[AVguy]

This is a long post but for a reason.

My 04 vert has factory xenons but one of them has some issues (right side).

I recently made two purchases of used OEM (2003-2007) Xenon headlamp assemblies. I purchased both passenger and driver side units. These were complete units with housing, ballast, ignitor and lamp. The first set I got were shipped UPS and both arrived damaged. The support studs have broken the mountings (plastic) where they are screwed into the central component of the housing. I worked with the seller (got half $ back) and kept both units hoping that I can jet them apart with the oven method to hopefully repair them with JB Weld or similar product. I think I got a reasonable price even with the damage because of the ballasts and ignitors etc. They even came with two sets of new HID lamps.

I then saw another seller with a pair of headlamps at a great price and got those too, hoping to save myself some work. I cautioned the seller to remove the lamps and ignitors to lessen the mass on the projectors. I also suggested that some packing material be put around the projectors (between the lamp end and the plastic housing to help prevent any movement). When they arrived the passenger side unit was broken just like the first two. The drivers side made it OK. The seller did remove the ignitors but not the lamps and did not put any packing around the projectors. I decided it was not worth the hassle to deal with UPS to try and get anything back. I got an good deal from the seller (some other parts) so I did not go that route either to get anything back.

So here is my advice to anyone who sells or purchases a factory (used) xenon headlamp assembly. Make sure to pack it like the most fragile china or crystal you can imagine. Remove the ignitors and lamps and put a lot of packing around the projectors themselves to prevent the projectors from moving if the box is dropped by UPS etc. Wrap the units in lots of bubble wrap and pack them one per box. At the price these things go for it will be worth it.

Hope this will be of help to others.

 

[SAABalingus]

This is a long post but for a reason.

My 04 vert has factory xenons but one of them has some issues (right side).

I recently made two purchases of used OEM (2003-2007) Xenon headlamp assemblies. I purchased both passenger and driver side units. These were complete units with housing, ballast, ignitor and lamp. The first set I got were shipped UPS and both arrived damaged. The support studs have broken the mountings (plastic) where they are screwed into the central component of the housing. I worked with the seller (got half $ back) and kept both units hoping that I can jet them apart with the oven method to hopefully repair them with JB Weld or similar product. I think I got a reasonable price even with the damage because of the ballasts and ignitors etc. They even came with two sets of new HID lamps
I then saw another seller with a pair of headlamps at a great price and got those too, hoping to save myself some work. I cautioned the seller to remove the lamps and ignitors to lessen the mass on the projectors. I also suggested that some packing material be put around the projectors (between the lamp end and the plastic housing to help prevent any movement). When they arrived the passenger side unit was broken just like the first two. The drivers side made it OK. The seller did remove the ignitors but not the lamps and did not put any packing around the projectors. I decided it was not worth the hassle to deal with UPS to try and get anything back. I got an good deal from the seller (some other parts) so I did not go that route either to get anything back.

So here is my advice to anyone who sells or purchases a factory (used) xenon headlamp assembly. Make sure to pack it like the most fragile china or crystal you can imagine. Remove the ignitors and lamps and put a lot of packing around the projectors themselves to prevent the projectors from moving if the box is dropped by UPS etc. Wrap the units in lots of bubble wrap and pack them one per box. At the price these things go for it will be worth it.

Hope this will be of help to others.

I can almost guarantee they were already broken, before they shipped. These early HID units were known to break just this way while they were still in use on the vehicle. If the car they came from was rear ended, chances are the impact broke the mounting studs. It's a ball and socket joint, maybe the ball popped out. You gotta separate the unit.

 

[CBR Knight]

My driver side xenon was broke like this too when I bought my car. I took them both apart to replace the projector lenses with crystal clear lenses. I found the that separating the housing is a huge pain in the butt on these. They are sealed with black RTV silicone sealant.

 

[AVguy]

Both sellers insist that they were OK before they were shipped. I have no reason to doubt their word. I think the problem is they need very careful packaging to insure that if they are "mishandled' during shipment they won't get damaged.

What broke is not the ball type joint that is part of the headlight aiming components. There are 3 or 4 studs that hold the actual projector assembly depending on exact part number for headlamp. If you pull the rubber boot of to access the lamp you will see the nuts and the threaded ends of the studs. In the case of the broken ones, the plastic boss that the studs screw into is what has broken. See picture.

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=1256&pictureid=7093

 

[SAABalingus]

Both sellers insist that they were OK before they were shipped. I have no reason to doubt their word. I think the problem is they need very careful packaging to insure that if they are "mishandled' during shipment they won't get damaged.

What broke is not the ball type joint that is part of the headlight aiming components. There are 3 or 4 studs that hold the actual projector assembly depending on exact part number for headlamp. If you pull the rubber boot of to access the lamp you will see the nuts and the threaded ends of the studs. In the case of the broken ones, the plastic boss that the studs screw into is what has broken. See picture.

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=1256&pictureid=7093

That might not have been something the seller would notice. A light I bought had the same problem, the SAAB mechanic told me the plastic piece the studs screw into tend to crack on impact when the original donor vehicle was in the accident that made the light available.