The answer is that the part is about $500.

A heavy square-shaped object about 1" thick flew out of a pickup in front of me and hit my front end while spinning like a shuriken. It bashed a big hole in the headlight cover (driver'* side) and then sliced into the fender in 2 places. The fender is pushed back just a bit so it rubs the door when opening.

Insurance is covering, but my deductible is $500. I suppose i could post some pics tomorrow. I told my boss who drives a motorcycle that if he had been hit it might have taken off his head!

Jason

YIKES! I ride a V-Star Classic and hate getting behind trucks of any kind. Open pickups with stuff visibly crammed in the back untied especially. Ya, body parts for the GXP dont come cheap. And the small number made for only 2 years makes it hard to locate parts. It made me not willing to try and clear my headlights from the get go. One crack..... $500? Naaaaaaa, I can live with amber side markers. LOL

Here are the pics

FYI, our headlight assemblies are no different than any other year Bonneville of the same body style. All they changed was the bulb in the high beam to an HIR bulb vs. a 9005 bulb in lesser Bonne'*. On a side topic, you can convert your low beam 9006 bulb ALSO to an HIR bulb. All it may take is a little grinding on the HIR bulbs' base and it'll pop right in. But that'* neither here nor there...

Yes, GM'* part numbering system will tell you they're two different part numbers, which can be interpreted as two different setups, but reality is, they're the same.

Perfect example of this was a set of front sway bar bolts for my '98 Camaro. I needed 2 new sets. Went to GM to get the bolts, all four bolts are exactly the same. But each bolt had a different part number. They weren't even sequential in their numbering. Just 4 completely different part numbers.

And BTW, the only "real" difference using a headlight assembly out of any other similar year Bonneville vs. a GXP assembly, is the stamping on the lens cover denoting what high beam bulb to use. GXP'* specifically say "HIR-1" on the high beam. All others will say "HB3" which is the 9005 bulb.

There are a few other differences aren't there? . The GXP uses smoked lenses, and has Bonneville on the drivers lens. I'd up the headlight fuse for HIR on other Bonnies and wonder if the wire gauge is the same. Bonnevilles are known for close tolerance wiring. Some harness'es were recalled because they proved insufficient. Even my ground to the body couldnt take all my mods. It had to be redone. My fog light harness was said to be to narrow a gauge when I took it back for the second burnt fog light. It was replaced by a newer version.

Nope. No difference. A friend (he'* on here too, or was... Sleighride03) has an '03 and there is no noticable difference. The only issue both of us have, is the scratching on the back of the clear lens that you can see when the lights are on. :(

The headlight wiring isn't a problem in our cars. It'* the damn driving light wiring. I've completely re-wired my ground wires on both driving lights. But that'* another story for another time.

As mentioned, our GXP'* use an HIR bulb for the high beam (HIR-1). I then have been running an HIR-3 bulb (I think it'* an HIR-3) in my low beam for nearly two years now without a problem... Well, other than being actually able to see ahead of me. I had to grind down the base of the bulbs where they flare out, but otherwise, they go in and twist like a normal 9006/HB4 and plug right in.

An HIR bulb IS the closest halogen bulb you can get to a HID. PIAA'* claim to be, they're not. And I love PIAA. Nor are Silverstars. The HIR'* create a whiter, brighter light than any other halogen, but because of the reaction taking place in the capsule due to the coating on the glass, actually run cooler than a regular halogen bulb. This means they last longer and and if they run cooler, create less resistance, therefore aren't adding any unneccesary load on the circuit. My company, GE created this technology, but GE doesn't want to work in the automotive business (why, I don't know), so they licensed it to Toshiba.

Here is a good website with info on them and what I used when I asked, "what the hell is an HIR-1 bulb" when I was trying to figure out what this odd shaped high beam bulb was when I first got the car.

HIR Headlights 9011 9012 bulbs

I have a 05 SLE w/ Silverstars in low beam. Better than stock, but not what I want yet. Can I use the HIR bulbs in my Bonny. I would like to upgrade low, high, and fogs to something better. It gets really dark in Northwoods of WI in fall. Thanks.

"Lesser Bonne'*" ?!?!?!?! Who are you referring to as "lesser"? Perhaps we should have a separate forum for GXP'* so us "lesser Bonne" owners don't pollute your rarified atmosphere.

I'm just kidding of course, and I do accept your apology.

I wasn't kidding when I banned him. He shared alot of the former Admins traits and faults and was banned with alot of other sympathizers when we parted company with the old staff. Good riddance. The present staff loves all Bonnevilles and give everyone and trim models equal attention.

BTW, I'm pretty sure the SLE follows the other cosmetic differences it shares with the GXP. I realize you have SilverStars now, but pretty sure it came OEM with HIR'* like the GXP. From what we have gathered, the only real diff in the SLE/GXP is the NorthStar engine. Would have been nice to see some '04 & "05 SLE'* with Supercharged 3800'*