Xantia headlights - light improvement?

[Citroenmad]

Now that the nights are pulling in its really starting to bug me how bad the headlights are on the Xantia. My C5s headlights are superb, not in the slight patchy and very powerful. Driving the Xantia after being used to the C5 is like driving with some glow worms attatched to the front bumper.

So im looking for ways to improve the light they give, the headlights not the glow worms!

Can anoyone recommend some better headlight bulbs? Ive looked on the net and found some, some which state they give off a xenon like light - though I bet those are not entirely legal.
There is always a HiD conversion but ideally those should be fitted to cars with headlight washers ... not sure who will be bothered about that or if it would fail an MOT with them fitted, I suspect not.

I will say Xantias have more powerful headlights than XMs, often when driving in poor weather at night with any XM I wonder if ive actually got them turned on at all.
I would like to improve my Xantias lights, any suggestions?

And are they H1s or H7s?

[Xaccers]

They're H1s
Relay mod and make sure they're clean and set properly, many are set very low.

Cassy's lights are bright and white.

[myglaren]

Look at Osram Night Breaker and Philips Vision Plus bulbs, both get good reviews bit I seem to remember the Philips having a better beam pattern than the Osram.
Also, consider the relay mod for the Xantia.

[Citroenmad]

Thanks

Whats the relay mod? Im going to have to look into this.

They do need setting a bit higher than they are.

[Xaccers]

If you've got the time, remove the headlight units, and drill a hole or two in the base, feed a wire in with a male spade connector and insert it into the connector that goes to the back of the bulb. Wire the other end to the +ve switch terminal of a relay.
Take a new new feed from the battery with an inline fuse to the relay and then from the relay into the headlight unit to the bulb.
Make an earth from the -ve switch terminal of the relay.
Now, for the other headlight, you can either do the same again, or just take another feed from the relay.

If you don't fancy removing the headlamps, you can cut back the sheath on the wires to the multiplug on the back of the headlight, then cut the orange wire closest to the passenger side making sure it's the one to the dipped bulb, splice in your relay from there, which is what I did, using a pukka relay holder in the fuse box.

[addo]

I have used/trialled the Vision Pus globes (among others). Definitely brighter than stock, definitely less long-lasting than stock.

Now I am on a generic Czech equivalent from the local "bling bits" type factor. It's lasted longer, and is a better field of light. Cost much less, too.

[Citroenmad]

Thanks for that info xac I had a search but didn't turn up a detailed explanation.

I think my first steps then will be to align them better and try out some more powerful bulbs. Then ill see how much better they are before attempting the relay mod.

[VertVega]

Look at Osram Night Breaker and Philips Vision Plus bulbs, ...

I use Osram Night Breaker and I think they really "breake the night"
Xantia S2 has H1 type in front. When 4 of them are ON, it is bright and they have long range.

[DickieG]

To get some idea of the amount of voltage being lost due to duff wiring, with the headlights turned on measure the voltage at the back of the bulb and compare with the battery voltage, if the difference there is any more than 1/2 volt the relay mod is the best course of action, fitting new bulbs isn't really going to help that much as they won't fully illuminate due to loss of voltage. To get some idea of the difference in brightness pre and post relay modification turn the headlights on then take a direct feed from the battery positive terminal to the back of the bulb and you'll visibly see the difference.