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Title: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Feb 13th, 2008, 9:39pm Given that the Scorpio has projector headlamps, they're ideal for a xenon conversion. Has anyone done this to a Scorpio? I've done this to all my other cars I've owned including my current VX220 all of which have had projector lights and make such a drastic improvement. Kits I've bought have all been from ebay for about £45 delivered and have worked brilliantly. I'm probably going to do this in a couple of weeks so if anyone is interested, I'll do photo guide and post it on here. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by taliban aka Cheekyboy2 on Feb 13th, 2008, 10:25pm not me but others on here have, seem to remember quite a detailed account of it, where to put the ballast etc.... |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Simmo on Feb 13th, 2008, 10:43pm I think that was Baz?. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Geoff_W on Feb 13th, 2008, 10:48pm Welcome, Take some photos and document it. Anything that improves the lighting will be good news! Geoff ;) |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Baz on Feb 14th, 2008, 10:09am It was me... Geoff, you have seen them at my house!! |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Feb 14th, 2008, 10:22am Hi Baz, pretty straight forward fit I'm assuming? Where did you mount the ballasts? |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Geoff_W on Feb 14th, 2008, 10:23pm You know I do seem to remember an unearthly glow on the horizon ;D Incidentally the 2.0 litre is now street legal and Mot'd |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Wadman on Feb 15th, 2008, 9:19am To Savvy To a total novice - what is the actual wording necessary to acquire a Xenon conversion. Ballast??? Help Wadman |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Simmo on Feb 15th, 2008, 10:27am If you look at the small ads at the top of this page there are sites which should help you or try seraching for Xenon on Google or similar. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Feb 15th, 2008, 3:10pm Hi Wadman, True xenon bulbs (not the "xenon look" bulbs from Halfords etc) work differently to normal halogen bulbs. Xenons have what's called an "arc" where light is produced between a cathode and anode, in halogen bulbs you'd have current passing through a filament until it glows and produces light. To start a xenon bulb and maintain it's power, you need what's called a ballast. This ups voltage from 12v to around a whopping 23KV! 23kv is what's required to start the bulb, then you have anywhere between 4300kv to 15000kv to maintain it. You may hear things such a colour temp. ie, 6000k, 8000k up to 15000k. This is where the voltage stabalises in the ballast, what this means to you though, is what colour the light produces. 6000k is a general white colour with a hint of blue, 15000k looks very very purple. Generally speaking, the higher the colour temp. the less lumens (light) produced. The best and most colour to go for is 6000k, this is what you'll see on most cars that come with xenons as standard. Fitting these kits is also quite easy, as long as you can access the back of the lights easy enough. The bulbs have two sets of wires leading off them, one set for the ballast, simply plug in. Another set of spade connectors, a positive and negative lead. When you remove the original bulb from the car, you have to remove it from the bulb holder that it plugs into. On that bulb holder you'll have a postive slot and a negative slot. Simply plug in the negative spade connector into the negative slot of the bulb holder and same for the postive. Probably sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is! Then it's a case of making it all look pretty. Slot the bulbs in, attach the ballast the strut or somewhere secure under the bonnet and job done. I will be doing this in the coming weeks and I'll give a full run down of how to do it. For little money and ease of fitting, you get some really great results. Not only do they give you more light, but they look very nice. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Tons_of_fun on Feb 15th, 2008, 3:49pm Blimey !!! Didnt realise it was that easy.Wish i had asked the question before spending money on uprated bulbs (Osram Nightbreaker). Although these have improved the light output dramatically,they dont look as cool as a proper HID conversion :-/ |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Feb 15th, 2008, 3:55pm I paid 1p for my last xenon kit off ebay. Bit steep on the old pnp though £38!!! ;) - she has since upped her ebay price to around £45 delivered. I'm assuming the bulbs in the Scorpio are H4? Oh and BTW - you can do the conversion for side lights, dipped, main beam and even fogs lights! Gets a bit much though and only really worth doing for dipped. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Matt on Feb 15th, 2008, 5:03pm ive done it to! the scorpios bulbs are h1 fitment while your fitting the kit, strip the glass of the unit and give the inner lense a good clean, you wont believe how dirty it gets! i fitted my ballest in the gap between the inner wing and outer wing, |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Feb 15th, 2008, 9:22pm cheers matt. anyone got any pics of the xenons fitted? |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Tompion on Feb 27th, 2008, 9:48am Does the dim dip work with these? If not any problems with the MOT? |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Feb 27th, 2008, 9:55am The level adjustment does work with these. It's just a different bulb in the cluster, still works and fits the same as any a normal bulb. No problems with MoT's either |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Tompion on Feb 27th, 2008, 10:38am on 02/27/08 at 09:55:43, savvy wrote:
