HID conversions on a Xantia

juppy · Unread post by **juppy** » 24 Oct 2008, 06:40

Sorry if this has already been asnswered but i can't get the search to work for some reason at the moment.I am considering fitting an HID conversion. The reason for this is I travel 58 miles each way to work and most of it is on unlit roads, now the clocks are going back I don't fancy another winter with poorish lights. I have fitted Osram Nightbreaker bulbs but on dip I could still do with more light. High beam is fine but can't use it much because of oncoming traffic. Now I know fitting HID units are technically not legal, BUT one thing I noticed on the DOT site, was that it said they must be fitted to headlamps that are self leveling or the car has self leveling suspension. I would assume that with the Xantias suspension, is classed as self leveling? If that is the case I should not dazzle people like I would with a conventionally set up car and then my only "crime" would be that the units are not E marked as an assembly.
Has anyone fitted these units and what problems have you had.
Thanks,
Garth

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 24 Oct 2008, 07:56

~Yes thats correct, as the suspension always maintains the height, the headlights do not need to be self-adjusting, although they would obviously need setting up properly in the first place. I'm considering an HID kit, mainly just to p**s off BMW's and Merc's 8)

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Oct 2008, 08:28

No need of HID on a Xantia..

Just do the headlamp relay mod and you'll be flabbergasted by the improvement.

The mod, combined with good bulbs like Osram Silver Stars, really does make all the difference

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 24 Oct 2008, 08:32

This thread contains some infornmation on the headlamp relay mod.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 24 Oct 2008, 11:02

Also check that your headlamp alignment isn't too low, on most Xantias I've driven they are, and pointing them up a bit makes a vast improvement without dazzling oncoming drivers.

JohnD · Unread post by **JohnD** » 24 Oct 2008, 19:02

For HID lamps to be legal don't they also have to have washers fitted?

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 24 Oct 2008, 20:36

After reading the other thread - where there seemed no mention of Xantia IIs - is it reasonable to assume that the second generation had headlight relays fitted as delivered?

Thanks, Adam.

uncle buck · Unread post by **uncle buck** » 24 Oct 2008, 21:04

JohnD wrote:For HID lamps to be legal don't they also have to have washers fitted?

Yes that's correct.

My Laguna has Xenon headlights (factory fitted) & personally I think they are rubbish....in my opinion they don't light the road any better than standard Halogen lights.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 24 Oct 2008, 22:03

As Jim states try the relay conversion before splashing out on HID's, I did it on what is now Jim's Activa and the improvement was significant, the lights went from yellow to white 8)

As a quick test connect a voltmeter onto the wire running into the back of the headlight and compare the reading with battery voltage, I bet there's a difference of at least one volt which has a significant effect on light output.

lexi · Unread post by **lexi** » 24 Oct 2008, 23:56

Don`t know about the Xantia but I always uprated the wiring from Relay to headlight. On a lot of vehicles it is thin and power is lost .

Unread post by **lolingram** » 26 Oct 2008, 16:09

No need of HID on a Xantia..

Just do the headlamp relay mod and you'll be flabbergasted by the improvement.

The mod, combined with good bulbs like Osram Silver Stars, really does make all the difference Very Happy
_________________
Jim

Quite so. The mod gave me (with engine running) 14.2v at the bubs instead of 12.3v. Needless to say Xant headlamps are NOT relayed. Difference is very significant. It aslo is worthwhile running HD earth leads from the lamps direct to the chassis earth block next to the battery.

The bulbs are icing on the cake - good but expensive.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 26 Oct 2008, 18:25

is it reasonable to assume that the second generation had headlight relays fitted as delivered?

HI Addo, whilst the S2 cars seem brighter, the wiring increase makes a good difference still..

Lol I thought all cars have relays as standard, just thin wires running to them?

anyway, I did the conversion, cost me about £10 in parts, and fairly straightforward..

Will follow Jims advice and make my bulbs better now too

My beams are mis-aligned due to a bad adjuster

headlamp removal and then dismantle to free up, it seems

John