Has anybody purchased the bulb kit that is avaliable? I have a '11 Premium XF and am not impressed with the amount of light the headlights are putting out. Anyone have suggestions? I know there are conversion kits avaliable, but wasn't sure if I just needed to purchase an upgraded bulb not.

 

The Premium is equipped with Xenons, is it not? I can't see how you could upgrade them much.

 

You could brighten the light output by installing HID bulb (H-7) with a 6500 degrees kelvin value (bright white), as the original equipment are 4300 degrees kelvin and give off a somehwat yellowish hue. I purchased some on line and they work great.

 

Any suggestions on where I should get those brighter bulbs?

 

Hey Dannygjatt,
I upgraded my HID bulbs, I purchased them from www.IJDMTOY.com. After you go to the web site, you can go down to HID Xenon products. I believe the bulb you need are the D1S/D1R type. I installed them at the end of last summer and they have been great. The lighting difference is the same as night and day. I also changed the yellowish running lights (the Little light between high/low beam) to the Heon LED pure white. Again this was another great improvement over stock. You may also try the LED running 8 stage under bumper lights for alittle added comfort. Let me know if this helps. Also if you need help with removing the assembly, Let me know that as well. The directions in the owners manual are very short and unclear.

 

RedJaguar100,

Thanks! I think I'm going to purchase those bulbs. Is it a difficult install? I might change the yellowish running lights too. What's the LED running 8 stage under bumber? Is that something associate with the aero kit? Thanks again

 

No Problem, The head light assemble comes out in one piece.. Its not hard at all, Just take your time. Give yourself at least a hour.
1. open your hood and remove the two top (2) screws on both sides of the head light housing.
2. There will be a 3rd screw inside the front tire wheel well. This screw will be pointed toward the bumper. (Turn your front wheel left if removing the screw on the right side and Versa for Right side.)
3. Your light assemble will be free. Note.. You will have to disconnect the washer line at this point. Its held on by a plastic clip. I use a bag tie to hold it on to the hood bumpers (little black rubber thing that sits on a screw) while I changed the bulbs.
Do these steps backward to reinstall.. Easy as cake. Just make sure you don't touch the HID Bulbs with your skin while installing them into the housing.
You will kill the life of the bulbs.
Shoot me a private email if you run into trouble.
The LED BUMPER lights are also sold by IJDMTOYS. You can fine them under running lights..

 

Thanks for the info....what kelvin are your bulbs?

 

Some great information there. Thanks RedJaguar.

 

I went with the 6000 (K) but I could have gotten away with 8000 (K). I choose the 6000 (K) super white color temp because I did not want the overly blue look. That to me looks fake. I see kids riding around with those super blue blubs and they are not really bright, to much of a good thing. Great for show but not much else. Also if you go beyond the 8000 (K), you may have inspection and legal problems in some jurisdictions. The super whites in HID are just fine, They get rid of the yellowish tint of the factory 4300 (K) but offer more pure white light, and they don't go wild in the blue spectrum.
Just remember that the higher the color temp, the less forward light you will get.

 

I contacted the person at the website and he said I need to purchase a conversion kit? Aren't all the 2011 XF's with the HID bulbs?

 

No, my lux model comes with halogen bulbs. The xenon were only an option on some models. Mind you, under North American driving conditions standard halogens are fine. More light is a good thing but it is not necessary for safe driving at 70 mph or less.

The biggest risk in NA that Europeans do not face is large animal strikes. That is the main reason to drive fairly slowly at night on this continent. Even the best lights make no difference to your ability to see a deer in time!

 

To answer your question about '11s. No, but they are standard on the Premium and up so you should have them.

 

If I'm not mistaken, You should be able to tell by your window sticker if you still have it, (it should be listed). I also believe that in 2010, the premium models had the HID's as standard.
Also a easy test you can try, is by having someone else turn on your lights at night while you stand in front of your car.
HID's come on instantly with a glow as it bluids up power, Colder temps really show this happening. Halogen bulb come on much like a house hold light bulb.
With the HID's you should also have a real thick piece of glass in front of the main light housing. This stops the light from scattering which halogen bulbs do not require.