I will be buying an AP1 s2000 in the next few weeks and the first thing I want to do is swap out the AP1 headlights with AP2 headlights... and AP1 tails to AP2 tails.

How much should I expect to get for my AP1 headlights and how much should I expect to pay for AP2 headlights?
and tail lights.

Is it an easy install?

 

There are a few threads on this one (probably stickied in the FAQ section).

The AP2 headlights are a direct swap in. You really don't have to change anything. There is some sheet metal cutting to put the AP2 taillights on your AP1 car (behind the lights). There are kits you can buy that give you step by step instructions as well as a template.

Prices vary greatly from condition, to mileage, to what the sellers wants. I sold my brand new AP2 headlights for $150! Yeah, I was just lazy, and the buyer was extremely lucky.

From www.hardtopguy.com, you can get everything. But since the pieces are OEM and new, the prices will be high. Here's a sample:

AP2 headlights - $1625 (04+ ballast, ignitors, and buld are an additional $775)
http://www.hardtopguy.com/store/product.ph...9&cat=26&page=1

AP2 taillights - $499 (all parts necessary to do the retro fit are included)
http://www.hardtopguy.com/store/product.ph...5&cat=26&page=2

 

If you get the AP2 headlight with the ballasts and everything its plug and play. If you just get the housing you will have to trim a part of it and fab up a bracket to hold the AP1 ballast onto the headlight.

 

WOW! I've never had a car with HID's so I guess I didn't really understand how expensive that stuff is.

Well how much could I get for my headlights and tail lights if I sold them?

 

The tail light swap involves some metal cutting and you will need a custom bracket if you don't buy the retro fit kit. always made me nervous...

 

Yeah it's not worth it to me for the tail light conversion anyways...

What would I have to pay out after selling the stock AP1 headlights and buying AP2 headlights? More than it's worth?

 

you can probably sell your ap1 headlights for 2-300, and find ap2 headlights used for 7-800

 

You can buy brand new AP2 headlights for $800 (both). www.hondaautomotiveparts.com

Then you buy ballasts on ebay. It's easier to look up TSX ballasts (they're the same). I bought my brand new OEM ballasts for $170 each shipped with the igniters. It's VERY important you buy the igniters.

With shipping on the headlights, that comes out to around $1150-$1200, and it's all plug and play. I was going to mod my AP1 ballasts to fit...but it looks like more trouble than it's worth. I started to do it and I figured that later on, there might be issues with vibration from the brackets or leakage from the seal.

You then have to either make your own ballast-to-car harness using Civic/Integra reverse switch plugs (I'm a genius) or buy new harnesses for the ridiculous price of $60 for both from the website listed above.

I ended up getting my ballast-to-car harnesses for $30shipped from some guy on Honda-tech. Find someone doing an AP2 part out and see if they will ship you those harnesses. I believe it's part #14 in the headlights parts illustration on the website I listed.


I've been lazy about selling my old lights/ballasts, but I figure that $300-400 is fair for both headlights and $200 for both ballasts is fair. So figure I'd make back between $400-600 (with haggling).

I got used AP2 tails for $325 shipped with the plugs, blubs, and harnesses. I figure I can sell my MINT AP1 tails for like $100-150 for both?? Not sure.

The way it worked out for me, I got a AP2 front bumper, headlights, and the rear bumper and I actually made money off it even before I sold my AP1 lights.

So for me, it was better than free.99. I got paid....and I still gotta sell my lights.

 

to replace fully functioning lights out for ap2 model's is a lot of money that could otherwise be put towards lighter rims, nitrous, gears, a used supercharger kit, etc...

 

I actually had a friend trade me straight up for my ap1 headlights, Lucky me. But I've seen them on ebay ranging anywhere between $500-800. As far as the Ap2 taillights, Ive seen these sold for around $300