Headlight query DS5

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
Lynnzer
Posts: 124
Joined: 09 Dec 2004, 18:55
Location:
My Cars:
x 8

Headlight query DS5

Post by Lynnzer »

My DS5 (2012 model) headlights seems to be lacking in brightness. Maybe it's just that the roads are damp and unlit most of the time but It seems that especially on dipped beam that the road is really gloomy and difficult to see clearly.
Do the lights deteriorate over time? I think they are xenon. Can the bulbs be replaced, or even better still can they be easily replaced with any newer lights such as LED, like this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392597428687
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

No - those lights will not be legal and will not work in your DS5 - forget them as they are not to be fitted in units that were not designed for them.

Yes, you do have Discharge lights fitted and they take D1S Xenon bulbs. If these are the factory fitted ones, they can be upgraded with a legal D1S bulb.

I did this with my C5 X7 - the original Osrams were slightly yellow in colour and the performance was not what I was used to. So I opted for some OSRAM Nightbreaker Unlimited Xenarc upgrades.

They are not cheap, but they provide up to 70% more light, + 20 Meters more distance and a 5% whiter light, with the same lifespan of the original OSRAM they replaced.

Here's a link to the bulbs, - they are out of stock at present (unsurprising as they have a 20% off for January)

https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/osra ... d1s-single

They are not cheap at £69.99 a bulb and must be replaced in pairs - but they are a premium bulb.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
User avatar
white exec
Moderating Team
Posts: 7445
Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by white exec »

Choice of suppliers on Amazon.uk.
One at c£30, but wonder of that item is genuine?
Chris
RichardW
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 10812
Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: MK2 '17 C4GP 1.6 BlueHDi 120
'13 3008 1.6 HDi GripControl
x 983

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by RichardW »

I've got these on my 2013 3008. The passenger side has always been less good than the driver's side - I fitted new bulbs (Can't remember what they were) which improved things, but the passenger side is still noticeably dimmer than the drivers. I think the ballast is not working as it should - I keep meaning to sway the ballasts over to see if the dimness moves across. I'll get to it one day....
Richard W
Lynnzer
Posts: 124
Joined: 09 Dec 2004, 18:55
Location:
My Cars:
x 8

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by Lynnzer »

How easy is it to change them?
Citroen say xenon bulbs have to be fitted by a qualified Citroen mechanic as there's a chance of electrocution.
RichardW
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 10812
Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: MK2 '17 C4GP 1.6 BlueHDi 120
'13 3008 1.6 HDi GripControl
x 983

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by RichardW »

It's no harder than normal bulbs really - on the 3008 there is an odd sort of spring clip all round the bulb which is disengaged by a lever on the side. The DS5 sounds a bit different: http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/ci ... ights-ds5/ The high voltage is a bit of red herring - just make sure they are off, leave a few minutes to ensure any charge has dissipated, and make sure there is no chance they are going to come on accidentally (e.g. by someone unlocking it!)
Richard W
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Lynnzer wrote: 24 Jan 2020, 07:29 How easy is it to change them?
Citroen say xenon bulbs have to be fitted by a qualified Citroen mechanic as there's a chance of electrocution.
it may be a bit tighter in the DS room wise, but essential not to touch the bulb with your fingers or skin.

Use some latex gloves 🧤 for this sort of job as it will keep any oil off the bulb which can damage or shorten the life or it.

Positioning is key, they have a ‘nest’ of metal that the new bulb and ballast goes into as a complete unit, so make sure it is properly aligned. A good idea to have a thorough look as you remove the old one before putting the new one anywhere near the fitting to prevent damage to it.

I seriously suggest you get these bulbs from approved suppliers as in the link. You can also get a list of approved retailers from Osram’s own website. Amazon and eBay are over 60% likely to be fakes! If they are too cheap they won’t be genuine ones and the quality and life will be extremely poor. This is a well known fact and getting worse since with the influx of Chinese fakes from Amazon Marketplace sellers.

Here is a link to the official OSRAM approved UK partner page that clearly shows where to buy from to ensure genuine bulbs:

https://www.nightbreaker.co.uk/approved-partners

One of the other approved partners has them a bit cheaper at £49.75

https://driven2automotive.com/d1s/806-d ... &results=3
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
RichardW
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 10812
Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 17:12
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars: MK2 '17 C4GP 1.6 BlueHDi 120
'13 3008 1.6 HDi GripControl
x 983

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by RichardW »

Just checked back in my blog - it was Nightbreakers I fitted to mine.
Richard W
User avatar
white exec
Moderating Team
Posts: 7445
Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by white exec »

The nomenclature for headlight bulbs sure is getting confusing - Osram using 'Nightbreaker' and 'Xenon' to cover both xenon-arc and traditional halogen headlight bulbs! #-o Not helpful.
Chris
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25362
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4888

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by myglaren »

It seems Xenon is overused in a confusing manner to make something more attractive, the way "turbo" and "laser" have been for completely unrelated items, and the almost ubiquitous prefacing otherwise dismal items with "i" for no discernible reason.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Headlight query DS5

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Agreed - Xenon should be used for proper Xenon HID bulbs, not the boy racer wanabes that have a dab of blue paint on the end for the 'Xenon effect' that looks total pants.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Post Reply