Hi all,

I'm wondering about the possiblity of upgrading the main (and high) headlights on a Series 3. Now that the seasons are changing and the days are getting shorter I tend to do most, if not all of my driving in the dark... Sometimes it seems literally. The stock sealed beam headlights just don't seem to do the trick for me. Perhaps I just need to go buy some replacement sealed units first? Or is there a known upgrade to get more forward vision? I certainly don't want to go the HID route, or projectors like on modern appliances, and those silly led lights fringing the headlight units? Not for me. Any thoughts?

 

Easy!


A fresh pair of Halogens will do a lot. Minimum cash outlay and install effort.


A marked difference on my car. Similar on past critters!!!


Carl

 

Tom,
When Nix came to live with us she had stock circa 1976 sealed beams in all 4 eyes. After driving my old car which had halogen bulbs, I agree, it's DARK out there at night!! Even Wart (2001 Windstar) had better lights and they're nothing to write home about.

As Carl suggests, get some halogens. You might need some extra relays to keep from finding yourself in the dark at an awkward moment but that's a small price for such superior lighting.
(';')

 

I personally did the Xenon upgrade at the same time as going to 7 inch outer lights. But while I was testing everything to make sure that the Jaguar wiring could handle the current, I used yellow bulbs in the housings. and found that while the general effect of the lighting was the same, I had a relatively decent retro look and much improved lighting performance. The only issue I had, being cheap, is that I used fabricated 7 inch buckets for the lighting upgrade, which doesn't afford me the luxury of using the ever so attractive Jaguar trim rings.

Long story short, perhaps a tastefully chosen set of modern bulbs and housings could do what you want.

 

Not sure if they are the same unit but there are LED "sealed beam" replacment lamps which people are fitting into the old Land Rover's, perhaps something like that would also work for the Series XJ?

 

My 83 has a head light relay. Looked like it was replaced by a PO. So far no issues with the Halogen sealed beams.


My Jeep has those awful plastic buckets. Scrubbed the h... off the outters.
Changed one bulb. Much better, but not up to the halogens of the Jaguar...


A plastic mess of exponential proportion....


Carl

 

Fitting some non-sealed beam headlight bowls would give you the option of using something like Osram Nightbeaker bulbs, which are way better. Same wattage so no wiring changes required.

 

Hi all,

I settled on a solution to my forward lighting, or lack thereof:





Semi sealed units with 6000k H4 bulbs.

 

I'm not a super big fan of the "look", but the improvement in the lighting capabilites makes up for the boy racer feel.