I’ve got a 2001 XK8 with headlight reflectors that have a lot of the chrome flaked off. I’ve found a pair from a newer model with halogen lights. The reflectors look very good on them. I’ve been reading threads saying it’s a bad idea to switch out the lights in the car now for the halogen lights because you get a lot less light. I’m wondering if I can get the halogen lights and switch out all the electrics. Is that even possible?

 

All the early X100s had HALOGEN lights.
The HID lamps were introduced here in North America later. (mostly on 4.2 liter cars)
The wiring is completely different.

 

I thought the earlier cars had Xenon bulbs. At least that's what I'm reading in other threads. Or am I getting it backwards?

 

There are ONLY two kinds of headlamp lighting on dip beam.
Halogen or HID.

HID requires sensors on the suspension (lamp leveling) to direct the beam aim because of the intense light.

I don't remember the HID being available on the 4.0 cars in North America.

 

AFAIK, the xenon bulbs are an owner (or dealer) installed. The stock bulbs, whether halogen or xenon, are sadly lacking. The light output borders on dangerously lacking.

i researched for quality LED bulbs that had a legal light pattern (most don’t), and found some that gave me back the confidence to drive cross country with long night stretches at highway speeds, @ 70-85 mph.

i don’t know if one can find a halogen bulb or xenon bulb that is supportive of highway speed night driving with the X-100 headlight lens. . I couldn’t. Someone else might have better luck than I had.

After trying several brands of supposed high quality halogens, I just gave up on them and went with the LEDs I had found.

Z

 

Go for the HID in all 4 reflectors ...No problem with the British MOT.Search ebay for hand held 12v lamps and take out the reflector . The yellow one with a handle is a prefect fit Glue it straight on top of the rusty one works perfect

 

I've had great results swapping out the Halogens and replacing with LEDs. In the UK, the lights on modern cars are too bright and exacerbate the issues for those of us driving cars with lighting technology which is over 25 years old. The LEDs have, for me addressed the balance.

I can dig out what I bought if it helps but https://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/ is a good source of information.

 

The LED ones I have used were rubbish GO HID...never flashed

 

OK. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who thinks this. I thought maybe it was me. The low beams put out a very inferior light.

Can you share which bulbs you purchased?

 

Hey there Y2K,

My original question concerned whether the light pods I found would fit into my '01. I guess we're into a whole Halogen/xenon/LED discussion. I found these LEDs online:
https://www.headlightexperts.com/car...sid=qa6spr2UHH

Back to my original question, I guess the answer is any XK8 light pod will fit into any other XK8, it's just the type of bulb that was optional.

 

the brand is Hikari purchased on Amazon. I think this is the model , but unsure as I do t have the box anymore:

https://a.co/d/3P0YORn

I think the main (low) beam is an H-1 size

I don’t know the high beam size, but I switched it to the Hikari also with excellent results.

i don’t have the fog bulb switched yet, but will follow suit likewise. I don’t have anything against the HID’s, but these LED bulbs fit and are a
plug and play.

Z

 

I have put HID bulbs now on about 6 cars ..just pick the cheapest from ebay they are all the same from china Go for 55w not 35 w and 5000k

 

Thanks! I'll add that to the never-ending list.

 

I believe I’ve misspoke on the model number, they change so much over time, you’ll want the highest lumen H1 bulb that Hikari makes. I think it’s this one a 50,000 lumen bulb.

https://a.co/d/1Yt8KGg

they are $119 with the Amazon coupon.. I think I paid about $89 bucks that was 7 years ago or more. Most LED’s are cheaper, a case of you get what you pay for I guess.

they’ve gotten more pricey, but they do cast a good beam and mine have lasted 7 + years so far and never a hiccup.