Key Information
- Products: Anzo tail lights and Replacement brand headlights
- Price: 2007 Ford F-150 Anzo tail lights for $143.99 / 2006 Ford Explorer Replacement tail lights for $66.59 (Note that price may change from the time the review is published.)
- Vehicles: 2007 Ford F-150 XL 6 Cyl 4.2L; 11th Generation (2004 – 2008) / 2006 Ford Explorer XLS 6 Cyl 4.0L; 4th Generation (2006 – 2010)
- Reviewer: Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
Why You May Need Anzo Tail Lights and Replacement Tail Lights for your Ford
If you want your tail lights to be crisp and new rather than fogged and scratched to maintain that new look, fresh tail lamp assemblies are an easy go-to. For the Explorer, I chose OEM direct replacements from CarParts.com, marketed as the “Replacement” brand. For the F150, I chose the Anzo brand for an upgraded look.
Product Review
Replacement Tail Lights
Priced at one fourth the cost of similar products from local parts stores, these tail lights meet or exceed expectations when it comes to fitment, installation, and performance, and are practically indistinguishable from OEM.
Product Review
Anzo Tail Lights
Despite offering a sexy upgraded look, perfect fit, and a competitive price point, these tail lights can be slightly dimmer than OEM assemblies due to lens and reflector design, which may lead you to decide to upgrade your bulbs to brighter LEDs.
Why You Should Trust This Review
Initial Observations
- The Replacement tail lights each came in its own box and was carefully packaged with a plastic sticker over each bulb port on each lamp.
- The Anzo tail lamps both came in the same big box and were wrapped in bubble paper but the bulb ports weren’t covered with plastic stickers. Not a big deal there.
- Both brands arrived in good condition and were as advertised. Both brands came without bulbs, so be prepared to use your existing bulbs.
- In keeping my Explorer OEM, I chose not to upgrade. The Replacement units are indistinguishable from OEM except in the way the mount brackets are separately formed and attached to the OEM lamps but are cast directly into the Replacement lamps. Again, not a deal breaker. From the outside, they look perfect.
- The Anzo lights provide a sexy upgrade look to the rear of the F150 and give it a customized appearance. Mounting is exactly the same and carefully matches OEM.
The Fit
- The Replacement assemblies were a perfect fit
- The Anzo assemblies fit just as well.
Installation
- The Installation process was simple for both products. With the screws removed (8mm socket), both tail light assemblies (Explorer and F150) snap out and back in very firmly. The hatch has to be opened on the Explorer for access to the screws and the tailgate must be down on the F150.
- The assemblies have holes for the screws that aren’t yet threaded but the OEM screws are designed to cut their own threads, so use a drill to drive the socket, but not an impact wrench. The Anzo tail lights were a bit easier taking the screws than the Replacement assemblies, which had slightly smaller holes and tougher plastic.
- Each set of lights took about 30 minutes to install from start to finish.
- No special procedures were needed. Both were direct fit.
- On some vehicles, taillight assemblies are more difficult than the Explorer and F150 but on others, they’re very simple. Usually, they’re easy to replace.
- Both the Replacement and Anzo products were equally easy to install.
Performance and Overall Quality
- After installation, I turned on the flashers, backup lamps, and tail lights to compare the performance of the lamps with the OEM. The Replacement tail lights were an OEM replacement and indistinguishable. The illumination was the same.
- The Anzo tail lights, even with the same bulbs, seem not to be as bright as the OEM due to lens and reflector design. And while the OEM lamps have a much larger wrap-around reflector at the bottom of the lamp assembly, the Anzo lamps only have a small reflector facing back and another small reflector facing out. Not as much reflector area shouldn’t be a problem, but it was something I noticed.
- Overall, the Anzo lights give the F150 a sharp, personalized look, but the performance of the lamps might make me decide to get bright LED bulbs.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The Replacement lamps from CarParts.com are only one fourth the price of the same product in my local parts store and half the price of other vendors I checked online.
- For great OEM fitment at a competitive price, Replacement is the best way to go.
- The Anzo lamps from CarParts.com only cost half of what OEM style tail lamps cost in my local parts store.
Cons
- The Anzo tail lights, even with the same bulbs, seem not to be as bright as the OEM due to lens and reflector design.
The Verdict
The OEM direct Replacement tail lights met/exceeded my specifications in price, fitment, and overall value. The Anzo upgrade tail lights, while a quality product that fit well and met my basic expectations, were a bit disappointing in the illumination they provide compared to the OEM assemblies. I would highly recommend staying with the OEM replacement rather than the upgrade unless you want to upgrade the bulbs as well.
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