C5 X7 Headlights

[FlyMike_88]

Hello all!

With the winter days short and now often driving in darkness, I’ve noticed how terrible by headlights are.

They point way too low and aren’t bright enough. They are so low that I estimate I can see approx 10m ahead of me and no more!

From what I’ve read, the headlights should self level (?) and there will be a nearside front headlight level sensor? Is that where I should start?

I have also ordered better H7 bulbs to help.

Car is 59 plate 2.0hdi with hydraulic suspension.

Thanks, Mike

[Paul-R]

If you have wet suspension then there is no separate levelling. That is reserved for the HID lamps

I think that you need to have your lights set up on a proper beamsetter. Whereas lights set too high can be an MOT failure point I don't think that having them too low will fail.

[FlyMike_88]

Thanks Paul. I have read conflicting info on this, some posts stating wet suspension (both halogen and HID) have levelers. If it is a manual adjustment, I guess that makes it simpler to fix hopefully.

I wonder why they were ever set that low by the previous owner in that case? Odd.

Thanks, I’ll report back what I find

[Peter.N.]

I didn't think the lights on mine were very good - until I had my cataracts done, they look brilliant now . Mine has a beam height adjuster but it has steel springs and is also an estate. I'm sure that getting them set up correctly will improve things no end and the improved bulbs will make a difference.

Peter

[bobins]

Is the car actually riding level ? There's plenty of cases of one of the height correctors needing adjusting or replacing as it's causing the car not to ride level.

[FlyMike_88]

Yes, the car is riding level but I’ll double check later. It is an estate as well if that makes any difference.

Thanks, Mike

[GiveMeABreak]

My Xenon directional headlights on the X7 have a separate ECU for the lamp 'steering' and correction - supplied by data from the Height Correctors.

This can be a little confusing as the diagrams show a levelling motor for standard halogen lamps too. My understanding is that the hydractive suspension cannot compensate quickly enough for the pitching movements. They can level easily enough according to load as we know - so on metallically sprung X7s they have a load adjustment leveller switch on the dashboard under the steering wheel left side for that purpose only. It's my understanding that the pitching is then compensated for by the headlamp levellers. But to be sure you'd have to look and see if you can find them. They are item 15 shown below. This is for a C5 X7 with Halogens up to Nov 2010.

I may be wrong, as they may just be showing the headlamp leveller on this diagram for metallically sprung vehicles though.

[Paul-R]

Being an estate makes no difference - I have an estate with halogen lamps same as yours. This is the situation as I understand it.

Wet suspension, halogen lamps - fixed adjustment on lamp only
Wet suspension, HID lamps - automatic electric motor adjustment on lamp
Dry suspension, halogen lamps - electric motor adjustment of lamp by switch on steering column
Dry suspension, HID lamps - I don't think this combination was offered

[Kennyd90]

My C5 Tourer had excellent headlights, exceptional. It was a September 2011 HDI 163ps. It had the H7 headlights, it was an excellent car. I wonder if anyone on the forum has it now?

[FlyMike_88]

An update.

I parked the car up to the garage and had a good look.

First thing was the metal ring (around the bulb) inside the passenger headlight unit wasn't straight so used a screwdriver to straighten that out. Then I turn the headlights on and tried adjusting the screw on the top of the units, worked a treat. The previous owner must have set them at the lowest setting, probably due to the failed rear suspension sphere not levelling the car properly.

I then replaced the headlight bulbs with Osram and I now have much better lights for the country roads. Thanks for all the help!

[C5-NON]

I have been thinking the same with mine, not the best headlights. Any recommendations for H7 bulbs with a more modern whiter light?

[GiveMeABreak]

Philips Extreme 130%. They are a compromise between a brighter whiter light and life of around 450 hours life expectancy. The newer 150% ones don't last as long, but unfortunately that is the trade off between the brighter ones - brighter & whiter = less life.

I've just fitted 4 of these to the Aircross.

[C5-NON]

Thanks Marc, will have a look for those

[GiveMeABreak]

I got mine from these people - there's a discount on their site at present too:

https://www.powerbulbs.com/?gclid=Cj0KC ... QwEALw_wcB

£29.99 for a twin pack currently, but there's 20% off with a code 'JAN20', so £24.01 for 2 bulbs and free delivery.

[Peter.N.]

I didn't think much of the X7 lights when I first got the car but they improved massively after I had my cataracts done.

Peter