Xantia Headlights

ninebob · Unread post by **ninebob** » 04 Jan 2005, 05:34

First time I did any distance out-of-town in darkness the other night, and I noticed that in dipped mode my headlights are pants. I've searched around on here and it seems to be a common problem, however the info I've found suggests that the lights were changed in 1995 to solve the issue. As mine is a 1996 I'm now concerned that my lights may have been changed for earlier ones. Do you think this might be the case; how can I tell which type I have?

davethewheel · Unread post by **davethewheel** » 04 Jan 2005, 05:56

don't know how you tell if you have the later ones or not but mine is a 1996 as wall and the lights are very poor.

xantiaBFY · Unread post by **xantiaBFY** » 04 Jan 2005, 06:51

one of our Xantians here in Kuala Lumpur converted his to HID and the result was tremendous. The only thing preventing me from changing is the initial cost.
http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/HID/hid.htm

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 04 Jan 2005, 12:48

The headlights on the post '98 facelift model are better but still not up to BX (or GS) standards.
You could try fitting new bulbs, that usually improves things a bit. I still found I had to use foglamps a lot.

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 04 Jan 2005, 13:46

Start by fitting Philips VisionPlus or Osram Silverstar bulbs - they will give you the best lighting short of HID conversion.
//NiSk

ninebob · Unread post by **ninebob** » 04 Jan 2005, 13:54

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by NiSk</i>

Start by fitting Philips VisionPlus or Osram Silverstar bulbs - they will give you the best lighting short of HID conversion.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Three questions then!
1. How much will they cost me?
2. Where do I get them?
3. How do I fit them?
I have no mechanical knowledge whatsoever, you see!

PeterMann · Unread post by **PeterMann** » 04 Jan 2005, 14:28

So far as I know, all the Xantias have headlights that are inadequate for the speed at which they will travel. On all of my Citroens so far, I have had dramatic improvements in headlight by retofitting relays and heavy-duty wiring to the globes. Further improvements are available by uprating the globes, but if the globes are intrinsically starved of electrical power by penny-pinching wiring (as is the case in your Xantia), then the gains available by uprating globes will be rather limited.
So, in addtition to my heavy-duty wiring, I run 100watt globes on high beam (the inner lenses), and have gone for the Philips Blue Vision for the better clarity that whiter light gives in low beam.
Relays are about A$6 each, Wiring about A$12, Connectors about A$12, Blue vision globes are around A$50 for a pair, 100 Watt globes around A$6-12 (depending where you buy them). Divide by 3 to get UK pounds.
Easiest to access the globes and wiring by removing the headlights, which will require a cheap 1/4inch socket set and a set of security head screwdrivers (the front grill has to come off). If you ask, I will email a circuit diagram for the conversion.

PeterMann · Unread post by **PeterMann** » 04 Jan 2005, 14:30

Oops. My email address is [email protected]

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 04 Jan 2005, 14:57

M
Admittedly, Peters conversion will give you the best performance for any lamps you fit, but the Philips/Osram lamps named supply more light from the same power consumption, so you will see a dramatic improvement even without uprating the wiring. You can buy them from most motor factors, or online (http://autolamps-online.com/index.htm) amongst others.
//NiSk

Richard Gallagher · Unread post by **Richard Gallagher** » 04 Jan 2005, 21:40

Have you considered that the alignment of the headlights may be incorrect? Before spending money try adjusting them by way of using a long allen key into the holes above the headlights in the black plastic shut panel. I believe the inner holes adjust height, the outer holes laterally.

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 04 Jan 2005, 22:04

Corroded silver on your reflectors or dirty lenses have a big impact on your headlight performance, it's more options to explore.

np · Unread post by np » 05 Jan 2005, 02:18

http://www.andyspares.com/discussionfor ... ight,bulbs
Check out this link.I recently got a set of Osram silver stars.Excellent bulbs.See link.

meexi · Unread post by **meexi** » 05 Jan 2005, 03:14

not sure if this will be of some interest but my father has devised a way of putting modern bullseye lights from a VX vectra into his XM to replace the dipped beam. I have photos of it because we are going to put it in the citroen car club magazine the results are like day and night.

NiSk · Unread post by **NiSk** » 05 Jan 2005, 03:53

Hi Meexi!
Could you post that very interesting info on the andyspares hints and tips forum for us foreigners who don't get a chance to read the Citroneon??
//NiSk

meexi · Unread post by **meexi** » 06 Jan 2005, 02:23

Hi,
Once we have got it all correctly typed i can e-mail it to any one.I will keep everyone posted