Foggy Headlights (2000+)
 

After searching I found a thread similar to my situation, but its old...sooo heres a refresher. I bought this headlight scratch/yellowing/whatevr repair kit where it includes 1000,1500,2000,and 2500 grit sandpaper and a polishing compound to refinish my 03's headlights. Mine have little scratches, almost like mini cracks in them...only noticeable @ night w/ the lights on. After some research I found that its actually INTERNAL...but I had already done the laborous process of refinishing them.

Needless to say they look slightly clearer overall, but it did not remedy the main problem. I just wanted to post to let everyone know not to waste their time - its INTERNAL (from the heat of the headlamps). I guess I'll be purchasing new headlamps sometime in the future.

I bought the SilverStar Ultras and I must say...they're amazing. Not much of the blue ricer look (thank God) and night vision is drastically improved. But it does show the lens imperfections more, lol.

P.S. I can't seem to get a for sure response about replacing my SE cluster w/ one from an SLE (I would like the DIC, as I don't have one..lol) Does this work, or no?

Thanks guys!!

You CAN replace it, but it would be a situation with alot of wiring. If your comfortable with it, its do able.

Good to hear you like the SSUs, they're rather popular here.

Also, for the headlights, did that include a polishing compound or anything like that?

Yes...it came with a polishing compound. I purchased this @ AutoZone for $15.

Why would replacing the headlamps require alot of wiring? It seems that the old ones should just unscrew and the new one should screw in, then you pop in the existing headlights. I dunno...but it seems pretty straightforward to me.

Yeah, the headlights would be a simple swap, just remove and replace.

He is talking about swapping out the cluster with one from an SLE with DIC. That would require wiring. ;)

Oohhh (DUUHH) :oops:

I'm pretty good with electronics, so I'm not afraid of the wiring aspects here (I'm an MCSE). I'm just mainly concerned with if it will function or not. I realize I'd also have to replace the control buttons on the dash as well, but thats OK.

So are you saying that this swap WILL function properly (i.e. all DIC info will work)?

I can't find a tutorial or any other kind of information on here about this, which is suprising...I would think that would be one of the SE owner's first mods. My SE is practically an SLE. It has a very nice option package for an SE - rear spoiler, heated leather, traction control, sunroof, leather shift/steering, automatic climate control, 3.05 gears, etc. It's basically an SLE without the extra body cladding and ugly front end (which I hate).

If anyone could point me to some instructions on doing this mod I would REALLLLYYY appreciate it!

I would think you would need all the other pertinent parts to go with the DIC, whatever sensors that would entail since it monitors tire pressure, open doors, oil level, etc. Unless GM put all that stuff in for all the cars, and just didn't hook it all up, but that doesn't seem likely.

Well the SE also does that same stuff, just without the graphical DIC. SEs have the "Systems Monitor" which does the same functions (as far as notifications go). It has a Tire Pressure monitor, tells when doors are open, etc. Just less prettily. There may be some things it doesnt do...but I doubt it. Perhaps fuel consumption and stuff, but I imagine that is calculated within the DIC itself, as opposed to some kind of offboard computer. I dunno tho.

Noooo body seems to know much about this swap, which is very suprising. I guess the majority of you have SSEis or SLEs with DICs already.