C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

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C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by Dommo »

Hi guys.

I'm looking at getting a mk1 facelift C5 in the coming future, but the engine I want is hard to find in Exclusive spec, and I would like the directional xenons that come with the Exclusive spec.

Does anyone know whether the light fittings are interchangeable? Is the loom the same? Is it simply a lexia job to 'enable' the xenon headlights, as presumably the system can use the suspension sensors for the light beam up/down adjustment? Although I'm not sure what tells the lights to turn left or right?

Anyone have any clues with this?

Thanks.
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by GiveMeABreak »

No it's not a simple matter at all.
Apart from the light units being different - the wiring is also different for these lights. Then there are the ballast units for the lights and the headlight levellers. There is a headlight auto adjustment unit and headlight correctors to fit for each headlamp.

They do not use the suspension to level the lights as the suspension does not react quickly enough, causing dazzling to oncoming traffic. In addition to all this - you will also need to install the headlight washer system a high capacity water reservoir, the headlight washer rams, jets and all the tubing etc. and the bumper with the washer jet flaps. It has been talked about several times including on the C5 X7, - but due to the expense and time involved I don't know of anyone who has attempted this - and that includes a few who have made substantial mods to their cars - but not this project!

You may have to sacrifice the engine you wanted if the spec. is more important. Well-spec'd second-hand Exclusive C5s will become harder to find now the C5 is at the end of production in the UK.
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by vborovic »

GiveMeABreak wrote: It has been talked about several times including on the C5 X7, - but due to the expense and time involved I don't know of anyone who has attempted this - and that includes a few who have made substantial mods to their cars - but not this project
I honestly don't have a clue what you're talking about ... :rofl2:
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by Xantippa »

I think someone in Finland did this for Mk1 facelift. Directional beam or automatic leveling didn't work however. I think you would only need xenon headlights with ballasts and that ecu-thing to control directional beam and leveling + programming with lexia. At least for X7 I remember checking that wiring for headlights is same for xenon and non-xenon models. Don't know whether wiring for that xenon-ecu exists in all cars though.
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Mentioning nobody in particular of course! :rofl2:
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Xantippa wrote:I think someone in Finland did this for Mk1 facelift. Directional beam or automatic leveling didn't work however. I think you would only need xenon headlights with ballasts and that ecu-thing to control directional beam and leveling + programming with lexia. At least for X7 I remember checking that wiring for headlights is same for xenon and non-xenon models. Don't know whether wiring for that xenon-ecu exists in all cars though.
Yes, but in the UK you have to have the headlight wash system for these lights - which of course are fitted by the manufacturer when having this option - if you retrofit them, you are making a modification to the vehicle's lighting system and will have to fit the wash system too. It's just not really a viable solution unless you really want to sweat blood, tears and lots of moolah!
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by Dommo »

Sounds like a lot of hassle and aggro! I figured it would be a difficult retrofit but decided it would be easier than finding the engine I wanted. Apparently not!

Ok so the next question is... is the C5 mk1 facelift built in sat nav worth having? Because that's the only thing (besides the engine) that makes the VTX+ spec worth having?

Thank you all for your replies! Dom
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by GiveMeABreak »

the Mark 1 system is a bit dated now, but the mark 2 (facelift) has several options, the better one being the Navidrive RT3. Has SIM card slot for phone, but no Bluetooth of course. Plays cd and MP3 from the single CD slot in the head unit. You can get a CD multi changer option with this. It will read and write SMS txt messages too, has voice recognition as well and emergency services call button. The large 7" colour screen is fine too and as it sits up on the dash it is easier to keep your eye on as you don't need to look down. These are Magneti Marelli units and servicing can be done in the uk by Clarion service centre who are authorised repairers.

I really loved mine and wish I hadn't part exchanged it now, as I'm sure I could of found her a nice owner on the forum!
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by Stickyfinger »

IMHO a Sat Nav that only searches on 3 digits is a total waste of time.

Forget finding anything in a large town (any town really), forget any country road/lane/village
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by daviemck2006 »

I'm quite happy with an old Garmin satnav used only when I really need it which is almost never. And it was free [emoji4]
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Stickyfinger wrote:IMHO a Sat Nav that only searches on 3 digits is a total waste of time.
Forget finding anything in a large town (any town really), forget any country road/lane/village
Was it just 3 on the RT3 Navidrive then Alasdair? I know it's 5 on the X7 Nav
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by Xantippa »

GiveMeABreak wrote:
Xantippa wrote:I think someone in Finland did this for Mk1 facelift. Directional beam or automatic leveling didn't work however. I think you would only need xenon headlights with ballasts and that ecu-thing to control directional beam and leveling + programming with lexia. At least for X7 I remember checking that wiring for headlights is same for xenon and non-xenon models. Don't know whether wiring for that xenon-ecu exists in all cars though.
Yes, but in the UK you have to have the headlight wash system for these lights - which of course are fitted by the manufacturer when having this option - if you retrofit them, you are making a modification to the vehicle's lighting system and will have to fit the wash system too. It's just not really a viable solution unless you really want to sweat blood, tears and lots of moolah!
OK, I forgot again that headlight washers aren't fitted in all cars in the UK. :oops:

Retrofitlab's xenon -projectors are one option, but they won't be legal for sure.
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Easy mistake - I think we all forget how international the Forum actually is! :wink:
I guess the headlight washers are a legal requirement for all cars in Finland then - along with DRLs like Sweden? DRLs here only became a requirement for new / facelifted cars from 2011 that go through the European whole vehicle type approval process.
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by Dommo »

Right guys, apologies about the slow reply. I went to view a Mk1 facelift VTX+ yesterday, unfortunately the bodywork was not in great condition, and to be honest neither was the interior so I didn't end up buying it. Are the seats comfortable on a longer journey? It seems a bit odd having no 'bucket' to the seats, they're just totally flat like a sofa almost, but not as comfortable! This car I viewed had a leather interior but the leather looked really rubbish and more like plastic than the nice plush leather of a Xantia.

Unfortunately the car was untaxed/uninsured, so I was unable to take it on a decent test drive, so unfortunately I was too fixed on the rattle coming from the front end (sounded like drop links) to notice whether the sat nav was any good. Does the parking sensor system use the sat nav screen or is it just a beeper? Based on what you guys are saying though, the sat nav on the mk1 facelift is only the 3 digit search, is that right? Which I agree is a bit rubbish, however I feel it would be better than nothing.

I did notice on the strut tops where the gaiter mounted was squishy, which on a Xantia is a bad sign, but is that the norm for a C5 strut top? I also noticed residual fluid around the strut but as I understand it that seems to be the norm on C5's?

Also the interior door handles were very dodgy plastic where the outer styling/coating had all peeled off, is that just what C5's do or was this a bit of a nail?

Thanks guys
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Re: C5 facelift Xenon retrofit

Post by Stickyfinger »

Seat are really very good, one of the best I have ever sat in on long trips.
Never noticed/had fluid near the strut tops
Lacquer Thinners takes off the interior handle coating, leave it or repaint.
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