I think I'm just at one of those points where everything wants to get me at once. First it was the trans and now a headlight. So here's my questions. In speaking with my mechanic he said when they go out it can be either the bulb or ballast.

First what's the best way to test which one it is ballast or bulb? The second question is that he told me the bulb is around $150 at the dealer and warned that while you don't have to get them at the dealer don't buy a cheap one given the amount of work it is to swap the bulb which makes sense. So I look on Rock Auto and see hid bulbs for $3-5 depending on the brand. He said the factory ones were sylvania. Where have you guys been getting your bulbs and what do you usually pay?

 

I'd swap your ballasts side to side to test and see if your problem switches sides. Mine are aftermarket and I'm not sure how difficult the feat is on a stock setup, but this would verify where your issue lies.

 

if it's the ballast and you want to stay oem here's a replacement one.
2002-2007 Jaguar S/X type Xenon headlight HID BALLAST - eBay (item 350267344296 end time Apr-12-11 21:47:56 PDT)

if you want a new one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-2...Q5fAccessories

 

Ask George, he knows a lot about HIDs.

 

Sorry pushing tin I'm a nube, who's George? Also any tips on bulbs. Saw them at jpam and they were like $250.

 

Here's his contact info, you can send him a PM.

Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum - View Profile: androulakis

 

if you low beam is out just make sure to get this bulb. HID-D2S

OSRAM XENARC D2S HID HEADLIGHT BULB 325Xi 01-03 OEM 35W - eBay (item 140522974500 end time Apr-12-11 01:01:12 PDT)

This one is half the price

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Genui...Q5fAccessories

 

After a bit of research it appears that the two quality bulbs out there are the philips and Sylvania (maybe more but given the work not worth the risk) with the Sylvania I think being the oem bulb? The real question is does any D2S bulb work. Philips has an 85122 and 85120. On one of the ebay compatibitlity charts it said the 85122 was not compatible. On the Sylvania it showed the 66040 and the 66240. On those it appears that one is a Xenarc the other an Osram. Is there any difference? Anyone know anything about this? I tried looking for cross reference charts but couldn't find anything. I'd like to buy some Philips 85122's that I found on Amazon for $34/ea but you can't contact them to verify compatibility.

 

if it was me I would get the 2nd linked one I posted. They are Sylvania and about 33 each shipped.

The difference from what I see is that Xenarc/ Osram < both are the same name from what I have found, are more bluish and the philips are more white.

Hope this helps

If you like amazon here ya go

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-66240-D2S-HID-Intensity/dp/B00265FXFY/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=S-Type|93&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Jaguar|20&Yea r=2003|2003&newCar=1&carId=027

You might want to check out this site as well it recommends buying both sides because the new bulbs take a few months to color match the old bulbs.

http://www.philips-d2s.com/osram-xenarc-66240-d2s.html

 

Just did some reading on the second link from your first post. Those are used bulbs easy to miss though as it was way down in the small print. Thanks for all the links and help. Think I'll probably go with the one's on amazon.

 

Yeah i missed theused part as well. I would get the amazons ones also

 

As a final note I ordered them but I guess they take a long time to get here. I'm guessing they wait until they have enough before they ship. I ordered them yesterday and they say they will arrive on the 28th or 29th. Fortunately I'm not in a real hurry.

 

Ok I'm a bonehead. I didn't even look at the light just took my wife's word for it. So I go out to look at them and they are both on which means it must be an intermittent thing. So now I'm guessing it's the ballast...? Suggestions on this. Also noticed that the right side light is pointing at the ground so I'm going to need to do the mod on that. So the question is would a failing ballast cause an intermitent problem. Not that familiar with how this stuff works.

 

Oh boy, lots of problems. It could be the bulb or the ballast, only way to tell is to start swapping things. Intermittant bulb might also be the cable harness, bulb connector etc. there were a number of XJ owners (me included) complaining about intermittant HID's which seemed to be linked to the automatic lights on contoller, but this affected both lights so porbably not your specific problem.

One assembly pointing down is bad, very bad. Again, it could be the stepper motors that adjust the aim, the controller module that controls the steppers, the ride height measurement system or most likely the stupid pastic lugs that Jaguar use to attach the lens assembly to the stepper motot shaft. They are brittle plastic and can break easily. It is a ball and socket assembly and if you are really lucky it has just popped out after getting a good jolt (such as hitting a pot hole). Problem is that they are not at all easy to get at, the light assembly is a sealed unit and getting them apart is messy and time consuming (google 'baking light assemblies'). Jaguar will tell you the only solution is a new light assembly at $800+.

Couple of other things, HID's use very large voltages to both strike the arc and keep it burning, these voltages are lethal if you touch the wrong thing with it powered up. Secondly do not every touch a halogen or HID bulb with your fingers, the grease on your fingers will cause the bulb to fail where it contacts the glass. Use gloves or a lint free cloth. Thirdly the whole process of changing bulbs in any car can try the patience of a saint. You might be better off taking the bumper off the car and sliding the whole assembly forward, it can save you a lot of time and colorful language. Finally the HID's change color (color shift) over time. Most experts advise changing both bulbs at the same time on a car with a few years on it, unless you want noticably different colored assemblies.

Good luck and please report back so other can learn!

 

Hey Tim thanks for the tips. I actually purchased the bulbs already thinking that was the problem. My intention of changing both was the color and the fact that it's a lot of work so I didn't want to have to do it again anytime soon. As I said I had never seen the light being off, I was just going on what my wife said. Given that it's only one light I think I'm going to wait until it goes off permanently so it's not a pain diagnosing the thing. I'm glad you brought up the fixes on the light pointing down I'll probably wrestle with that when I do the rest. We'll see how it goes. Thanks again.

 

No problem. One last thing, be very gentle with the holders and clips for the bulbs and in general when you are ferreting around inside the assembly. Don't push too hard on anything, talking from experience, there are lots of bits inside the light assembly that can and do break easily.....

 

Do not worry about the sagging light. Please do a search for Brutal's repair. It takes about 10 minutes and cost less than $1!! The adjuster's are way too weak and they are very easy to break when changing bulbs.

With the one light pointing low I would really question if you had anything burned out?? Did your wife even get out of the car and look at the lights? Because with one pointing down and the other pointing correctly it could look like one is burned out from inside the car??
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