The headlamps on my XK work fine in terms of lighting up (although they aren't the brightest, as many threads have pointed out); however, they have melted spots in the top, inner corners of the housings (I'll post pictures when I get home). I want to replace the housings, but I don't know if they are adaptive or non-adaptive. When I turn them on, they don't flick up and down or side to side - perhaps the auto-leveling feature isn't working.

Anyway, other than how the lights calibrate when they come on, is there any way to tell by looking at them if they are adaptive or non-adaptive? They do have the separate cornering lights that turn on with the indicator or while making sharp corners.


Thank you.

 

I don't have adaptive on my XK but my experience with them on my other cars is that when first starting the car they move in each direction to establish their limits. On all XK models though, the auto leveling should be activated at start up and you should see them move to the up/down limits.
Others with adaptive should be able to respond with more accurate detail.

 

From the outside they all look the same so you would have to look at the back side to see if there is an additional motor to drive the side to side motion. It is easiest to test them in a garage where they would come on automatically so you could see the light pattern on the wall in front of you.

 

Those melted corners are from sitting with your turn signals on for too long at night. The cornering bulb gets hot and wasn't intended to stay on for more than 20 seconds or so. Once someone get behind me in a turn lane I turn mine off unless I'm first to turn against oncoming traffic.

 

Thank you so much. This was driving me crazy trying to figure out what caused this. That's good to know - probably leaving hazard lights on would not be good, either.

 

I do this also, but if I'm in a "Turn Only" lane, I don't use the turn signals regardless. Turn Only means you CAN'T go anywhere else, so why signal? Just like a curve on an interstate.... you can't go straight. Are signals required there?

 

I don't think the hazards turn on the corner illumination like the turn signals do (and steering input at low speeds)

 

if you have adaptive that are not working you will get a headlight warning icon in the instrument cluster that flashes. I you have the adaptive cornering lights, when driving slowly at night say towards a building that you can see the beam on. Wag the steering wheel. If adaptive cornering light, they will wag also.

 

 

 

Thank you for all the answers. I just bought all of the parts I need to get my car in the shape I want it, so I'll be posting some threads to pay everyone back.

 

Found this out yesterday morning and can confirm that in the US, the adaptive (AFS) lights do not calibrate unless the car light stalk is set to "auto."

 

Now you forced me to go check mine....

Yep

 

I cannot help thinking about this every time I indicate. Would you recommend replacing the 35W H8 halogen bulbs with LEDs? Those would probably run a bit cooler, though I'd be worried about the fitment (most seem to have large heatsinks) and beam pattern...

 

I just don't keep my blinker on when I don't absolutely need to. I'll turn it off in the middle of a line if someone is behind me or until the turn light turns green.

 

How do you tell if someone's a Yankee in Georgia? They're using their turn signals!

 

Perhaps they are just low on blinker fluid.

 

Just keep in mind you may have to use some resistors if you do change turn signal bulb to LED, to keep from triggering bulb out warning...

 

I thought it was , they stop for stop signs.

 

Well left turn blinker fluid at least. I'm pretty sure Jaguar has different viscosities in the left v.s. right, at least here in the U.S.

Maybe we should start another post to get feedback on the Jaguar recommended blinker fluid specs.....