So, I have been looking for a couple of aftermarket HID ballasts - $50:- vs $250:- - might be worth a try. I have a 2004 XK8. Most, if not all, ads state the ballast is okay for 2005-2006 XK8. What is different with the lights between a 2004 and 2005-06???? Will any LAD5G ballast work on a 2004?????

 

I bought a couple $50 LAG5G ballasts on Ebay branded “GenXenon” that I have not installed yet. When I do, I will let you know if they work. I don’t think my custom setup will introduce any variance in their functionality.


At first glance, they look well-built and nearly identical to the Valeo ballast, at least on the outside. The two connectors, dimensions, and screw locations seem to be correct.

 

I have been looking at the GenXenon's . It somehow bothers me that they say 2005-2006 XK8. Not for the 2004!! They should be the same for a 2004.

 

I think it’s a mistake on their end. I don’t expect Amazon/Ebay sellers that sell chinese aftermarket parts to really know the details of our cars.

 

You are probably right. I can't see any reason for a difference between 04 and 05.

 

i changed to LED, much easier and still a good bit better. probably not as good as the HID but they are respectable.

 

Nalle & scottatl,

It would be safe to say that anything from 2003 on would be the same, as all the "Major" changes were made back then....and Scott, not knowing what I should know about a 1999... I wonder if you might be thinking about the High Beam? While Nalle is talking about the Low Beam HID Canister's Ballast? Which was originally made by "Valeo"?

Billy Clyde

 

Billy, that's what I thought too. Part number is right! I did order the aftermarket GenXenon's. Same as giandaniel ordered. Arriving today so we'll see what they look like😁

 

Nalle,

Let me know what you get! I think I missed this one all together! I wound-up getting the Veleo but I don't think I paid $500.00 for them! Must have been some kind of a first of the year sale or something....

BCP

 

I installed the GenXenon LAD5G ballast on my car. They seem to be a decent quality part for the money spent. They do an excellent job at powering my D2S bulbs (and would work equally well for your D1S bulbs). I have noticed no flickering, and both my headlights have the same intensity. They fit perfectly in place of the Valeo ballasts as well. There is, however, one caveat to these aftermarket ballasts. When I compared them side by side to the Valeo units, I noticed that one of the bumps on the back of the GenXenon ballasts is shallower than on the Valeo. I have since discovered why. These $50 ballasts do not provide power to the stepper motor, which means you lose the automatic aim functionality with them.

Given their low price, I will live with this trade-off for the time being. I have already made a large investment of time and money on my headlights and am very happy with my results. If these ballasts fail pre-maturely I will switch to the Valeo units.

 

I received Xenon HID on Amazon. At first look opening the box, I thought that this product would not work. Despite my skepticism I used the product and it worked beautifully.

 

can you guys post the part numbers on the ballast your using? I have flickering problems with my 2003, I would like to find some budget friendly options
EDIT: I see that LAG5G is what I am looking for. Next question anyone know where I can find a tutorial on how to replace these?

 

Step 1: remove headlight (2 bolts and 1 nut and one wiring harness)
Step 2: flip headlight upside down
Step 3: remove ballast (6 torx screws and 2 connectors)
Step 4: put new ballast in
Step 5: ???
Step 6: profit

 

I had a similar issue (on an XJ8) and this is what I concluded. The following relates to an XJ8, but I suspect it's the same issue here. It would be great if someone else could confirm the following:

1. Up to sometime in 2005, the car had AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) and the headlight aim was dynamic to compensate for the air-suspension raising and lowering the car. In these cars, when you turn on the engine you see the beam of the headlights rising.
2. The LAD5G ballast has input from the air suspension system to actuate the motor that controls the headlight leveling
3. At some point in 2005 Jaguar decided this nit-pick was pointless and got rid of the whole thing. A new ballast, the LAD5GL, omits the motor control and the headlight leveling circuitry that interfaces with the air suspension system. You no longer see the headlights moving when you turn on the ignition key.
4. If you install a LAD5GL in a 2004 model, you get a yellow AIR SUSPENSION FAULT on your dashboard because the air suspension computer expects to detect circuitry on the ballast to operate the AFS motor. Everything works fine, but the yellow error is nerve-wracking, at least for me.
5. I speculate that a LAD5G should work fine on a 2005+ model because the motor control circuitry would be there but ignored by the air suspension computer. But again, the reverse, a LAD5GL in a 2004 will lead to a suspension fault.

More on this in https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lt-fix-181869/

Anybody to confirm this?

 

I need to replace the right side HID ballast and I am confused.

is It a LAD5G or LAD5GL if I want a genuine replacement without any faulty message

Thank you

 

As I understand, for a 2006 it would be LAD5GL. Wait for someone else to confirm.

 

My ballast is on my car witch is stored for the winter. My research show a LAD5G has a 12 pins socket and the LAD5GL has only a 4 pins socket.

i just want to order the good ballast without having it in front of me.
my car is a 2006 XK8 Victory Edition with VIN ending A46473. More I read about his and more I am confused

the Victory Edition specs mention this:

Xenon HID Headlamps w/Dynamic Leveling

so what is the perfect ballast match for this ???

To bring more confusion there are 2 LAD5G specs. The D13V3 and the D13V2.

i am told the D13V3 is for the AFS ????
and the D13V2 for non AFS ???

What is AFS stand for ?

Thank you all

 

AFS: https://www.cars.com/articles/what-d...s-mean-437005/