Xantia headlamps.

David W · Post by **David W** » 10 Nov 2004, 23:30

Now we all know the early ones are rubbish on dip and that the answer is to fit a later set. I've often given that advice, and even sold some later headlamps to a chap to do just that. But to be honest I've never actually fitted a later set to an early car myself!
The good lady is now the daily user of my Sept'1993 Xantia and will not put up with the headlamps (after her ZX) another week! So I have to get some replacements.
Does anyone know the month (in 1994??) they changed to the better lamp with less fluting in the glass? Are they an exact direct bolt-in swap??
Once I know I'll pop over to the classifieds and see if anyone has a set.
Oh.... I note that the GSF Xantia headlamp listing is for 1994-98, nothing for 1993. Is that because they only supply the better lamp?
BTW I already have Phillips Vision Plus dip bulbs which I thought helped but she's unimpressed.
Thanks,
David

Post by **martyhopkirk** » 10 Nov 2004, 23:54

DJ - have you tried uprating the bulbs?
Before i had all the problems with my ZX eating bulbs (now traced to a duff regulator) i upgraded mine to Ring Xenon Plus (same white light, but a lot brighter). cost £16 for a set and lasted over 12 months before bulb eating problem started, but much much better in the dark - E marked and legal 55W.

bernie · Post by **bernie** » 11 Nov 2004, 00:50

[quote]<i>Originally posted by martyhopkirk</i>

DJ - have you tried uprating the bulbs?
Before i had all the problems with my ZX eating bulbs (now traced to a duff regulator)
Posted - 03 Nov 2004 : 20:32:19
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If the bulbs are 'blowing' electrically as opposed to mechanically failing ie vibration causing the filament to break, then I would first check the alternator voltage.
It may have become unregulated and outputting too high a voltage.
Are you having to top up the battery electrolyte more often?
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Glad you found the fault Marty, as I said 'unregulated' alternator[:)]

David W · Post by **David W** » 11 Nov 2004, 02:27

Yep if you look back at my final comment in the first post I have fitted Vision Plus type bulbs...in a Ring packet but actually Phillips on the bulb! And as I said I'd be happy with them (just) but the good lady isn't. She has to commute every day in it during the winter, my commute is 25m on foot!!
She didn't want to sell the ZX over keeping my Xantia really so the poor lights are good anti-Xantia ammo for her...got to sort them asap.
David

xantiav6 · Post by **xantiav6** » 11 Nov 2004, 03:07

I think they upgraded the lights twice, in 1994 and 1997. The lights in my 1995 Xantia had a very sharp cut-off, and a used headlight I got from a 1996 car was identical.
My 1997 car has lights with different lenses (less fluting), which have much more illumination above the cut-off line. I bought a used light from another 1997 car, and it was the same.

pete_wood_uk · Post by **pete_wood_uk** » 11 Nov 2004, 15:10

I tried uprating the bulbs in an L-reg (is that 94?) Xantia that I once owned, but all I achieved with 100-watt bulbs was to overheat and blow them, very little more of yer actual light arrived on the road in a useful pattern! You need the later light bodies/lenses before wondering whether to uprate the bulbs.
Pete

Great when it works · Post by **Great when it works** » 12 Nov 2004, 03:33

Mine is a '97 (pre-facelift) and the headlamps are rubbish. I found that Halfords "30% brighter Xenon" bulbs gave a significant improvement over standard halogen. Just about brought them up to the standard of my wife's Escort...
Making sure the (outside) of the lenses are really clean makes a huge difference. Even one trip to work during the winter is enough to get them dirty enough to leave you blind when something comes the other way. The dirt seems to diffuse the light spoiling the beam pattern.
If you think there may be a problem other than the lights just being crap it's worth checking the wiring to the lights. Measure the voltage across the battery with the lights switched on, then measure the voltage across the bulb connector with the lights switched on. Any resistance in the wiring or poor earthing arrangement will show up as a lower voltage across the connector (ie across the bulb) than across the battery. There is bound to be a small difference due to the resistance of the wiring and fuse, but anything more than, say, 0.2V drop would be a cause for concern.

JohnCKL · Post by **JohnCKL** » 13 Nov 2004, 07:23

Putting in a relay makes a marked difference.

zorgman · Post by **zorgman** » 14 Nov 2004, 02:10

its the stupid high beam i want to adjust im using xexon 100w bulbs that give a blue tinge and dips ok but main beam is crap its no the light output its the aim of the stupid things as it adjsuts with the dip
any one else got this problem i hate blinding spuggies on a nite )spuggies = sparrows)

John F · Post by **John F** » 14 Nov 2004, 10:52

David, for what its worth. Citroen supplied a pair of exchange headlight glasses for the earlier Xantias if you complained loudly enough at the time. I have some friends and relatives with Citroens in France and talked to them about the problem but they weren't aware of it; it could possibly be a problem with the RHD lamp design. Even on my '99 HDi I fitted uprated bulbs because the illumination on dip was not the best.

David W · Post by **David W** » 14 Nov 2004, 17:48

Thanks,
Have a look at these images. So there is a third type of glass with even less fluting?? I'd not noticed that.
http://www.woollard.com.btinternet.co.u ... dlamps.htm
David

PeterMann · Post by **PeterMann** » 14 Nov 2004, 18:09

It has been a worthwhile exercise to retrofit relays and heavy wiring to the headlights of all the Citroens I've owned (from DS to Xantia). If you request to nicolewis@optusnet.com.au, I will send circuit diagram.
The aim of the lights is adjusted through holes in the top of the plastic headlamp housing ; yellow phillips head screws inside adjust tilt.
I set mine up on a straight flat road late at night, with low beam just a whisker below level.
In hilly country, high beam can be swallowed in the dips ; an extra set of driving lights pointing 5 degrees high will sort that out.
I have had no trouble running 100 watts on high beam in my Xantia, but these are only used at speed.