I'm going to do this today on my 06 STR. Both sides are shot. I tried to get the dealership to fix it and they said only manufacturer defects are covered. Ummm. Doesn't very damn S Type produced having to fix their head lights qualify this for a manufacturer defect? I'm just saying. Thanks again agian Brutal.

 

Dear Mr. Brutal:

May I say that this may be the single most awesome thread on the entire internet.

For a grand total of $1.34 and FIVE minutes of my time, I fixed both of my headlights. I had been told it would cost over $2,000 with no guarantee that the problem would not recur.

I'm, stunned, amazed, and grinning ear to ear.

To say thanks seems inadequate, but I don't know what else to say. So Thanks!

 

Between this Brutal thread and Vance's YouTube video...what can I say. You guys are the best! Simple and elegant solution; the very antithesis of Jaguar design. If now I could only find such a perfect solution to the 25 other electrical problems I have with my 2004 S-Type....

 

If you have 25 others you probably have 2 or 3 that look like that - or one failing battery. Start a thread and say what's wrong.

 

Post like this is the reason I love this forum. You guys are so helpful!. Thanks. :-)

 

Brutal.....I know you have heard this a number of times. However I was very frustrated with my 03 STR, It is ridiculous that replacement headlights are $1000/each. And I have been driving with brights on for over a year. Thanks for posting this fix.

 

And as a FWIW, A friend of mine ran across a Chevy Trailblazer with the same guts floping headlight. So Jag doesn't have a monopoly on crappy plastic stuff. Of course I doubt the Chevys are a grand a pop!

 

Jag doesn't make them. Hella do. Maybe they make the Chevy ones too.

 

I thought they were made by Valeo? Perhaps both?

 

Valeo make the parking aid.

Car makers, Jaguar included, have to submit data to NASTF, which is where I found who makes what - as well as the labels on many of the units LOL

 

I'm picking up my 03 STR this Saturday in PA. Since I am flying up I decided to UPS a small Pelican case with a few basic tools, including a small rechargeable drill/driver, some #8 screws and a couple of small bits among other things that I can't carry on. I'll fix em real quick after I get there and let everyone know how it works out.

 

I just want to thank all of you on this great forum. I've been able to solve both my climate control issue with the great service available from jaguarclimatecontrol.com and Brutal's headlight fix with Vance 580's video. I hope I can return the favor someday.

 

Brutal and Vance thanks so much!!!

I bought my car a month ago and my drivers side headlight was shot after hitting a HUGE dip in the road going way to fast by accident...

Dealer wouldnt do **** for me so i figured I'd just deal with it, mine wasnt as drastic as some of you have explained.

Ill be doing this when i get home from work!!!

 

I missed this post. The screw will push and hold the chrome piece which will raise the headlight if its drooping. The headlight housing is mounted to the chrome piece so its not headlight that breaks its the chrome piece that breaks. So using the screw to put it back into its proper location will also hold it back in place. I've been running the screw method for over 6 months now and my headlights still work as new and they were pointing at the ground before then.

 

Just finished this...took all of 5minutes. One mistake i made was not going far enough away from the tab and the head of the screw wasnt totally flush with the housing. But its good enough!! Worked like a charm and snugged the headlights back up. I used a 1" long screw but noticed that it dug into that chrome piece behind the headlight housing a little bit. I hope that wont affect anything.

Anyways, cheers boys!! Much appreciated!! Just waiting for the passenger side to break so i can do it again lol

 

The screw going in wont affect it if it only went in a little bit. Since you didnt go in all the way with the screw that little bit it went in will actually lock it in place so its all good. You should never have to touch it again so if its good I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Awesome!! Big thanks again to Vance and Brutal!

No worries with moisture entering the housings with this fix?

 

A big thanks for this thread.
I bought my str 5 weeks ago and iv been looking for the headlight height adjuster knob untill i realised they were self leveling.

Took 5 mins and now i can actually see where im going at night.

 

No worries since they are a HID system the headlights are actually vented. Under the radiator cover thing that goes across the front under the hood you will see a hose attached to each headlight that just kinda lays there. This vents the headlight so its not actually sealed to even promote condensation.