Hi,

I just mounted new Osram Nightbreaker laser bulbs, and sadly when testing, I noticed that the light coming from the driver side bulb seems much weaker than the passenger side one, and has a different shape, with something like a light arrow on the ground in front of the driver...

I suspect either default in the bulb (they are original OSRAM ones, I checked the serial numbers on the OSRAM site), or more probably a mounting issue. I remember I did not double check the way the bulb was inserted in it's fixation, and maybe it is not completely clicked in.

Questions:

a) is such a bad/partial insertion possible
b) can it explain my symptoms
c) is there a way to access the rear opening of the lamp without dismantling again everything: I saw esp there is a ca. 6 cm diameter rubber cap at the rear of the lamp assembly and when removed it gave access to the rear of the bulb (the ballast). If I could remove that cap and insert my finger I could check and/or click the bulb in position. not sure if thsi is an option...

Thanks for your help, I'd really prefer not having to do the whole work again...

Best regards,

Thierry

 

Answering to myself, in case it can help somebody once.

So I can confirm the driver side rubber cap can easily be accessed once the wheel arch flap has ben removed. I can confirm also that doing this job is much easier if you remove the wheels instead of working with them still in place like I did, badly inspired by some videos I saw on YouTube...

Anyhow: i saw the rest of the ballast and pushed it lightly, and the good thing is that I felt and heard a click...

So I suppose the bulb was maybe not at its place.

In the daylight the shape of the light on a wall changed but It still seems not as bright as the other side. Will check this tonight.

 

So I got my timing chains and everything replaced just a month ago almost. So I said why not, I got my OEM bulbs replaced too with new Osram Cool Blue (7000k). So far there haven’t been any issue light wise and quality wise. They’re pretty bright, only issue is they aren’t really blue as I was wanting. But that was expected because I researched beforehand and saw videos where it showed it being just barely blue. Nonetheless they’re better than OE. So I’m guessing it’s a faulty bulb because I highly doubt it’s something wrong with your car. Then again it’s possible, but mostly unlikely

 

Thanks SJ.
well, I’m going to dismantle it again, now that I have the experience it’ll be much faster.

 

Make sure the you have seated the bulb correctly, its very easy not to notice this. Also where the bulb sits there is a little leaver if you inadvertently move this by mistake your beam pattern will look weird, i never figured out what this little lever does.
Ask me how i know this lol...

 

Hello,

Test the light pattern against wall before you mount the bumber back. The small lever inside are for left/right side traffic setting.

 

Many thanks Misterbish & Vasara! What position is that leaver supposed to be in a country driving on the correct side of the road? ;-)

 

Not sure about the position. As you live in France, you are driving right side of the road like rest of the continental Europe. Your light pattern shall be so that right side of the patterns rises up.
This are text from service manual about "Tourist lever"
----------------
"A tourist lever mechanism is located on the right hand side of the projector module. This mechanism moves a flap to blank off
a portion of the beam spread to enable the vehicle to be driven in opposite drive hand markets without applying blanking
decals to the headlamp lens. The beam is changed by partial removal of the wheel arch splash shield and removing the access
cover at the rear of the lamp assembly and moving a small lever located near the bulb holder, at the side of the projector.
NOTE: The tourist lever is not fitted to NAS vehicles"
--------------
Is seems like US vehicles do not have this function, what are undestable.
BTW: We Finnish have an joke from our dear neibhbour Sweden:
- In past, long time ago, Sweden had left side traffig as UK have now. They desided to change for right side like other continental Europe. To ease up change, they make it step by step so that heavy vehicles change lanes one week earlier than others.

 

Very interesting, thanks Vasara.
We have the the same joke in France, but Belgium replaces Sweden in our version. Each nation makes fun of the neighbors, it was like this already in Ancient Greece. And certainly before.

 

Ok,
So I removed the headlamps again, and sure enough one bulb was not inserted correctly.
My entire fault, I should have stopped when tired, but wanted to finish the job.

The good thing is that I could check that removing the wheels makes things much easier.
Conclusion: always follow the workshop manual, not youtube videos.

Did not yet test drive as still daytime in France, but on the wall the two light patterns look much more normal and have the same brightness.

 

thats great news. I knew it was more than likely the bulb rather than the car since it’s very unlikely for something to be wrong with the actual headlight unit

 

Yes, you were right SJ.
Indeed, the construction of the headlight unit seems very robust, except maybe the vertical adjusting system, which I read may get out of its thread if you push it too far .

I don't understand why Jaguar made no efforts to get this bulbs more easily serviceable...looks to me a hole in the plate that is behind the opening would have been possible , but maybe I'm wrong and this would impacted the structural resistance.

Having had J "PLC", "Ford" and now "Tata" Jaguars, I must say that Ford made a superb work in making these cars more reliable and easy to work on (just look at a 1991 and a 1996 V12 to see what I mean...), and I think such a design would not have been allowed at Ford times.

 

I was always under the impression that Ford was, indeed, the owner during the x351 design period. As Tata bought JLR in 2008 and auto design takes more that 2 years to come to market. As the structure is aluminum and European Pedestrian Safety Rules were in effect that may have influenced the design of the front upper structure. IMHO

 

Yes, it’s possible, even if nowadays a car can be developed in less than two years, and if such structural details can be adjusted until quite late in the process. To me I’m always impressed when I compare pre and post-Ford era Jaguars... these guys did technically a superb job.

 

Considering the aluminum structure and the European Pedestrian Safety Regulations in place at the time, it’s likely that these factors also influenced the design of the front upper structure.

 

I have no lights on my fan or auto temperature controls. Any suggestions?

 

Hi Degaglia,

Welcome to the Jaguar Forums! It's great to have you with us.

First of all, we can't possibly answer your questions without knowing the year and model of your Jaguar.

Second, please visit the New Member Area - Intro a MUST so we can learn something about you and your Jag and give you a proper welcome.

Cheers,

Don