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1999 XK6, 103,000 miles:
I believe that the light from my headlamps is less lums that I should expect. I know nothing about this, but have read that the light from the bulbs gets dimmer over the years. And I have no reason to believe the bulbs on this car were ever replaced. Therefore, opinions are needed here. Oh, and the light from the low beams seem to be the worse. Yes, it could be the low beams are pointed too low and I’ll have that checked. Anyway, if the consensus here is for replacement what replacement bulbs are recommended? Bulb technology has changed since 1999 and there maybe better choices then the originals. Need some guidance here.
Chuck
Daniel Stern is my go- to authority for all things concerning automotive lighting systems. He not only knows his stuff, he carries better quality bulbs than your average auto parts store stocks. He also has the + (plus) bulbs that give out more light at the expense of a slightly shorter life span, a good trade off in my opinion.
I've been dealing with Stern for more years than I care to admit, and he never fails to have the answers to my questions and also the parts needed .
Z.
PS. You can change out the headlights for more modern LED system, or some other new technology, but in my opinion, a better original type bulb is going to be all you need to purchase to get the desired results.
Chuck, I've been through the same dilemma. Let me share some findings:
1) low beam's and high beam vertical adjustment locked together. Can't isolate 1. IOW if you change low beam's up to work better - your highs will reflect off oncoming street signs - you'll hate it. They don't get better when pointed up more.
2) high power/ halogen /premium extra bright bulbs are a waste of $$$ IMO. Marginal improvement and I tried them all.
3) my year has a built in bubble level to set low beam. Of course you need 2b on level surface. How to tell? Put your level on the driver door sill. If it shows level = ok to adjust lights.
4) someone on this site raved about xenon replacements for low beam's, amazon product. I tried it, it is wonderful. Cost about$70 for 2 lights. You wil l have to mount a transformer bag Inside the light housing. Bring a lot of wire ties.
you wil l have to notch the low beam light's weather cover for a new wire to new bulbs.
all told figure on 40 min to install.if you go this route and are inexperienced- tell us. Choosing the light bulb temperature (aka color) makes a big difference.
2 more things: no it does not get too hot for the hpusing.
no it does not blind oncoming traffic .
Thank you for the information concerning light adjustment. Indeed, if the high’s go too high its a huge pain. As far as the bulbs go I don’t think I want to change that system but rather just get better quality and brighter than the stock bulbs they installed in 1999. That should be enough, but I will look into your suggestions.
chuck
It appears that the 1999 XK8 came with H1-55w halogen Low Beams and 9005 Halogen High Beams! The Fog Light was an H1-55W Halogen also.
In 2000 they changed the: Low Beams to: D2S HID Bulbs and Ballast....
It wasn't until 2003 before the changed the Low Beams to D1S HID Bulbs and Ballast while in the High Beams they continued the Halogen 9005 through 2006....
If you want to change your high Beams to LED, you can buy a kit form superbrightlights.com or CarID.com but I would call them first and explain what you want to do so they can advise you about what must be done.to make this work....
Some t of the Guys who have HID Low Beams have installed LED Kits in the High Beams....You could buy new H1's and the 9005's from Sylvania and get their new zXe Gold Bulb, which has Xenon inside....It is very Bright and might be what you are looking for! HID Low Beams D1S Bulb and LED High Beams
Chuck!<br /><br />It appears that the 1999 XK8 came with H1-55w halogen Low Beams and 9005 Halogen High Beams! The Fog Light was an H1-55W Halogen also.<br />In 2000 they changed the: Low Beams to: D2S HID Bulbs and Ballast........"<br /><br />Billy Clyde in Houston
<br /><br />When I bought the car in January of this year it still had the original factory bulbs, it's a 2002 XKR, and they were the H-1 bulbs. Definitely no HID bulbs and ballast in this 2002 car.<br /><br />FWIW, I replaced them with a + (plus) bulbs and am happy with the difference. Recently drove 2,000 miles round trip, mainly at night and had no trouble seeing a safe distance ahead,<br /><br />Z
ZZZZZ,
The early Cars basically had Regular Bulbs but around 2002 -2003 they started the HID Low Beams...I think it had to do with the Trim or something......I know that my 2000 XKR Coupe had Halogen Bulbs and my 2003 XKR Coupe had HID Low Beams and then the 2005 XKR had HID Low Beams and still does...All 3 came with 9005 Halogen High Beams.....I only changed out the 2005's High Beams with an LED Kit.....Shortly afterward Sylvania started making the "Hot" Halogen Xenon Gas Bulbs.....But they still haven't come out with a 1157 Rear/Stop Bulb or an 1156 Rear Bulb yet!! Even Today, I hardly ever use the High Beam LED's unless I'm out of Houston on a low traffic road....The LED's and the HID's together really light up the road....I also have COB LED's in the Fog Lights, which don't throw much light out in front but more to the curb.....The Fog Lights have a "Reflector" that the end of the Bulb fits into and throws the light back into the Reflector.....
Anyway, I think that's enough about Lights for this Chapter......Billy Clyde
It appears that the 1999 XK8 came with H1-55w halogen Low Beams and 9005 Halogen High Beams! The Fog Light was an H1-55W Halogen also.
In 2000 they changed the: Low Beams to: D2S HID Bulbs and Ballast....
Originally Posted by bcprice36
ZZZZZ,
The early Cars basically had Regular Bulbs but around 2002 -2003 they started the HID Low Beams......."
thats a little different than your first quote isn't it, where it was stated that in 2000 the low beams were using HID bulbs and ballast, ? Hence my confusion
Originally Posted by bcprice36
"..... In 2000 they changed the: Low Beams to: D2S HID Bulbs and Ballast....
thats a little different than your first quote isn't it, where it was stated that in 2000 the low beams were using HID bulbs and ballast, ? Hence my confusion
Around 2000 -2001, they made a lot of changes trying to improve the Car....Lights was one of them.....It's hard to tell which Car had what, especially if you go to suppliers like Sylvania and Osram....The Jaguar Dealer doesn't know either, half the time.....Therefore, I'm not any better, Consequentially, I disqualify myself from whatever status you have appointed me to... In other words, I wonder if Jaguar really knows?
FWIW- I liked the HID so much I did the fogs. WASTE OF TIME AND $$$. Marginal improvement, you live and learn...
John
Thanks for the +1 John. I never thought about doing the fog lights too. We have very little fog where I live its been years since we had any. Now I will not even think of putting HID's in them.
11-18-2018, 10:25 PM
Head lights
The Jaguar Light Man!
