Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

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DanCD
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Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by DanCD »

Hi guys,

I was wondering if any one could help me. I have a Citroen C4 1.6 VTi 120 Exclusive 2011 and am wanting to update it a little bit in any way I can. Does any one know or have any experience with changing the standard headlights which are all halogen:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3% ... pertal.jpg

To the ones of the facelifted C4 which have the LED drl, like these:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/citroen/c ... t-pictures

I've done a lot of reading around on different forums and websites and can't seem to find a clear answer as most people just want to upgrade their halogen headlights for LEDs. I would just like to know if it at all possible, would it be a case of plug and play or would there be any extra work involved?

Any help on the matter would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Dan
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by GiveMeABreak »

These are some of the reasons why you wont get a clear answer.

For this C4 there are 3 types of headlight units, one in particular for the Coupe.

A Xenon directional headlamp with standard halogen bulbs for indicators and DRLs.
A Halogen headlamp standard DRL and DRL / Sidelamps
A Halogen headlamp with LED indicator and LED DRL lamps.

The standard halogens lamps have specific harnesses in place for those lights.
Directional Xenons require a different harness and power supplies, ECU for levelling, body height sensors and configuration, plus wash wipe headlamp system (although the halogen versions may also have this fitted). It is such a lot of work and expense that it's the reason why it is rarely done.

They each have a different wiring harness and the BSI will need to be configured correctly too.

It's usually such a lot of work / expense it is rarely done.
C4 Lamps A.PNG
C4 Lamps B.PNG
C4 Lamps C.PNG
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by white exec »

If your existing headlights are halogen, try upgrading to either Philips X-treme, or Osram Nightbreaker.
Both are halogen, standard wattage, fitting and beam shape, but very much higher light output than standard halogen. For best (pure white) output, go for the white versions, and not those with an all-over blue tint. Service life pretty much the same as standard - several years.

Xantia and XM owners found out about these extraordinarily good bulbs some time ago, when doing something about indifferent dipped beam.

Beware fakes, though. Genuine ones have a hologram pack, iirc.
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by Paul-R »

white exec wrote: 16 Apr 2020, 13:07Service life pretty much the same as standard - several years.
Not my experience I'm afraid. I fitted Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited +110% bulbs to both the C5 X7 and 308. One year and one day later (!) one of the dipped beam bulbs in the X7 failed. Then the other one went eleven months later.

I think it's pretty well largely agreed that the brighter bulbs have a second cost besides the price and that's shorter life. Although I wasn't expecting it to be quite that short!
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I have to agree there. If we look at Osram's bulbs in my table below, you'll see that the brighter they are the less life they have compared to a standard halogen. The intense blue seem worse for the gain.
Osram Silver.PNG
Osram Laser.PNG
Osram Blue.PNG
Nightbreaker Silver
+100% brighter = 75% of the life of their Standard Bulb.
Nightbreaker Laser
+150% brighter = 50% of the life of their Standard Bulb.
Cool Blue Intense
+20% brighter = 50% of the life of their Standard Bulb.
The exception to this of course are the true Xenon discharge bulbs, which seem to last forever - and so they should given the price! I think I replaced my D1S bulbs about 5 years ago for the Xenarc Unlimited and they are still as good as day 1.
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by white exec »

Maybe I've been lucky, but all the Nightbreaker and X-treme bulbs I've used (on two vehicles) have just soldiered on and on. Replaced some pairs just because of old-age (like 4-5 years old).
There are many fakes about, so I've been careful always to buy in pukka packs (of 2), with the genuine hologram. Usually avoid anything conspicuously cheap.
Philips X-treme.JPG
These were the last ones I bought - Amazon.es, Jan.2018 - and fitted immediately. Still aok.
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by wheeler »

I’ve tried 2 sets of nightbreakers now (regular first then laser), the light output is great however neither set lasted more than 3 months. Only about 25% of the driving is nighttime. I wouldn’t buy them again based on this as they are too expensive to be replacing every 3 months.
Both sets came from (different) official retailers & certainly appeared genuine with all the holograms & seals etc.
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I have been using the more powerful bulbs that Lidl do every so often. Typically £5 a pair, they are somewhat brighter, but also seem to have a decent lifespan.
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Re: Upgrading standard headlights to facelifted headlights with LED DRLs

Post by DanCD »

Thank you for all of your replies! I think i'll have to stick with the current headlights and just upgrade the bulbs and take a look at the ones you have suggested

Thanks again!
Dan
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