Is it possible to update the standard issue h/lights with xenon bulbs on the 2005 XS model?

If anyone knows please let me know.

Ta

Neil

 

Hey Neil, lots of guys here have retro fitted HID kits from Ebay with some great results....Try asking Thermo and checking out his profile as he is one of the guys to have made that upgrade!

When I had my 02 I upgraded to 100w Sportzblue bulbs from Ring for an unbelievable difference but I believe the HID kits are better.

Great upgrade....lookin forward to the post c/w pics of course

 

Neil, are you looking at getting the factory HID housings are simply slapping in the aftermarket bulbs to give yourself the HIDs? We can help you out from there. Either way isn't that hard, but there are slight differences.

 

Do you have projectors or reflectors...surely with an '05, they're projectors.

 

Good questions all... I'll let you know once I've picked her up. Should be tomorrow all things being even. On a sad note my old JAG got destroyed today =( (sob!)

I would probably just switch the bulbs but I couldn't even find the access on my previous XTYPE - is it just a question of knowing where to look?

Neil

 

NeilB, switching over to HID bulbs is not a simple "pull out the old bulb and put in a new bulb". Most wish it was that easy, but it isn't. HID bulbs work on a totally different principle than standard halogen bulbs. So, that is why I was asking if you were planning on buying new headlight housings (they have the HID ballast pre-wired in) or going with an aftermarket setup (more wiring on your part, but the cost savings are enormous).

 

Thanks for the clarification Thermo. Either way it would be something I would have to get someone else to do. If the cheaper option is bulbs/rewiring that's probably the route I'll pursue - thanks again.

Neil

 

NeilB, if you have someone else do the job for you, specifically ask them to do 1 of 2 things (if not both). You want them to make all the wiring modifications inside the enclosure of the headlight assemblies. The other thing is to have them cover the wire connections using a product like Raychem-070. The Raychem product is a super heat shrink and it will make the wire like it was never pieced together as there is a special glue that is on the inside of the heatshrink that makes a water tight seal. Also, this heat shrink is like 10 times thicker than anything else you will find. This stuff is used to survive a nuclear meltdown (literally, hence why I know about it). You can find this product on places like E-bay for pretty cheap. A 1 meter strand of this is enough to do like 20 terminations. So, that will be more than enough in your case. You don't have to do both, but doing atleast 1 of these will make it so the connections will outlast the car. Putting butt splices for example in the engine compartment is asking for trouble in a few years.

If you need more info, let me know. It may cost you a few more dollars to have done, but the benefits of long term survivability is well worth it in my book.

 

Yeah i was thinking about doing the same thing with my 07 but im still not sure.....

 

JaguarXKR, the job is more involved for the drilling of the holes for the new bulbs than the wiring is. The big thing to keep in mind is that you need your car to have a relay to power the bulbs that you are converting over to HIDs. If not, you can damage a standard automotive switch in a hurry due to the high current HIDs pull for the first second or so (35W HIDs, each bulb will pull nearly 20 amps for the first second, so that is a 40 amp surge for a switch that is really only meant to handle 10 amps).

I wish you lived closer to me as I would tell you to come on over and we would get you set up in a few hours. It sounds difficult, but I don't think it is. Like I mentioned in the previous posts, you follow a few basic rules when doing it and you will have something that will outlast the car.

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=40148

Looks like they wanna get rid of 'em.