looking for the projector type lamps, just upgraded OEM type.

 

After being silicon'd, my $70 Harley replicas off of eBay have been fine. They don't fit 100% like stock, but for the price, they're great. Black Harley ones from rockauto are like $300 IIRC.

OEM ones can be found on eBay for $150 or so, sometimes less, but they are used and you'll have to trust the pics for judging lense condition. They'd also just be chrome ones like you've got now.

 

That's high. I picked up used Harley heads and tails for $100(as you know). You can pick up the chrome ones for $30-$50.

OP I have a set of OEM lens in near perfect condition if you want them to replace your yellowing ones. I can even send you some butyl glue for resealing the headlights.

 

That's what I remembered from ones that were supposedly in "almost new" condition. Maybe $100 is closer, but all the cheap ones that are like $40-60 didn't look that good to me. You've found good ones and "deals" though.

 

After my hassles with ebay heads, silicone, and anything else wouldn't keep a heavy driven and off roaded truck in good conditions. Go OEM. Trust me, I hate condensation build up on my heads. Look on craigslist if you have to for local deals

 

Its a common misconception that you need to silicone the edges. This isn't true. Headlights are not hermetically sealed. They have small one-way vinyl vents on the back. I'll post an informative article here soon, but most replica headlights are completely fine, you could submerge the lens-side down and no water will get in.

 

I know what you mean, Raptor, but it's not a misconception with all of them. One of mine leaked like a SOB until I sealed it up and haven't had problems since. Maybe it was something with a plug not sealing properly, but they do leak. Most aftermarket headlights for all vehicles are crap and will leak, so what causes that? Faulty vents?