Does anybody know whether its a straight swap out? I have the stock halogen assemblies and I'm tired of them bringing down the look of the car. If I find a pair of HID assemblies, can I just remove the old ones and throw in the new ones, or would there be a computer or electrical problem?

 

It's quite complex to do - see electrical guide. Honestly not worth it - just get slightly brighter halogens if you really need them. (Often it's just the outer lenses that need cleaning / replacing.)

 

Thanks for the reply, JagV8. However, I saw an old thread where Brutal mentioned he had done several retrofits. I've sent him a PM inquiring about this. I also saw a thread on the UK forum where someone did this and said it was a simple swap out.

 

I found a junker currently in possession of both a halogen assembly and a xenon assembly and he confirmed that the connectors are the same. But that doesn't necessarily mean the wiring inside the connectors is the same. So we're getting warmer, but not there yet. Need more info.

 

Update: I called a service tech at the nearest Jaguar dealership and he said it would not be a straight swap, claiming the connectors are different and I would need "new wires and computer"...whatever that means. These are the same people who say you need to remove the entire bumper to change one light bulb, for what it's worth.

 

Hi XJ8JR,

I don't know the answer to your question, but you can download the 2005 Electrical Guide here:

http://www.jagrepair.com/images/Elec...al%20Guide.pdf


Compare the schematics in Figures 8.1 and 8.2. The standard headlamps connect with 6 wires, while the HID lamps connect with 7. Note that the HID headlamp assemblies also contain the Headlamp Leveling Module. The HLM operates in conjunction with the Air Suspension Module (see Figure 8.6 of the Electrical Guide), which accounts for the extra wire.

Cheers,

Don

 

It's a pain to do and indeed needs new wires, module, etc, as you can see from the elec. guide, whereas brighter bulbs are easy. Your call.

 

In our cars with halogens I use the Sylvania SilverStar bulbs. They are significantly brighter than standard halogens at the expense of not lasting as long. I have to replace them every couple of years, but the improved night vision is well worth it in my opinion. And to be honest, the SilverStars in our '93 XJ40 seem pretty equal to the HIDs in our '04 X350.

I haven't tried them myself, but there are a lot of HID conversion kits on eBay that use standard Euro-size bulbs (e.g. H1, H4, H7) and an external ballast that fits your existing bulb connector. I have considered converting the high beams and front fog lamps in our '04 because they are halogen and appear yellow in color compared to the HID low-beams. Since you are changing only the bulb, you don't get the projector lens of an OE HID lamp, so I don't know how much brighter these conversion bulbs might be, but their color temperature would be closer to "white," unless you choose to get crazy and go for blue or purple (please don't!).

According to the X350 New Model Introduction Dealer Training manual, the color temperature of the Jaguar HID headlamps is 4100 deg. C. I experimented with LED bulbs in our parking lamps and 5000 deg. were the closest I could find, but they are a little whiter than the stock HID low beam bulbs. Some vendors offer 4300 deg. bulbs in their headlamp conversion kits, but I couldn't find LED bulbs in that temperature in the W5W size for our parking lamps. Based on my limited research with LED bulbs in the 5000 and 6000 range, I would recommend you consider headlamp bulbs in the 4300-5000 deg. range. The 6000 deg. LED bulbs I tried had a noticeable blue tint relative to the stock HID low-beams.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has used one of the aftermarket HID conversion kits.

Cheers,

Don

 

Don, thanks for your reply. I have tried the aftermarket HID kits, but they just don't look right and the beam is all scattered. I'm seriously considering retrofitting an aftermarket HID projector into the OEM housing. The projector will sharply and cleanly spread the light as an OEM unit would. It'll take some doing, but it'll look and perform better, and be MUCH cheaper than trying to install OEM xenons.

 

Please keep us informed if you decide to proceed with the aftermarket HID projector conversion. We'll all be very interested in the results.

Cheers,

Don

 

I definitely will. I think a few of the Stype guys have tried it, and there's numerous other DIY tutorials on the web.

 

I recall an S-Type owner who fitted aftermarket HID bulbs (& ballast etc). Wasn't wonderful as the housing is wrong so the beam pattern is not great. (Over here it then fails MoT - our inspection test.) He went back to non-HID with brighter halogens and was OK.