It’s position 1 on the light switch I’m asking about, (the dip beam comes on at low brightness as well as the side lights). |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Matt on Feb 28th, 2008, 3:06pm no the dim dip doesn't work with the HID kit and will have to be disabled by pulling the fuse, the dim dip works by supplying the bulb with a lower voltage so only dimly lights the bulb, with the HID kit, the lower voltage can damage the ballast and the arc tube in the light as it constantly trying to ignite but cant as there isnt enough power there to do it (the HID will just flicker) |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Tompion on Feb 28th, 2008, 3:52pm Thanks Matt, that's what I'd expected, so it's just a question of whether it's an MOT requirement. I'd read on some forums that people thought it would be OK & they'd passed an MOT - buy no definite answer. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by martin_rowe on Feb 28th, 2008, 4:39pm dim dip not part of MOT. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Tompion on Feb 28th, 2008, 9:23pm Thanks Martin |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Baz on Mar 2nd, 2008, 10:51pm I did read that Xenon headlamps should have a headlamp washer system as well. Mine had this anyway so no problem there but it may be worth noting if you don't have them fitted as standard |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by davem on Mar 13th, 2008, 4:15pm I've just bought a xenon (HID) kit off ebay, so when it arrives I will fit it and give an update. I just went for the 2 bulbs (dipped beam only) but you could do all 4 bulbs (dipped and main beam) but it would mean twice the cost and also mounting 4 ballasts. I don't use main bean too much anyway. Yes, I went for H1 fit and bulbs at 8000k colour temperature (blueish). It will probably fail the MOT...but a quick temp change back to standard 55W H1 should get it through if need be. One word of warning. If you do decide to break apart your headlamps for a clean, I suggest not to use any cleaning fluid as the chrome is only painted on, and it comes off very easy. I suggest simply removing all the bulbs and running warm tap water through the unit. The front reflector (main beam) is easy to clean, but you wont be able to get to the rear reflector (dipped beam), so running warm water down on this cleans it very well. The front and rear of the projecting lens can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Dry everything completely (with hair dryer) before re-assembly, unless you like the internal mist effect :) |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Matt on Mar 13th, 2008, 5:37pm it should pass the MOT, mine did i wouldnt fit a HID to the main beam TBH if u flash your lights a lot to allow people to go or what ever they may not see your flash as they bulbs dont ignite as fast as filament lamps, and it also burns them out quicker! better to just upgrade the bulb to some phillips superbrights or similar |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Mar 13th, 2008, 6:06pm on 03/02/08 at 22:51:30, Baz wrote:
Technically this is only for cars that have them fitted from the factory. If manufacturers want to fit xenons they have to have washers and be auto levelling. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Pete_M on Mar 18th, 2008, 4:26pm Dip Dip isn't a legal requirement anyway. It was a requirement in the late '80s, but not for long. If you don't have it, it's nothing to worry about. New stuff doesn't have D-D. My Scorpio doesn't. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by AJLElectronics on Mar 21st, 2008, 10:07am on 03/13/08 at 17:37:55, Matt wrote:
I am considering upgrading my Ultima Estate to dip HID. Having done my motorcycle dip and main beam, the difference is incredible. The only issue I have is sometimes having to put the headlight on twice, due to ignition failure once in a while. Doing the main beam would depend on how much you drive on roads where it can stay lit due to the ignition time that Matt mentioned. Speaking as a motorcyclist as well as a Scorpio driver, could I suggest that the headlamps should NEVER be flashed please? It feel that is extremely dangerous to other road users, because it is so easy to misinterpret the meaning and the person the signal is intended for. I believe the Highway Code suggests that too, but haven't looked at the very latest edition. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Mar 21st, 2008, 5:26pm Flashing headlamps is only meant to be used to alert other road users of your presence in dark conditions, ie on dark bends in country roads etc. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by Matt on Mar 21st, 2008, 5:36pm come to birmingham, its done 24/7 here |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by AJLElectronics on Mar 21st, 2008, 6:51pm on 03/21/08 at 17:36:45, Matt wrote:
