Can anyone tell me the introduction date for the HID headlights on the XK's?

I lost three cars last summer in a house fire and now it looks as if my 560SL is going to be totaled ... after much back and forth. I bought it new so I was trying to save it ...... only 52k on it.

So I have been doing some searching just to see prices. Ideally I would want to get a low mile XKR convertible. Some of the 03's I have come across with around 40k on them look interesting. This car will be kept out in a rural area with deer all over the place - so good headlights are extremely important ... getting one with HID's would be nice.

 

2003 definitely had them available (my 2003 has HIDs). I *think* they might have been standard on the R models, or at least a pretty common option.

 

Did all XK's come with headlight washers?

I'm seeing the chrome cover for the headlight washer on a 2002 standard XJ8. I would think the washer would be required for the HID's as in other makes so I am using the visible cover for the washers to indicate that the car has HID's.

Was the cover also on those without the HID"s? Maybe a design feature of the headlight assembly.

My hunt is really for an R as it will get me the MB trans and eliminate the VVT ... and going from 03 on will eliminate most of the early engine problems. I am assuming this from owning a similar aged XJ. All the 03 R's listed seem to have the HID's so maybe I am concerned about nothing.

 

The headlight assembly is the same with or without washers and those without washers have a cover fitted. Outwardly, they don't really look any different.

From 2003 on (4.2L) the transmission is a ZF 6spd, and is the same between the XK8 and XKR.

 

Thanks .... I thought it was 04 when the new engine/ trans came in.

Found a specification document in the stickies pointing out the changes for 03 and it looks like the HID's were still an option at that point.

 

Thanks for raising the question as it solved something I was wondering about.