k Folks, got a 2005 XJ VDP back in January of this year, the right side (passenger) low beam went on vacation and does not appear to be returning anytime soon, so a replacement is in order.
Question is what/which H7 bulb should I get, Walmart at $10 or auto store up to $80, what have ya'll used for replacement bulbs. Yes they are halogen not the HID type.

 

Scratching my head, but it sounds like a repair shop took a shortcut. I'd use HID - both sides at once - and do it right.

 

If your car truly does have halogen H7 low beams rather than HID, I recommend Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs, which are about $45.00 per pair at O'Reilly, AutoZone, Advance and elsewhere, but even lower prices are available online. These are the brightest, whitest bulbs I've found. The tradeoff is that they don't last as long as $10 Walmart bulbs so I have to replace them a couple times per year, but the increased night vision and safety is well worth the additional cost to me.

BTW, our '04 XJR has HID low beams and H7 high beams (the low beams are the outside lenses nearest the sides of the car, the high beams are the inner lenses nearest the grille).

Cheers,

Don

 

I am a fan of the Sylvania Ultra beams as well, pricey but great bulbs. Will be replacing my HID low beams in my 2004 XJR shortly. Getting the intermittant flashing now and it will only get worse, based on HIDs in my Cadillac.

RyeJag

 

HID lights and Halogen lights are completely different systems with no interchangeable parts. Halogen lights use incandescent bulbs. HID lights use an arc capsule rather than a bulb. They require ballasts to supply the high starting voltage - around 40,000-50,000 volts. If you have actual HID lights you cannot use any kind of halogen bulb.

If you have halogen lights there are two different ways to get "HID" lights. The first way is to buy a set of "HID" bulbs off eBay, like these:

PT Xenon HID Light Kit Bulb H7 8000K Lifetime Warranty | eBay

These are actually regular halogen bulbs painted blue to make them look like the color of HID light. The blue coating reduces the available light output by around 80%.

The second way is to buy a conversion kit like this one:

HID Headlights Kits - Xenon HID Conversion Kits - FREE Shipping & Lifetime Warranty | XenonPro.com

These actually use HID arc bulbs and ballasts, but they go in your existing headlight. Since you light was designed for incandescent bulbs and arc bulbs have a completely different light profile, you will get far worse lighting than with the halogen bulbs. The reflector and housing in the lamp need to be designed specifically for arc capsules to work properly.

The bottom line is to use the correct part, either halogen bulbs or HID arc capsules, for your lamp. Anything else is dangerous and counterproductive.

 

...and when you actually go to replace the bulbs, don't remove the bumper as some will suggest. It's tricky, but doable another way. Post here or PM me when you go to change the bulbs.

 

I have seen people successfully replace the bulbs with the light housing in the car. I have seen people break the new $100 bulb that way too. I tend to be clumsy and break things when I try for a shortcut, so a long time ago I learned that, for me anyway, it's better in the long run to spend the extra time. I just put two HID capsules in my brother's XJ8 last month by pulling the bumper cover. Total time, 45 minutes, with near zero chance of breaking anything. Then again, I have fat fingers that don't bend very well, so doing it with the lamp in the car is more difficult for me anyway. ;-}

 

SaturnV

very curious about the not removing bumper method. HID bulb replacement is an upcoming project for my XJR

RyeJag

 

Think I will have to shoot a video or something, trying to type it out makes it tough to explain the "english" you have to use to get it done.

 

Success; got the bulb replaced this weekend, thanks for the suggestions and guidance in this journey into self preservation. Stopped in at the local dealer to have codes cleared and get an estimate on replacing the bulb. Well, they certainly gave me incentive to self perform to the tune of $600. Explanation was our "mechanics have large hands and can not access without removing the bumper". After a bit more research here is how it was done.
1. release the wire retaining clip that holds the back cover in place (easy)
2. Wiggle, prod, bitch, pull the back cover out (not so easy) but does come out
3. remove the plug connector from rear of light. The wire retaining clip that holds the bulb in place is under the connector. (takes some doing because it's TIGHT).
4. There is a wire retaining clip that folds down over the back of the bulb and has a a turned up loop on the bottom side of bulb. I used a 6inch forceps with turned up end (same as those used for removing fish hooks) pinch the bottom loop with the forceps and pull up.
5. replace bulb and repeat above in reverse.

 

I haven't been able to get the back covers out. I got them to the side which is enough to replace the bulbs, but I'm putting in an HID covernsion and need to drill a 1" hole in the cover (with grommet) for the wires to pass through. No idea how I get the bottom off, and no idea how I'll get the back on again (without removing the bumper).

Also, Anyone tried one of those polishing kits to try to get the fog out of the lenses? Do you need to do anything to the inside? I'm surprised at how cloudy they are at the top.

 

HID conversion? I thought all x350s had factory HID lows.

 

Not a '05 xj8l. I think the 2005 VPs had them, but not the lowly xj8 (at least mine don't)....

 

Maybe that's it. I've only driven VDPs since that's what I was looking to buy at the time.

 

My XJ8 03 model first X350 model has HID in low beam

I have been buying my globes from these guys Headlights, Car Lights, Headlight Bulb, Car Bulbs, Car Light Bulbs | PowerBulbs very reasonable prices free shipping

 

Love to get a video; my right side lenses were replaced due to a crack, but the left are original and are yellow and hazy/foggy. I've got a polisher kit I will try, but I expect it isn't going to do a good job, so I'll need to replace the lamp housing so will have to remove the bumper for it.

Thanks in advance.

 

The HIDs were an option on the XJ8s.

 

Anyone have a procedure for removing the front bumper. I have an 04' XJ8 and need to replace the low beam bulbs. I was able to get to the driver side, but the passenger side cover is stubborn (and there is even less space than the drivers's side because of the grounding wires and screws.

 

When I bought my 06SV8 in Houston one low beam was out and the car lot said they'd put it in if I bought it. The fellow there who checked the car for me thought it was a dealer only item so $180 later the lot mechanic put it in - I didn't see the exact process, but he did not remove the bumper cover.

My question to the experts is how does one change the little town lights in the headlights and what bulb do they take? One of those is out on my car and while it is no big deal, it would be nice to see both of them on at the appropriate times.

On headlight lens polishing, on our mini-vans I wet sanded them with 800 grit, 1000 grit, and 2000 grit wet-or-dry followed by Meguiars auto polish. Made a big difference in them and I expect to do the same on the SV8. I read somewhere that wiping them with non-clorinated brake fluid would shine them up, but it seemed a pretty drastic method so I did the wet-or-dry method instead. I found the wet-or-dry in packs of four legal envelope sized sheets at Walmart.

 

These are what I use. Great bulb. They produce the same color are Silverstar. Buy 3 packs. Replace all at same time, keep spares in trunk Last the same as Silverstar. About a year. There are many bulbs out there that are not DOT approved for road usage, and get you ticketed.