Sadly it is true of many places. I would really love to see headlamp flashers outlawed. Just a few days ago, if I had not been as alert, there was a great opportunity for a serious accident after someone behind me flashed their lights. This prompted another driver to cut straight across my path. Please consider NEVER flashing headlights. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by davem on Mar 22nd, 2008, 12:51am Well I fitted the HID upgrade kit the other day. I got it from ebay (came from the US) for £48.35 (including delivery). All parts made in China :) Well...it was easy but time consuming. The kit came with full wiring loom and the only bits I had to cut and join were the 2 wires going into the headlight loom (switched 12V when dipped beam on) and the other part was to cut and join the wires to each bulb to allow them to pass through a small hole I drilled in the back of each headlamp back cover and sealed with rubber gromets. The ballasts were mounted behind each of the headlamp side covers so they are out of sight and behind some form of protection from the weather. The wiring is all supplied in a multi-wire loom and was very simple to follow. 1. Wire to battery - supplies main power to the ballasts but only after the dipped beam is switched on. The dipped beam switch simply operates a relay (which they supply in the loom). This relay then powers both ballasts. 2. Connect two wires into the dipped headlight circuit (mentioned above) so that systems switches on with dipped beam light switch. 3. Connect each bulb to each ballast. I cut and rejoined mine as the connectors would have meant me cutting a larger hole in the rear headlamp covers. You must re-use the headlamp back covers and keep the holes small and use rubber gromets. 4. The existing wires that previously connected to the old H1 bulbs were simply taped up at the ends and left inside the headlamps (in case I ever wish to reconnect the original system) 5. Connect a wire to earth. I connected this to the same hole I drilled to mount one of the ballasts. As many of you know, fitting headlamp bulbs on the Scorp is not easy, and just getting the covers back on can be quite a nightmare. When I fitted the HID system I made it a lot easier by removing both headlamp units first. Just three bolts holding each headlamp in, although the lower bolt is behind the indicator and foglamp units, so you have to remove them as well. OK, removing the headlamp units takes more time, but makes the job so much easier. They say it takes an hour. Yeah right. It takes me an hour to find my keys. I did it in about 4 hours, but I took my time and made sure it was done correctly. This included realigning the headlamps after installing the HID system. The result is excellent and I always thought the Scorp headlamps were rubbish, but now the difference is amazing. The sharp flash of light you get when you first switch them on (as the ignitors stuff about 25k volts to start the arc) is extremely satisfying. Then the voltage drops back to about 500V, the gas starts to glow in the arc and within about 5 seconds a brilliant white light can be seen. I chose 8000k colour temperature bulbs (slightly blue) and they look cool (and bright). I now just need to install some standard H1 bulbs for main beam, but blue tint to match (or as close as I can) the HID dipped beam bulbs. Also blue sidelights on order as the standard yellow ones now look silly. For £48 and a bit of effort it was well worth it. I can see at night now. |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Mar 22nd, 2008, 11:26am Nice write up. Any pictures? Link to the HIDS on ebay too please! |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by peteHull on Mar 22nd, 2008, 12:33pm ;) And me please.... Pete |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by davem on Mar 22nd, 2008, 1:26pm I dont have any pics at the moment. Not much to take pictures of really, as a picture of a headlight switched on would be slightly meaningless....but the ebay link is at: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Xenon-HID-Headlight-Conversion-Kit-H1-H3-H4-H7-H11-9005_W0QQitemZ220214480778QQihZ012QQcategoryZ30921QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem If that link changes, the US company was called alpha-bid (on ebay) and ebay search for "Xenon HID Headlight Conversion Kit" The Scorp needs H1 bulbs and you can choose different colour temperatures from either 4300k, 6000k, 8000k or 10000k I chose 8000k and it seems about right but I would suggest no higher than 8000k. The higher the number - the more blue but the less brighter as well. Hope this helps |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Mar 22nd, 2008, 1:29pm I mean pictures of the install and ballasts mounting etc? |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by davem on Mar 22nd, 2008, 2:58pm OK Here's the first pic with headlamp side covers removed to show position of ballasts. Headlamps are on and even in the bright sunlight you can see the blue effect of the HID 8000k bulbs. http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll88/davemsurrey/1.jpg Pic 2 - Closeup of ballast - headlamp off http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll88/davemsurrey/2.jpg Pic 3 - Closeup of headlamp switched on http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll88/davemsurrey/3.jpg Pic 4 - Headlamp covers installed - Headlamps on http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll88/davemsurrey/4.jpg |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by peteHull on Mar 23rd, 2008, 12:34am Thanks Dave Looks a neat enough job, I think I'll be investing shortly.... now where's them sunglasses.... oh 8) Pete |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by savvy on Mar 23rd, 2008, 1:25pm Looking good Dave! I bought some yesterday for 36 quids off ebay. Nice mounting place for the ballasts, might have to copy that! |
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Title: Re: Xenon Headlights Post by adzst24 on Mar 24th, 2008, 1:44pm ;D Very Sweeeeet looking Good job Dave ;) |
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