# Dealer Quoted $445 for Low Beam Bulb Replacement **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** camry, toyota\ **Created:** [March 27, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642 "2025-03-27T22:44:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 11:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/41 "2025-03-30T23:22:15Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > it’s the glass part that “sealed” the fate of the sealed beam. Glass is not friendly in a collision, either with a car or a pedestrian, and is no longer allowed. That is my understanding as well… 🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/42 "2025-03-30T23:30:01Z")
I can’t find anything that states sealed beam headlights are not allowed . What I did find that they fell out of favor so more aerodynamic assemblies with replaceable bulbs just became the design preference . ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/43 "2025-03-31T00:01:59Z")
Probably just an old wives tale or something… ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/44 "2025-03-31T00:08:22Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > It took me a while (out of a lifetime in this industry) to realize that building a business based on low pricing is stupid. You know your business better, but it’s a commonplace in most that people starting out, without a reputation, work for less, build a reputation. Customers pay more if they’re confident it’s going to be done right. > [@asemaster](#): > > If my price is higher, I need to justify it by demonstrating how my service is better. How do you do that to the guy who wants a new bulb installed? Or a tire patched? Or anything a reasonable person expects a competent mechanic to do right? I don’t have the tools to mount and unmount tires so I go to a cheap guy in the neighborhood, not Pep Boys, because I can’t imagine how someone could bungle it, don’t think I have to pay for reputation. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 12:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/45 "2025-03-31T00:24:09Z")
Heh heh. You can’t believe how someone could bungle a tire up? I had a flat on my lawn mower last year. Took it to the tire shop to have them put a tube in. Took two days to get it back. I made it ten feet out the garage before the tire was flat again. I didn’t want to wait another two day with the grass growing, so I just bought a tube and did it myself. Not my first rodeo. Turns out the tire had been pierced by a thorn, but whoever was given the job didn’t take the thorn out. Tire repair 101. They have been having a little turnover issue. Not sure if it’s the ne w management or the quality of the labor available. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/46 "2025-03-31T00:49:58Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > I don’t have the tools to mount and unmount tires so I go to a cheap guy in the neighborhood, not Pep Boys, because I can’t imagine how someone could bungle it, don’t think I have to pay for reputation. The guy could tear the bead on your otherwise newish tire, the mechanic could get grease on your floor mats, and or steering wheel, and or door panel, arm rest, greasy fingers prints on the hood, fenders replacing the head light… Had a mechanic break the gears on a $1,000.00 headlamp while installing the bulb (yes I paid the dealer to replace it), a small shop might not be able to afford to pay you back or the dealer to replace it, or might just tell you to go pound sand… Lots of reasons to always use qualified mechanics, even for the simple stuff… Typically, a vehicle is the 2nd largest “investment” a person buys.. I just don’t trust anyone to do the work… Can you say Jiffy Lube etc and damaged drain plugs, or oil outs etc etc??.. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/47 "2025-03-31T12:39:29Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > old wives tale It’s about cars. Old husband’s tales. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/48 "2025-03-31T13:34:46Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > especially if it’s dark outside 🤣🤣🤣 Had many cars with sealed beam headlights, seemed adequate. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/49 "2025-03-31T14:26:49Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Had many cars with sealed beam headlights, seemed adequate. “seemed adequate” . . . that’s being kind 🤣 🤣 🤣 I believe it was back in the 1970s or early 1980s, the cars sold in europe progressed to those “aerodynamic” headlights and they were wondering why the cars sold in the USA were still using those antiquated sealed beams The funniest thing . . . to me . . . were the european models sold here with sealed beams, which were MUCH uglier than the european-spec models, at least in my opinion ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/50 "2025-03-31T15:30:43Z")
When Consumer Reports uses “adequate” in referring to acceleration, I read “slow”. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/51 "2025-03-31T15:35:21Z")
Speaking of shortcuts, I just watched a vid from the South Main guy changing headlamp bulbs by going in from the fender liner versus the major disassembly from the front outlined in the service manual. A couple bolts out of the liner and held it back with one hand while he removed the headlamp with the other. Easy peasy… ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/52 "2025-03-31T21:49:01Z")
That South Main Auto channel had a very good explanation of why it costs $500. The factory way to change the bulb was to pull the grill and then the light housings. That requires a recalibration of the front sensors mounted in or around the grill. All that cool tech is a pain to service. Eric O found an easier way not requiring recalibration. ---
**Author:** ![Jerome-Silverman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71e660/32.png) [@Jerome-Silverman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jerome-Silverman)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642/53 "2025-04-03T00:35:35Z")
Add in a diagnostic fee! [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dealer-quoted-445-for-low-beam-bulb-replacement/199642.md?page=2)