This is probably just as simple as it seems, but I'll post it anyway to see if there is anything I should be suspicious of.

So, I ordered two new key fobs because the last one we had finally died. I cleaned it out about 5 times over the last year, each time adding a little life to the FOB. Finally though, cleaning did no good. I got two new ones and programmed them; they work great.

During the programming process I had to flash the bright lights several times. Flashing the lights is part of the method by which I program FOBs on my wife's 2004 XJ8. For some time now the RHS low beam has flickered, not all the time but most of the time. During my excessive bulb flashing procedure however the LHS low beam bulb decided to die.

I removed the LHS low beam bulb and it appears to have a distortion indicating it is in fact burned out. Having never seen a new one in person I don't know what "normal" looks like, but there is what looks like a melted spot so I'm thinking the bulb is bad.

Since the bulbs are easy to change I am probably going to order the 29.99/pair (lesser quality I'm sure) rather than the $48/bulb ($98 total) option. I can see just how long the cheap one's last and determine if they are a good deal or not.

I checked the fuses and they are fine. The RHS bulb still works, and in fact doesn't seem to flicker anymore. Is this as simple as it sounds? Did I simply burn out my LHS bulb and replacing it will make all right again?

If anyone has any advice/feedback that would be great. Thanks.

 

Ok, well...

I replaced the HID bulbs with a discount brand. Both headlights work great now and are a bit whiter and a bit brighter. The new bulbs weighed noticeably less than the originals, but were otherwise identical. We'll see how long they last...

Key FOBs work great, too.

 

Actually ... the headlamp flasher only operates on the main beams (which are H7 halogen bulbs) so failure of the HID dip beams must be one of those coincidences that life seems to like throwing at the wallet

 

So confusing. The light that was burned out was the low beam (outer most). It does have an electric motor that adjusts it's height, so that is a "dip beam"?

I replaced both outer most bulbs. They were not H7 bulbs, they were D1S bulbs.

Anyway, whether I understand the headlights on her car or not, it appears I successfully repaired them.

I see what you are saying though; when I was flashing to program the FOB, it was the high beams that were being activated. Somehow the low beam burned out during that procedure. Coincidence indeed.

 

Update:

The cheap D1S bulbs (about $29 per pair) started flickering pretty soon after installation. My wife has just lived with it and done as little night driving as possible. The other night someone was convinced she was flashing for them to speed up, they got very angry! So, the cheap bulbs have to go...

I have seen threads that said Sylvania were OEM and others that said Osram were OEM. I ordered a pair of Sylvania D1S bulbs that will arrive tomorrow. They were $99.99 each at the local auto parts store but I got them from Amazon for $53.28 each, they should arrive tomorrow.

I will report on their performance.

 

Update:

The Sylvania D1S bulbs arrived today. The box says "Sylvania" but on the bottom of the bulb itself it says "Osram - made in Germany".

It took less than 10 minutes to install them both and so far no flicker. After I installed them tonight (dark outside) I let it idle for about ten minutes, went for a 7 or 8 mile drive and then let it idle back in the garage again for another few minutes. Rock steady beams of light; no flicker.

I really hope the problem is solved. I called a local Jaguar shop and he said whenever customers bring X350s with flickering lights to him all he has to do is install a new set of Osram bulbs and the flicker goes away. He said so far that has always solved the problem.

We'll see...