Jaguar x-type 2007, USA 120,000 miles
At night would occasionally receive flashing lights from on-coming cars at me, so checked out the headlamp alignment. They were slightly askew so went to adjust them. The adjustment screws just turned with no effect. Doing an online investigation, apparently breakage of the plastic fittings for adjustment is a common problem. I suspect they are easily impacted by heat and become brittle over time, and subsequently break (due to vibration?). So more research led me to online replacement fixtures that are 3D printed. Ordered several from Europe and followed several YouTube videos. Not a difficult replacement except for dismantling the plastic headlamps. You need a heat gun to soften the sealer to pry the lens off.
More importantly, however, was what I found when I removed the headlamps and opened the bulb access panels on the back of the lamps. I figure I was one trip away from either a blown fuse or a fire. The heat of the standard HIDs had baked the electrical wiring and the wire insulation had flaked off in numerous areas. Surprised they had not shorted miles ago (see pics).
Thought about splicing in new wires, but I didn't have the terminal connectors and splicing would have been awkward for such a confined space. Chose not to do that. So instead, I used liquid electrical tape (two coats). Because I didn't know the temperature range that the liquid tape was good for and concerned that it could suffer the same over temperature fate as the original insulation, I used plastic spiral wrap over each coated wire as a hedge against possible shorting in the future.
I checked my 2005 x-type with 130,000 miles and found no heat related deterioration on the wire insulation. I'm wondering if Jaguar didn't change wiring suppliers or specifications between the two years of production? Anyone else have a problem with the headlamp wiring insulation flaking off and what year is your vehicle?
At any rate, I post this as a precautionary notice that it might be in an owner's best interest to check the integrity of your wiring inside the headlamp module before a unwelcome surprise occurs.
Note: Pic 1 and 2 also shows the broken white plastic adjustment fixtures. They each broke off at the narrow neck of the adjustment block. I might add, I have not had any need to use the adjustments until this time, so breakage was not from previous over turning or adjustment.

 

Well, that's shocker. I actually have never seen such rotten wiring - the closest to that was in a house, of about 100 years of age.

One thought I do have about your wiring (but strange, that not both of your X-types have the same issue):
It is known that one of the peculiar "mad things", which Jaguar did, was using a type of wiring insulation, which is plant base - or in other words:
Jaguar used copper wires enclosed in yummy stuff for rats and other rodents...
So any chance that you have rodents where you live?

And yes: All you write about the level adjust above is true.
I wrote a DIY guide for the fixing of that levelling issue on the S-Type (X-Type is very similar in these regards - probably slightly different replacement parts). I had bought them on ebay a while ago:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...er-kit-263728/

 

Changing to a plant-based insulation may be the reason for the deterioration of the insulation, as I could see where it might be less resilient to heat than previous wire insulation. Thanks. Whenever I replace wiring in vehicles, I use aviation quality wire, as I know it meets a higher standard than wire from a retail store.

Rodents are everywhere, I imagine. These particular wires are located inside the sealed headlamp (visible by removing the access covers for changing the light bulbs), so rodents not the issue. But your point is well taken for other exposed wiring throughout the vehicle.

 

Ah yes, those wires are inside of the enclosure - right. Then is can only be heat. Heat generated by those high intensity discharge (HID) lamps...
Are they the OE HID or aftermarket?
Some people here on the forum had questions in the past of how to replace their standard OE bulbs with HID. This is absolutely not to be recommended, because HID requires also a different (thicker) wiring harness, as especially during the moment of switching them on the current-flow is immense. And at the end of the day...: These days LED-bulbs are as bright as HID while consuming way less power.

PS: What I also intended to convey as message between the lines above: Is it possible that a PO (previous owner) did an aftermarket HID installation on your Jag and did not update the wiring?

 

Can anyone recommend a set of led headlight bulbs that are bright enough for low beam headlights please
I have an aftermarket hid 35watt low beam kit I didn’t install. It comes with new wires attached for a plug and play installation. Do you think these would be safe to use ? Thx