Starting in 02 they switched to a clear plastic over the headlight instead of the dimpled looking pattern on the earlier models.

Sylverstar Ultra bulbs are a nice upgrade as well. When my factory headlights got a little too sandblasted, I went the aftermarket route from Rock Auto and they made a huge improvement in visibility, but I did have several hundred thousand miles on the factory ones.

You'll need an adapter to plug into the new bulbs as well.

 

The 02-04's are a clear housing where the 99-01's have all the lines. These are a direct fit and the cost was also a factor for me.


Functional and decent quality without the cost of the 05 plus style.


Edit: Just noticed F350-6 answered the same question.

 

I wonder if any repellant would work? Assuming it had the same active ingredients. I've got some "Cutter's" to try.

 

I've heard only Deep Woods OFF will do the trick.

 

I have had great luck with Meguiar's mag rim polish to start, then swap to a standard headlight polish. The rim polish is more coarse grain so it knocks it down faster, then the headlight stuff polishes it up.

There's a good thread here from not to long ago too: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...eadlights.html

 

A buddy did this same thing with REPEL this weekend on his 2000 F350. We were camping and he thought he would give it a shot. I was shocked at how well it cleared them up. It was an obvious difference. I think it is the DEET in the bug spray that clears them up. It's definitely worth a shot if you have some DEET based bug spray laying around. I think his was like 25% DEET.

 

The 99-01 has an opaque housing and the 02-04 has a clear housing and has a brighter light pattern as F350-6 and Bently Coop said.

Headlight Assembly - With Composite Style Headlights | 1999-04 Ford F250 - F350 - F450 - F550 Super Duty | LMC Truck

In the picuture the top light is the 99-01 and the bottom light is the 02-04.

 

I really like the look of these. I might order a pair and see if the quality is acceptable, and how easy (or not) it would be to open them up and paint them to match my truck . . .

http://www.anzousa.com/headlights/fo...e-d-amber.html

 

I love mine, although I went chrome. Hooked up the LED's to the running lights.

 

That's good to know, Matt. Thanks for posting the pics. I realize they aren't OEM quality, but would you say they're made fairly well?

 

I would say so. The only issue I've had is I got some muddy water inside the housing down in the turn signal area. HOWEVER, that was after a seriously hard romp in a deep mud hole for about 45 minutes with some quite high speed entries.

Prior to that and since then in normal use, no issues whatsoever. Hardcore downpours, pressure washers, car washes, normal rain while driving etc they have been completely dry and no fogging or leaking.

I'm quite happy with them, and the light spread and pattern was a definite improvement over stock on my 2001. Coupled with 9005 bulbs in the foglights and I have PLENTY of light that also doesn't blind people, even with the mild lift and tires.

 

Well, I guess I can officially add them to the list of things I want, then. Thanks for the information!

 

The 05 and up uses a better reflector setup. Also a 9008 bulb vs 9007 bulb, and it makes a BIG improvement in light output and spread. My 03 lights are almost perfect (no yellowing or fogging), but the 05 with stock bulbs was much better. Then I put in Silverstars and had another improvement. Definitely worth the price of admission!

 

Insect repellant on shopping list. Check

 

Just a quick word of caution. If you use insect repellent on your truck, it will eat vinyl and many plastics. Make sure not to leave any rags you use to wipe it off sitting on something that can be damaged.