H4 euro headlight upgrade help

[NickGillPhoto]

Wow! Price of H4 headlights is nuts right now! Did they stop producing them? Can't find anyone that has them, our host included.
Looking for the black ring not the chrome. Looks like a $500 up-charge for them over the chrome and that's if you can find them. Anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking of ordering the chrome, sanding the chrome off and painting black but hate to modify a new part!

I know about the relay and all that jazz, just looking for some info on parts.

[Jesse16]

Yes, I just bought a pair to upgrade and unfortunately for our host whose stock was out, I found a pair of black ring types for same price as the chrome at another seller (call them all, don't rely on the web-site info.).
My fall back plan like you state was to get chrome and have it painted. I thought a painter would only have to rough up the chrome to paint, not remove ?
If you plan to put on the trim rings, then can't see that it matters chrome or black. The ring should cover it, right ? The trim ring gets the color !

[darrin]

another option is to buy the chrome ringed ones and then buy the primered trim rings that are made to cover the chrome/black rings -- you could paint the trim rings black or body colored. My recollection is that the black ones you're looking for aren't too well finished in the first place

[Jack Stands]

I thought they all were meant to have the headlight trim rings installed if you wanted a painted color. That's why they attach with that rather special screw that has a tapped head for the trim ring screw.

Yes, the price has gone crazy ($599 per headlight on eBay right now)!

[NickGillPhoto]

Thanks for the info guys. Guess I'll start calling shops and see who has them in stock.
Yes, I know about the trim ring. Didn't want to spend more money on two parts to do the job of one. I like the raw black look and have some small black rubber plugs to fill the aiming holes.

[gtc]

I was recently quoted something like $370 per headlamp (chrome) for a genuine part. I assume that means a Czech-made AL/Bosch headlamp in a Porsche box.

[zedsn]

Not trying to steer business away from Pelican but sierra madre and Eklers has them as we speak and they are the chrome trim ring model but no bosch on the glass. Sierra has the plastic primered covers on sale as well. I was thinking about going with the covers instead of just painting my chrome rings but I have not decided yet. I was told that the factory flat black painted ones don't take paint well and it flakes off and was recommended to buy the covers for them and paint the covers to match the car. My 2 cents.

[Canada Kev]

Get the covers. They're made to be painted and will cover chrome trim rings. Painting the chrome (even if you sand the hell out of it) doesn't work very well. A couple rock chips and it'll start flaking off. Plus the covers cover the screws for adjusting the lights, as well, for a clean, finished look.