[Ocala 8]

Haven't been able to find this topic and I need some advice. I have a 2008 SE 4x4 and have always liked the OEM P4X roof lights. I just acquired a set from a crushed 2011 along with roof top harness, triangle grommet, and dash switch. I am hoping the rest of the wiring may be in my existing harness? Has anyone else done this upgrade? Is there an exact location I need to drill through the roof and what size hole? Any tips (other than "RUN!") would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[roXterra]

The roof lights came on P4X since..... 2010?
If you had a 2010+ maybe you would have the hole in the roof, the 1 1/8" with a special grommet that goes up from a double step of high/low rubber, then narrows into half inch outside diameter after a right angle. White silicone sealed for any air gaps (from both sides). You may have that piece, it attaches to the P4X lights on one side, and to a 12 inch short harness laying flat and parallel to the roof (from the inside).

That connects to a bigger harness, that connects to a momentary relay which uses the logic of needing High Beams to be on, to trigger the lights.

If you don't have a hole in the roof, you probably don't have the harness inside the wiring.

Also the hole is cleverly surrounded by about a 2" enclosed area, and the circumference is a sealed circle protecting this middle from water running there from any side.

If you don't have the hole it's up to you to make the hole, seal it, and protect from water runoffs.... or it's bad news for your liner and your inside.

 

[roXterra]

I went the other direction, from P4X lights to Baja Lights.

Benefits:
less glass glare and hood glare. Adjustable angle.
brighter. both of mine are spots, stock P4X are incandescent (not LED) and have a spread where part is spot part flood.
if you want floods put them up front where the bumper is.

The stock roof lights are.... convenient. If you have them, never use them maybe, keep them. easy. but if you don't cover them, a single rock on the highway will take out the lens and there is no way to buy a new lens, Nissan only sold the whole panel with lights, no less.

If you're spending money and don't have a hole in the roof.....
you will have to pay for that hole in the roof first.
Then how about this:
Dedicated spots (like above), you mount them to the bolts there already, done.
Except for the wiring 😀
But other than the wiring...

Nice thing about Bajas is that just by unbolting the front, you can replace a broken lens, or change this light from Spot to Driving/Combo..... in case you want to relocate them in the future (about $15 to change each light [lens])

Good luck finding the stock P4X panel.... but if someone wants to sell theirs, trade for a plain panel + money, let me know! I know someone interested.

P4X lights for comparison. I think the novelty wears out and reality sets in that they're not adjustable, you definitely see the glass/hood flare, and also it's a dirt and dust entry point into the air dam. Not a big deal until you open it years later.

I think the effort involved in going from nothing on top to stock roof lights should instead be spent on something more flexible, and 2 spots up top, and 2 floods on the bumper, wether it's stock or aftermarket bumper.

 

[hurley842002]

I went the other direction, from P4X lights to Baja Lights.

Benefits:
less glass glare and hood glare. Adjustable angle.
brighter. both of mine are spots, stock P4X are incandescent (not LED) and have a spread where part is spot part flood.
if you want floods put them up front where the bumper is.
View attachment 127596

The stock roof lights are.... convenient. If you have them, never use them maybe, keep them. easy. but if you don't cover them, a single rock on the highway will take out the lens and there is no way to buy a new lens, Nissan only sold the whole panel with lights, no less.

If you're spending money and don't have a hole in the roof.....
you will have to pay for that hole in the roof first.
Then how about this:
Dedicated spots (like above), you mount them to the bolts there already, done.
Except for the wiring
But other than the wiring...

Nice thing about Bajas is that just by unbolting the front, you can replace a broken lens, or change this light from Spot to Driving/Combo..... in case you want to relocate them in the future (about $15 to change each light [lens])

Good luck finding the stock P4X panel.... but if someone wants to sell theirs, trade for a plain panel + money, let me know! I know someone interested.

P4X lights for comparison. I think the novelty wears out and reality sets in that they're not adjustable, you definitely see the glass/hood flare, and also it's a dirt and dust entry point into the air dam. Not a big deal until you open it years later.

I think the effort involved in going from nothing on top to stock roof lights should instead be spent on something more flexible, and 2 spots up top, and 2 floods on the bumper, wether it's stock or aftermarket bumper.
View attachment 127597

Agree with this, IMO the factory boob lights are not worth all the work required, in fact, if I didn't already have the holes and wiring from the factory, I may not even have lights on top.

Anyway, here is my current setup, after moving away from the inferior boobs.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[campisi]

I've used my roof lights ... ONCE. I just have no need for aftermarket lights and will keep the stock roof lights for that next time (if ever) I use them again at night off-road. In the meantime the covers are on them and they won't ever break. Love stock reliability.

 

[roXterra]

Totally how I felt, I used them for photos when turned on only.
I think the hood/glass glare was a big part of that.
So eventually I replaced with Baja S2 Pro.... I didn't mention that they are 2x3 inch outside diameter.

Now I want to turn them on on the paved road too to see more (roads without cars... one way road that dead ends (they are illegal to use on the road)

My point is that since I started to use them (the right lights) I want to use them

I've used my roof lights ... ONCE. I just have no need for aftermarket lights and will keep the stock roof lights for that next time (if ever) I use them again at night off-road. In the meantime the covers are on them and they won't ever break. Love stock reliability.

 

[outback97]

The OEM roof lights are underwhelming. I agree with the others here, not really worth putting a lot of effort into installing them. That said, if I find a good replacement light that I can cleanly mount in that location, I may give that a try because I would like better forward lighting sometimes.

For reference, 2009 was the first year these were available, on the Off Road trim. It wasn't called Pro4X until '11.

 

[roXterra]

Great history there, good to know! There was an Offroad model with them.

The OEM roof lights are underwhelming. I agree with the others here, not really worth putting a lot of effort into installing them. That said, if I find a good replacement light that I can cleanly mount in that location, I may give that a try because I would like better forward lighting sometimes.

For reference, 2009 was the first year these were available, on the Off Road trim. It wasn't called Pro4X until '11.

 

[early 2010]

The BCM controls a relay. Did you get the dash harness that wiring as well, its different.

 

[GreyDuck]

After reading all this, if you decide to go ahead with the OEM light install, I can help you figure out the switch. It's a little tricky when you first look at it. I used one to wire in my mouth light bar.