Xantia Headlights

splat · Post by **splat** » 27 Jun 2005, 22:14

Does anyone know whether a headlamp from a post-facelift Xantia will fit a pre-facelift '97?

Ross_K · Post by **Ross_K** » 27 Jun 2005, 22:23

I doubt it - not without changing the bonnet too. They're totally different shape are they not?

Post by **CitroJim** » 27 Jun 2005, 23:01

On the subject of headlights. Since owning my Xantia, Saturday night was the first time I'd driven it in proper darkness! Main beam is brilliant but on dip the light output, whilst adequate, seemed well down. A bit like switching between halogen and the old tungsten bulbs of long ago. Is this normal? Beam pattern is excellent though.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 27 Jun 2005, 23:27

Worth having a look at all the connections. Is the dim-dip working correctly?
Sidelights should work normally, put them on and look for small bulb only, then put ignition on - should be brighter with limited output from dip filament, then put on dipped headlights - same filament should glow at full brightness.
Jeremy

Post by **CitroJim** » 27 Jun 2005, 23:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jeremy

Worth having a look at all the connections. Is the dim-dip working correctly?
Sidelights should work normally, put them on and look for small bulb only, then put ignition on - should be brighter with limited output from dip filament, then put on dipped headlights - same filament should glow at full brightness.
Jeremy
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Good point Jeremy, Mine does not appear to have dim-dip. Is that right for a 1993 RP6086 model?

nick · Post by **nick** » 27 Jun 2005, 23:32

The Xantia may not have dim-dip, I think they stopped using dim-dip in the UK from about 1993.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 27 Jun 2005, 23:40

Interesting - perhaps our 94 ZX hasn't got it after all. I've always wondered as on my BX the dip beam warning light glows dimly but on ZX it doesn't. I'll have to have a look at it sometime!
Jeremy

nick · Post by **nick** » 27 Jun 2005, 23:52

If I remember right, it was fitted from about D reg to K reg.
I asked the Dept of Transport about this several years ago, and they said that the EU ruling was that either all EU countries had to adopt dim-dip, or the UK had to stop using it - so naturally it was the latter !

nick · Post by **nick** » 27 Jun 2005, 23:59

To go back to the original post, no, a post '98 headlight definitely won't fit a pre-facelift car.
It is possible to get brighter bulbs, I've fitted Philips VisionPlus in my dipped beam and they're a huge improvement on the standard bulbs. No higher wattage, just more efficient at giving out light.
Osram Silver Star are supposed to be slightly better still, have a look at;
http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/