Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

How can I find instructions for replacing the headlight bulb on my xj8 2005 jag? I see nothing in the manual. When I looked under the hood there seemed to be no easy access to the headlight bulb.....any ideas pease? I am not especially experienced with mechanics but hope a light bulb wouldn't be too great a challenge!

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

Hid or Non Hid?
If non Hid, pull up the metal bar and release the rear headlamp cover. This will give you a clear view of the rear of the bulb. Release the retaining clips, and remove bulb. Reverse to reinstall.

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

thanks....will give it a shot...wish I knew what Hid is and whether mine is hid!

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

Hid is High Intensity Discharge....or Bi Xenon. Non HID would just be halogen bulbs. Easiest way to tell is to look at front of headlamp. Is there a big round projector in there? Or does it just look like a bulb. Just a bulb means Non Hid.

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

HID bulb removal is a bit more challenging. lol

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

LOL that's why I dint post. Wish I had 12 inch fingers for that job.
Always end up pulli g lamp assy for HiD

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

i never do.. i pry and pop the cover off.. and gives you like 3 more inches of room. hard part is getting the cover back in..

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

Alwya have a hard time twisting it back in.....LOL. Only takes 2 minutes to get bumper off.

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

up here is a bit longer due to all the torqs and 10 mm bolts seizing.. and the nut casings braking..

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

Ahhhh the beauty of being in the south....lol. No snow ever. We only see rust on the cars living beside the ocean front, and it is only ever on one side or the other of the car...lol

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

lol ... hard sometimes especially when doing a stype v6 oil pan.. and the subframe bolt seizes lol.. good old torch comes in handy..

RE: Headlight bulb replacement xj8 2005
 

Only time we use the torch is to remove the Crank damper bolt. I don't do it....get the old timers on the case.

2004 XJ8 bulb replacement
 

I was able to pop the retainer and open the back of the headlight case but I couldn't figure out how to pop out the bulb itself. Once the back is open the space is very small and I couldn't remove the back cover of the headlight case. Then I can't seem to find the clip that holds the bulb in place. Any thoughts?

Hi Bob,

I found the Pass side to be trickier.

You CAN remove the back cover: there is a spring on the bottom, so first move the top of the cover back then lift the cover up as much as you can and try to free the bottom from the spring. Once you do that, it would move more freely in the small avaialble space so you can turn it about 30 degrees sideways and eventyally manage to get it out. It took me a while so keep trying.

I only have HIDs, so no Idea what to do with hallogen bulbs. To remove the HID bulb: there is a spring that holds it to the "socket". The spring goes horizontally. One end of the spring is fixed like a hinge. Push the other end towards the front of the vehicle, then lift it up to, release it from the latch. Then you should be able to remove the HID. Disconnect the cable by pulling gently - there is no lock.

I would guess the hallogens would just twist and pull - like any other bulb out there.

Good luck,
Venelin

Did it!
 

Thanks Venelin, I got it done. What a pain. It was the passenger side and I had to pull out the back of the headlight case with a pair of vice grips. Putting it back together was a little easier. The bulb was $17 and I am sure the dealer would have charged over $100.

It gets easier after you do it a few times :-).

Take care.

Help!!
 

This is my first post, but I've been lurking for quite a while. Just bought an 05 XJ8L (my 7th Jaguar overall) and Ive been having a hell of a time trying to change the headlights!

Ive scoured and poured over everything I can find on the subject. I can remove the cover off the back of the headlights but I cannot figure out how to release the retainer clips that everyone refers to. I can grab hold of the black plastic with the wires and I can wiggle the bulb around but as for removing the metal clips, I'm clueless. I replaced the "eye-lid" bulbs with super whites with the greatest of ease, but these headlights are killing me! My mechanic wants to charge $100 to remove the bumper and do it that way!

Please help!

I don't mess with jiggering it. I always remove the front bumper. It's a cakewalk then.

bulb replacement
 

Hey guys,

Im trying to do the same thing....How to do remove the front bumber?

Frank

I eventually figured out how to do it shortly after writing my last post on this thread. And now its the simplest thing, I can do both sides in less than 10 minutes. I even installed HID lights. All without removing the bumper.

You may have trouble if you have larger than average hands, but here goes:
1 - Remove the plastic cover that hides the grille/radiator and headlights area
2 - Starting on either headlight, locate the metal retaining bar that holds the back cover in place. A good tug towards the front of the car will do the trick, but if the lights havent been changed in a while the bar may need a real strong pull.
3 - Open up the back cover and pry it all the way out. Doing this instead of just sliding it to the side will free up a few more inches of hand room.
4 - Now you'll have access to the bulbs and wires in the housing. The top bulb will be the signal repeater, the bottom will be the main headlamp. There will be a thin metal clip holding the bulb in place which releases from beneath the bulb. If you push the bottom of this clip to the side and up, it will come free but be careful not to let it drop out completely. You should be able to gently lift it up and have it stay in its place.
5 - Another way of releasing the bulb would be to pull the wire socket off the bulb before releasing the clip. Just be careful not to pull too hard on the wires.
6 - Now just simply pull out the bulb.
7 - To put in a new bulb I find its easier to plug it into the wire socket first and then put it into its housing, followed by securing the metal clip. Replace the back cover by inserting the bottom part into its mate (youll be able to see where to put it with a flashlight). Make sure its secure, then push the metal bar back until it pops (or clicks, whatever).

You're done and you've saved yourself energy, time and expense. And the next time you do it itll be even easier.

Now this only applies to regular H7 halogen headlamps, NOT the factory xenon HIDs.

Hope this helps. I had a lot of trouble at first because the instructions I found on the forum weren't too detailed. Alot of "remove cover, remove clip, pull out bulb, reverse"...and to a beginner thats not really any help.