Bonneville GXP and Bonneville headlight differences Help!

[cjbennett01]

Can someone tell me if there is a structural difference in the replacement head light housing assemblies on a 2005 Bonneville GXP versus a regular Bonneville? GXP headlights are like 700.00 per pair in comparison to 300.00 per pair regular Bonneville headlights. I am debating buying regular headlights heating them in the oven softening the adhesive to remove the lenses and place them on my original housings. Thoughts? Thanks in advance

[CMNTMXR57]

Nope. Just a smoked lens and use of HIR bulbs in the high beams.

[crash93ssei]

The outer lens itself is the same except the lettering for what bulb the headlight uses, that will not make any difference though. You can definitely swap lenses out.

I would recommend trying this first though instead of buying new headlights if yours are just oxidized and nasty looking... http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 37117.html

[crash93ssei]

Nope. Just a smoked lens and use of HIR bulbs in the high beams.

The lens isn't smoked.

GXP - flat black glare caps
Standard - chrome glare caps

GXP - reflector housing around blinker is glossy black
Standard - reflector housing around blinker is chrome

GXP - HIR bulb for high beam, low is standard halogen
Standard - standard halogen bulbs for low and high beam

GXP - reflector housing for high and low beams is a slightly darker chrome
Standard - reflector housing is bright chrome

The actual lens itself is basically the same between the lights with the only difference being the GXP lens has HIR molded in the bottom of the lens face for the bulb, which is something that nobody would ever notice.

[repinS]

Nope. Just a smoked lens and use of HIR bulbs in the high beams.

The lens isn't smoked.

GXP - flat black glare caps
Standard - chrome glare caps

GXP - reflector housing around blinker is glossy black
Standard - reflector housing around blinker is chrome

GXP - HIR bulb for high beam, low is standard halogen
Standard - standard halogen bulbs for low and high beam

GXP - reflector housing for high and low beams is a slightly darker chrome
Standard - reflector housing is bright chrome

The actual lens itself is basically the same between the lights with the only difference being the GXP lens has HIR molded in the bottom of the lens face for the bulb, which is something that nobody would ever notice.

This. Ryan and I verified it last summer!

[Bvill_GXP]

It really didn't matter to me bc I'm tired of cleaning my headlights every month lol! And I'm going to get some standard headlights and if its that much of a difference and I can't deal with it ill just pop em in the oven and swap lens!

[crash93ssei]

Don't waste your time, just swap the lens, but I really recommend trying what I posted above first.

[yourgrandma]

What do you mean by "cleaning...once a month". Id hope you clean the car more often than that. It sounds like you need to wetsand them down to get rid of the damaged layer of plastic.

[CMNTMXR57]

A month actually isn't all that long! Outside of winter months when road salt is down, It's been a month since I washed the Caddy. It just doesn't get dirty. Maybe a little dust on it, but...

[SSEiMan01]

Unless your car sits outside and you don't have a Suburban to drive in the rain.

[CMNTMXR57]

Sits outside 24/7. IT gets rained, hailed, snowed on, just like the van and the Suburban.

[Andacious]

This info was helpful almost 10 years later. I am considering buying base model headlights for the following reasons:
1. The lenses constantly haze over, even after sanding them down and polishing them. The lens plastic seems to be failing as it is also filled with micro-cracks.
2. HIR lights (9011/9012) never really "took off". No reputable manufacturer makes low-profile 9011 LED headlights for the GXP high beams. I stuffed 9005 LED's in them for now, but the fit and beam pattern are not correct.
3. 05 GXP headlight assemblies are hard to come by, and are expensive.
So it seems that the base model assemblies are the best bet here; I can have clear lenses and LED's for low and high beams.

[nos4blood70]

You can very easily replicate GXP lights by taking them apart and spray painting the glare caps and corner reflectors with black engine enamel. I've done it numerous times.

Keep your headlights waxed and/or sealed and they will last a lot longer before hazing over. I used TYC replacements nearly 4 years ago and they still look great.