How much labor to replace both HID low beam headlamp bulbs

[InfinityLady]

I am trying a new mechanic to replace both low beam Xenon HID headlamp bulbs in my 2001 QX4...To save some dollars, I ordered the bulbs online but replacing them seems to be a bit of a hassle as it would require removal of the battery (fairly easy) and the air filter housing (this part seems alittle more complicated with more bolts to consider) and the bulbs themselves seem somewhat delicate....Could anyone out there tell me how much time in labor I should be charged for replacing these bulbs?

Thank you for your consideration.

[body80]

I wouldn't suggest you go to a normal mechanic to have these installed. Mechanics don't really do custom stuff like this. They are great if you want to install stock for stock parts but custom work it's really in there normal day to day work.

HID's will require some custom wire and some talent to make it look like a professional install.

I would recommend you got to a Stereo shop or import performance shop. Domestic performance shops really don't do custom stuff like this they specialize in V8 engine custom work and less on custom wiring jobs. This is just my experience though.

A stereo shop will know how to wire it up and have the skill to hide everything to look OEM. Plus you can call them up and they will be able to give you an exact hour and dollar amount because that's what they specialize in.

This is just my suggestion.

[fueler]

she is simply replacing the HID bulbs in her QX4 which comes factory with HID, not installing a new kit or retrofitting, as you implied, body80

A normal shop could charge you anywhere from $60 to $150 (1 to 2 hours) for such an install - however, you won't get any sort of parts warranty (since you bought the parts yourself) and no guarantee that bulb replacement will solve your problems. (remember, theres also fuses and ballasts that could go bad.) What problems are you having anyways? Why are you replacing BOTH bulbs?

[TheReplay]

When i bought my QX4 they had a different temp color bulbs, probably because they only replaced one and never knew what color to get... so not knowing what color the other was i replaced them both... before hand though i switched side to side to make sure it was a bulb problem and not a ballast problem.

Bulbs i got for 20 bucks....

I wouldnt suggest paying a shop any more than 50 bucks to change the bulbs, as they really are quite simple...

Remove battery, i beleived i only loosened my air box to get a little wiggle room.

After that just replace bulbs and put battery/airbox back in.

[InfinityLady]

Thank you for the input...the driver side bulb no longer works and the mechanic said that 75% of the time, it is the bulb and not the ballast...I was also told if i only replace one of them, one side would be brighter than the other, so he advised me to replace both and then i would still have the older working one as a spare...hopefully, he is not churning me for more labor to do replace both bulbs.

[body80]

she is simply replacing the HID bulbs in her QX4 which comes factory with HID, not installing a new kit or retrofitting, as you implied, body80

A normal shop could charge you anywhere from $60 to $150 (1 to 2 hours) for such an install - however, you won't get any sort of parts warranty (since you bought the parts yourself) and no guarantee that bulb replacement will solve your problems. (remember, theres also fuses and ballasts that could go bad.) What problems are you having anyways? Why are you replacing BOTH bulbs?

I see I missed that part. thanks

[KyooX4]

It's better to replace both bulbs, as your mechanic said. HID bulbs change hue slightly as they age, so if you replace only the non-functional bulb, your new bulb will most likely be a different hue and probably brighter.