4 Aftermarket headlights: pros and cons

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4 Aftermarket headlights pros and cons
Aftermarket headlights are becoming increasingly
popular with car owners/buyers who wish to
enhance the looks of their car, improve the
visibility during driving in dark conditions or
have a replacement for an older specification
headlight that is aging and on the verge to wear
out. The reason for each might differ, knowing
is sure to make all the difference between
enjoying your new pair of headlamps or
regretting your purchase. The most common way for
upgrading a vehicle is to add a new spare part,
that is aftermarket headlamps. These headlights
tend to be a lot brighter than stock headlights.
However, not all aftermarket headlights are road
legal, and using the super bright vision choking
pair of lamps might land you a hefty fine.
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• So, to ensure you do not end up with aftermarket
  headlights that might put you at undesired risk.
  Lets have a look at various aftermarket
  headlights you can buy.
• UNO MINDA LH/RH HL5680K (headlight kit for swift)
• UNO MINDA deals in several automotive accessories
  which are available in the Indian automotive
  market. Swift By Maruti Suzuki is one of the
  best-selling hatchbacks in the country and does
  require a strong aftermarket spares Network.
  This specific headlamp is just designed to fill
  the void that OEM wont be able to do by itself.
  The headlamp is at par with the OEM quality grade
  standards.
• Pros-

• OEM grade quality.
• Efficient than standard halogen headlights.
• Versatile enough to be arranged in a wide variety
  of shapes and configurations.
• Works well even without relay, as the power
  consumption is minimal.
• They provide more focused illumination.

Cons- Takes a long time to reach operating
temperature and provide a strong light.
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• UNO MINDA HL-5663M (TOYOTA ETIOS/LIVA)
• As Toyota lives up to its reliability standards
  and some drivers have reported to clocked
  100,000 miles on their Odometer. Such high
  standards do require extremely durable
  after-market spare parts to keep the automobile
  going. Here are a few advantages and
  disadvantages-
• Pros-
• Enhanced resistance to scratches and adverse
  weather.
• Designed to withstand extreme weather for a long
  time.
• Break proof.
• Cons-
• It will be good for halogen or LED bulb setup
  might suffer if its an HID bulb. The reason
  being the casing is different for HID headlight
  set-up.
• UNO MINDA HL- 5642AM head light (Mahindra
  bolero)
• For the workhorse of Indian road, be it Bolero
  pickup (with trunk) or the bolero 7 seaters.
  This specific vehicle has earned its name on the
  Indian roads for its sturdiness and reliability
  from mountains with snow to the desert. To keep
  its name enact some OEM after-market spare part
  manufacturer has to take charge of this very
  important role. One such brand is UNO MINDA which
  develops headlamps with toughened glass and is
  embedded with a hard-coated lens to ensure
  longevity. Some of the pros and cons are as
  follows-
• Pros-
• Designed with keeping in mind the harsh and
  vigorous conditions this vehicle has to
  encounter on regular basis.
• Enhanced resistance to scratches and adverse
  weather.
• Cons-

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• Works well with Halogen or LED bulb set-up.
  However, the light throw might be hampered if
  its an HID bulb set.
• UNO MINDA Headlight HL5636 (Renault KWID)
• Despite, being a late mover Renault Kwid has
  gained a considerable amount of traction in the
  budget segment automotive market in India, as the
  hatchback has crossed the 4 lakh sales mark in
  the country. Which, requires a strong and
  reliable after-market spare parts network in the
  country. UNO MINDA to a great extent strives to
  fullfill the spare parts demand of the vehicle
  with its New and improved headlamps.
• Pros-
• Enhances resistance to scratches and adverse
  weather.
• World-wide technology partnership that provides
  OEM specification aftermarket headlamps.
• Can withstand extreme weather conditions for a
  longer time.
• Cons-
• As every year there is a variation in the design
  of the vehicle, ex- facelift which might make it
  difficult to procure the part of the specific
  model.
• HID light might not give a satisfactory throw of
  light as it is designed for halogen and LED
  bulbs.
• Conclusion
• In the end, the most crucial aspect to remember
  is that you should stick to road- legal
  headlights. Illegal headlights can cause many
  issues, and even if they are not technically
  breaking the law, theyre not particularly safe
  either. It will require a lot of research to
  ensure the aftermarket headlight you pick is road
  legal.