hi: i'd like to change from my 5.75" outer headlights to 7". i have a source that can supply me with used buckets, etc however i will need to get the glass headlights. I would like to forgo the sealed lights and go with glass that has an open back to allow for a separate bulb to give me the flexibility to go with LED or a brighter halogen that goes beyond my 35 watt 5.75" sealed halogens i got from napa.

does anyone that has done this conversion have any suggestions as to where i can get the glass and bright hi/lo bulbs?

thanks, ren

 

fyi: just looking to keep it simple as far as the bulbs go meaning just insert then twist to lock then plug in and no wiring in transformers for HID or whatever. hope this makes sense.

 

Purchase "7" inch headlamps with clip in or replaceable bulbs. don't buy cheap plastic chrome reflectors. Flat lenses look best.

 

Very easily done. Flat lens 7 inch lamps from Hella, Bosch, Cibie or Asian sources - Amazon (if your morals will allow you to support them) is a good source...they use H4 bulbs, these lamps were used in virtually every market outside the US on Series III cars.
In addition to the bucket and adjuster, you will need the chrome outer finishing ring used for the larger lamps.

 

I'd have a look at the kit provided by Jaguar Specialties...
Andrew is a good guy, a supporter of the Forums, and has done a nice job with the kits he provides.
Jaguar Specialties
Cheers
David
shop.EverydayXJ.com

 

Use a quality lamp, such as the H4's from Cibie Bosch or Hella, avoid any of the Chinese LED lights. You may have to move some of the wires around int eh plugs, they typically are different between sealed beams and seperate H4 bulbs. The hardest part will be getting the outer trim rings, everything else is easy to get.

You can get the Hella lamps on Rockauto quite cheaply

 

if i go with "flat" glass lenses, how would the two outer flat lenses look sitting next to the "curved" inner high beam lenses? wouldn't this mixture of flat and curved produce an unusual look?

 

Question- where are you getting the actual 7" chrome trim- the metal piece that goes around the headlight and bucket in the fender?

[QUOTE=retroren;2471403]hi: i'd like to change from my 5.75" outer headlights to 7". i have a source that can supply me with used buckets, etc

 

careful with those kits that have a plastic MG-B bucket.

I helped install one of those kits and it was extremely cheap and the buckets did not fit the XJ-6 well. The included hardware was mediocre, nothing like the factory hardware.

Get the FACTORY metal buckets and gaskets. These cars are not MGs

 

What exactly was/were the problem(s) with the buckets??

Hardware ??? Isn't it just 4 screws to the fender and that's it?

 

That's what I have and I don't think it looks bad, but that might be just me.
Of course I don't have 7" lights either, which I personally don't like anyway.

(';')

 

the MG-B Buckets are not a perfect fit, the diameter was slightly larger and we had to push them hard into the opening causing a slight warpage of the sides of the buckets towards the inside, and then causing the headlight to be too tight in the bucket for left to right and up and down adjustments.

As far as the hardware, we ended the job using the factory screws. The screws provided had very small heads compared to the factory screws. In short, the kit felt cheap to my taste.

it's a Jaguar, I prefer high quality parts and the kit was not.

I am not familiar with Jaguar Specialties kit so I cannot say other than most all the 7" conversion kit use plastic MG-B buckets.

 

There is another kit out there besides Jaguar Specialties? Who sells that? And how long ago did you "help" do this conversion?

.

Quote:

I am not familiar with Jaguar Specialties kit so I cannot say other than most all the 7" conversion kit use plastic MG-B buckets.

 

I have an idea that the original MG buckets are metal and possibly sourced from the same place that jaguar got them. but, the kit that Jose used was a knock off. very possibly using metal Mg buckets as molds for the plastic.

The hardware needed is not only the fasteners for the bucket to the body, but the screws and springs for the adjusters.

And. of course, the bezels!!!!
Oh, plastic does not rust. I havre some 7 and 5/1/$ buckets that are rusted!!!

I began aproject to go 7". Abandoned. too many pitfalls. I am happy with a full array ofm fresh 5 1/4 across the front.

Teh Jaguar glass is far better than the froty plastic on my Jeep!!!

small matter. night driving is out for me.'

Car
lI

 

Sure hope my post took!!!

 

to clarify, I helped a friend install a kit he bought on eBay. So check eBay too. Most of the kits use plastic buckets so it does not matter where you buy it.

I still use the factory 5.25 outers in my 1984 XJ-6 as they are bright enough in my opinion.



.

 

Jose:

As do I.

I don't think it is a bright issue. I think it is to chance the look back to what the car wqas set up in the UK. &'s outboard.

%'s across the board in my view was to meet the ook of other cars in the USA. Submitted by one YSa maker or another. DOt approved. jaguar merely followed th market/. vb

 

Carl, yes it is just a cosmetic change to make the car look European, Australian, or Canadian.

Having to remove and reinstall the wiring grommet at the rear of the bucket was no fun. Having to remove the wire connectors from the plastic insulator was worse. All that has to be removed from the factory bucket and wiring and reinstalled in a bucket that didn't quite fit.

the whole thing dissapointed me enough to never want to do it again.

 

Not at all unusual - in fact it is the original and correct factory configuration, shown here on a 1990 V12 Vanden Plas (Canada specification); the flat lens outer (H4 bulb) and domed lens inner lamps (H1 bulb):



and on the same model, this one being one of the very last 1992 cars:


The same car from another angle:

 

No matter how the lamps are configured, the car is beautiful!!!

Car