AyrtonSenna

Hi all,
I just received the black 3rd gen 8k projectors and H1 8k fog lights, both HIDs. I'm not a mechanic so I have to go to a shop to get them installed. What would it be a fair price that the shop should charge me?
Christian

JacBlackSS/TC

i would just call a few shops in your area and ask its not something i've ever priced b/c i've always installed them myself, you honestly don't need to be a mechanic to install its fairly easy i say you save cash and do it your self

Validater

iTrader: (1)

My guess. 2 - 3 hours is what they would charge. I charged my friend $80 to do that for him, but got a new phone out of it so I actually made more.
Probably not what you wanted to hear, sorry.
I'd help but I'm on the West coast of Canada

AyrtonSenna

Is there any How-To? I'm afraid to either install them wrong on to scrarch my bumber
Keep on mind that I never touched any car. Do you think I can do it?

Validater

iTrader: (1)

The hardest part is putting the bulb into the housing and being able to still seal the housing back up, I've done 3 different conversions, and each time I had to cut the HID bulb wiring then feed it through the rubber covers "nipples" to keep the lights sealed, then re solder the wires back together, so it depends on the housing on how hard it will be. otherwise everything else should be plug and play.

Validater

iTrader: (1)

Also, the headlights can come off without removing the bumper, you heed to remove the 4 push clips that hold the grille part to the Rad support, then remove the bolts holding the lights to the brackets, and patiently and carefully pull the grille part back enough to remove the lights, then remove the brackets to gain access to the fog lights.

AyrtonSenna

I think the bulbs are already in. When I've opened the box, the bulbs weren't inside, so I guess they are already in the headlights.

AyrtonSenna

I have a friend of mine that installed the projectors, and he told me to get it done by a shop because he said that if you don't remove the bumper, you will scratch it

Validater

iTrader: (1)

Its totally up to you. But just saying the bumper doesn't have to come off, its people's preferences right. I've done 2 Cobalt conversions, each time not taking off the bumper. just trying to save you a large bill if your able to do it yourself or have a friend help.

duffman11

iTrader: (2)

In all honesty you're looking at 2-4 hours of "work". Plus any supplies they might use, whether it's actually used or not still gets applied to a shop fee.

Shop fees ~ 75$
Most performance shops ~100$ / hour labor
Cost of your headlight -How much you paid.

Your total cost for lights and install could run 1000$ (includes lights and install)

Ontop of that if anything breaks most shops have fine print in the contract you sign when you hand over the vehicle. So if it's poor quality you might be dead in the water. Best advice I can give you is call arround and see what you're paying. try to look up reviews. Also see if anyone on here lives near you. Most guys on here don't mind helping. Save you some $$ and you get to meet some cool people.

tylerjclance

iTrader: (7)

I've taken my headlights out hundreds of times
it takes maybe 3 minutes to get them out, 2 minutes to get them back in
and changing a bulb on a light is one of the most basic things you can do

I hope your whole list of mods weren't done in a shop..

You appreciate everything done to your car when you do it yourself.

HOWEVER
if you don't feel confident enough, the only way you're going to get a squared away answer on what you're trying to do is take it to a mom and pa shop somewhere. Or a performance shop.

It's a really simple job though.

heathkidder

iTrader: (20)

iv takin mine on and off the car so many times and prolly scratched it once its not hard and if your that worried lay down a cloth

tylerjclance

iTrader: (7)

i think you will be able to do it.
You just need a 10mm, and a ratchet.
You won't scratch the bumper, unless you purposely try to.

AyrtonSenna

Thank you all for the advices. I will try to do it myself over the weekend. Hope I will be able to di it without damaging other parts. And I hope the bulbs are in it, since I pay for them

tylerjclance

iTrader: (7)

Do you have the headlights already ?
If so you can check before you put them in.
If not, the Hid's will be in a separate, smaller box than what the whole head lamp came in.

Where did you get them from?

AyrtonSenna

Also, I bought the triple pillar pod from zzp and the dual cluster pod. I already have the Autometer C2 gauges for them. The same shop is charging me $ 500 to install all 5 gauges. Does it sound like a good deal?

tylerjclance

iTrader: (7)

NO!

That's WAYY TOO MUCH money for something that simple

tylerjclance

iTrader: (7)

It would really benefit you to see this as an opportunity to learn how to work on your car
it will only help you, and help you save money..

If money is no object for you then, why are you driving a cobalt? LOL

AyrtonSenna

You mean for the gauges? What would be a fair price?

AyrtonSenna

I drive a Cobalt SS because I like it. I like 2.0 turbo and I didn't see anything better on the market. Plus, the Cobalt is the only car for which I was able to get the 0% finance.
I see your point, but I'm afraid that I will ruin something to do the job myself.

AyrtonSenna

So, to install those gauges, what is the max I should be charged? And what about the install of the HID projectors and trhe HID foglight?

07cobaltLScoupe

i just had my headlights out the other day to actually take my whole front bumper off, between taking the headlights and the headlight brackets out and then the bumper off i didn't scratch it once. just be careful, take your time and you'll be fine. use a flat head screwdriver and take the 4 pop- clips out up by the hood latch and then there's only 2 bolts on the top of the headlights and then you can pull them out with just a little bit of wiggling and force.. then it's just plugging the new wiring in and mounting the new headlights. truthfully if the bulds and everything are already in the headlights and no other wiring to do it shouldn't take that long to just swap them out

tylerjclance

iTrader: (7)

I understand what you mean
the first thing I did on my car was put a STS in..
I got help from a friend.
Second thing
brakes
Got help from a friend, I barely did any work..
Third thing, exhaust.
Ever since then though, i've been doing everything myself, learning as I go.

Fortunately I never had to pay anyone
but you gotta' start somewhere

I've messed up a few things, but nothing too serious.

05Slowline

iTrader: (2)

lol

AyrtonSenna

So, I've got them from JM auto racing. They came with a little black electric box. I guess it si for the HID kit, but the bulbs are not there, and I got the once with the 8k bulbs already in. I think the bulbs are already in the headlights

Any of you around Yonkers, NY? ZIP code is 10710