 

Yeah, I've tried the HID bulbs in the reflector housing and it's terrible. That's why I'm going to try retrofitting actual HID projectors in the stock housing. I received them today but won't have time to complete the project until the weekend. Basically, I'll be removing the headlight assemblies from the car, opening them up, removing the halogen bulb holder and screwing in the HID projectors in its place. Then I'll be able to properly use aftermarket HID kits in conjunction with the projector. It should look stock to all but the trained eye, and will provide the proper type of focused HID light and cutoff. I will, of course, take pictures along the way.

 

UPDATE - I completed the retrofit this weekend and boy was it a pain in my butt. But it works and it looks great. I'll take some pics asap of the completed product. The jury is still out on whether or not the headlights are still watertight though. We'll find out this weekend when I go to the wash. But I now have proper xenon HID headlights for a mere fraction of the cost of the OEM units.

 

Here are some pics. I'm using 6000k lights. They look a lot more blue in the photos than in real life. Unfortunately, I didn't position them 100% straight, which is why the beam cutoff is a bit curved, but its still a very sharp line with a nice rainbow effect at the edges. All in all, a lot of work, but well worth it.

 

Sorry to revive an old thread but I've been thinking of retrofitting projectors as you have, I was wondering how you went about separating the lenses and sealing them back up?

 

I had to fully remove them from the car, which entailed removing the front bumper first (which was actually a bit easier than it sounds). Removing the plastic lens shell took a lot of prying and pulling and prying and pulling with screwdrivers, knives, prybars, anything and everything you can think of, and in the process I did end up damaging the edges slightly, but if you can live with it, you'll never see the damage once they're back on the car. I used A LOT of GE Silicone II Gasket/Seal Sealant to put it all back together, allowing for plenty of drying time with gorilla tape keeping it all pressed together tightly.

It's been nearly a year now and there has been absolutely no water intrusion whatsoever, and the HID lights are still working perfectly. I tucked all the HID wires and ballasts within the water-tight housing so that none of it is exposed to the elements. I used 6000k bulbs, which are a nice bright white with a hint of blue (the pics look much bluer than they truly are).

Removing the lenses afforded me the opportunity to clean and polish the interior surface, which had become a bit hazy and oxidized. Later, I sealed the exterior surface with the Meguiars Perfect Clarity and everything still looks new.

 

I just noticed that I said I would take pictures detailing the process last year, but I never did. I always intend to, but my projects always seem to overwhelm me and I end up throwing the documentary idea out the window. My apologies.

 

Slightly off topic but still on topic question. I have HID low beams and Halogen high beams. Was considering replacing the H7 high beam bulbs with better halogens but wondered if there are H7 LED replacements that anyone has tried. I see so many out there; some with 2 LEDs, some with 3 LEDs, some with many LEDs. I hear the LED portion does not get hot but the connector end does get hot. I've seen some H7 LEDs with normal H7 connectors, some with large, ribbon shaped heat sinks, some with built in fans.

So what I'm asking, does anyone have experience with LED bulbs and have recommendations? I don't want to put in LED bulbs that will melt the housings or the wires. Or put in bulbs that are whiter in color but don't actually throw more light where I want it.

Also, I tried adjusting the high beams by turning the 6mm adjuster 3 full turns in either direction and the high beams didn't move up or down. Is there another adjustment?

 

Posted on Clasifieds
Default X350 Full Morimoto Halogen to HID Upgrade Kit X350. new, unopened.
AMSOLUTELY EVERY POSSIBLE THING YOU COULD NEED.. Ordered but never installed. Car rear ended..
Ugh
Every possible accessory included to upgrade your X350 halogens.
Purchased From The Retrofit Source. Have receipt .
All New.
All Genuine with Hologram on Both Mini H1 Projector Boxes. Left Hand Drive
Includes
2 New in box Morimoto H1 LHD Projectors with Gatlin Shrouds

Morimoto H7 Elite System
morimoto Capicatator link
XB 55 Ballast x2 ( 50 W )
XB Igniter ( AMP) x 2
H7 XB 5500k Morimoto Bulbs x 2
H7 Canbus x2

Also Morimoto Ferrite Ring, Silica gel Moisture Packs, Dremel ez lock starter kit and Goretex patches.

Capacitor Link

Some additional Noise supressor cables and a couple of other application specific cables to assure Error free operation.
Al in was about $460.
Will sell for $275 Shipped

Thanks, 415 302 4914 cell text. If it is Up I still Have it.