4200 Xenon headlight swap over

paul328

paul328

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132
I have read a few previous topics on retrofitting Xenon lights. I thought I would ask for any updated views.
As these cars are pre 2009 there is no need to install headlamp washers to get it through an MOT. As I understand the current Regulations, as long as the beams are compliant with the requirements for ordinary lights then they should pass the MOT. Self levellers are not required.

The headlamp casings appear identical for Xenon/non. Underneath for both has the space for the ballast. The lamps and control unit should fit onto the back in place of the existing units. The wiring as I understand should connect up.

I bought a set of ballasts/bulbs/holders/control units/wiring.

Before going to install these, has anyone got practical advice/tips/ warnings/ how to that they would wish to share?

I had tried 150% increase bulbs on the dipped beam, but frankly they were not much different. As I am getting old and my eyesight not being as good as it once was, I wanted Xenon lights, which I have had on my everyday cars for the past 20 years.
 
jasst

jasst

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2,316
Don't expect a massive improvement with Xenon, my old 4200 had them and the first time I drove it in the dark I nearly wet myself as the light output was very poor, ended up putting upgraded bulbs in, made a slight difference, but not much. Don't expect the light output to be on a par with more modern cars, it isn't.
 
Zep

Zep

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paul328 said:
I have read a few previous topics on retrofitting Xenon lights. I thought I would ask for any updated views.
As these cars are pre 2009 there is no need to install headlamp washers to get it through an MOT. As I understand the current Regulations, as long as the beams are compliant with the requirements for ordinary lights then they should pass the MOT. Self levellers are not required.

The headlamp casings appear identical for Xenon/non. Underneath for both has the space for the ballast. The lamps and control unit should fit onto the back in place of the existing units. The wiring as I understand should connect up.

I bought a set of ballasts/bulbs/holders/control units/wiring.

Before going to install these, has anyone got practical advice/tips/ warnings/ how to that they would wish to share?

I had tried 150% increase bulbs on the dipped beam, but frankly they were not much different. As I am getting old and my eyesight not being as good as it once was, I wanted Xenon lights, which I have had on my everyday cars for the past 20 years.
Click to expand...

The xenon / non-xenon casings are different in some important aspects. The cable route and grommets that cover for the dipped beam bulb.

Having said that the projector appears to be the same so with a bit of messing about you can put a xenon bulb in, it does make a difference but it’s not night and day, if you’ll excuse the parlance....
 
safrane

safrane

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16,862
Aware that the xenon units self calibrate when first turned on (pitch up and down); if a fault is detected they automatically go the lowest level pitch to prevent dazzling oncoming traffic... if they do not detect the self leveling signal they may take this as a fault and always dip to this position making the upgrade rather pointless.

It maybe a far easier option to fit a non factory bulb and ballast rather than the whole units.
 
paul328

paul328

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Messages
132
Thanks for that. Is there a way to cheat the sensor? As I understand from previous posts the self levellers are installed on a suspension arm which is bespoke to the xenon cars. I was planning to see if they could be locked in one position as normal headlights would. That is all an MOT here requires for this age of car.
 
safrane

safrane

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16,862
The sensor attachment is as far as I am aware standard on all the wishbones on the LHS.

I guess all sensors can be fooled.
 
Oneball

Oneball

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11,118
paul328 said:
Thanks for that. Is there a way to cheat the sensor? As I understand from previous posts the self levellers are installed on a suspension arm which is bespoke to the xenon cars. I was planning to see if they could be locked in one position as normal headlights would. That is all an MOT here requires for this age of car.
Click to expand...

Your headlamp levelling must work if it doesn’t it’s an MOT fail, there’s no age restriction that I’m aware of.
 
Navcorr

Navcorr

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3,839
Oneball said:
…. there’s no age restriction that I’m aware of.
Click to expand...
Can't find anything either although, admittedly, haven't looked too hard. A DfT paper from 2010 states aftermarket HID headlamps are required to comply with ECE Regulation 48. Which "in practise" means headlamp cleaning and self-levelling are required. Would OEM Xenon be classified as aftermarket if not originally fitted?
 
Oneball

Oneball

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11,118
MOT handbook requires the levelling system (either auto or manual) to be functional, whether they have HID is not relevant.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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48,788
Navcorr said:
Can't find anything either although, admittedly, haven't looked too hard. A DfT paper from 2010 states aftermarket HID headlamps are required to comply with ECE Regulation 48. Which "in practise" means headlamp cleaning and self-levelling are required. Would OEM Xenon be classified as aftermarket if not originally fitted?
Click to expand...

'practice' surely ;)

C
 
paul328

paul328

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132
If it doesn't have a self levelling then it doesn't need to work as far as I know. the most recent update was Feb 21. I will try and find the links and post it. If there is something fitted generally it must work, but for eg the the wash system only applied if pre 2009.
 
Oneball

Oneball

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paul328

paul328

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Messages
132
Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.
Sometimes it is not easy to determine if the self-levelling systems work. In such cases you should give the benefit of the doubt.
You can identify HID headlamps from:
  • ‘DCR’ mark on the headlamp lens or body
  • an igniter module or inverter behind the headlamp
  • taking a few seconds to reach full intensity
  • a bluish tinge to the light
HID headlamps use high voltage. You shou
 
paul328

paul328

Member
Messages
132
Yes they should work IF FITTED. If they are not fitted then then don't need to work!

If it is a Halogen unit and ONLY an HID is fitted it is a fail. If the whole assembly is changed then as i understand it that complis
 
paul328

paul328

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Messages
132
Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.
 
paul328

paul328

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Messages
132
Sorry we may have been posting at cross purposes. My fault.

I do. I thought the self levellers are on the suspension arm and activate the lights? On my W8 there is a separate module which if inoperative or not fitted just leaves the beams fixed as indicated by a previous poster. I understood that these are what causes the rise and dip on startup and clearly varies with the weight in the car?

If these are not fitted then is there anything that causes the headlamps to move up and down or attempt to do so?

I am not familiar with the system on this car and just going with the w8 and similar cars.
 
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