How would I know if I had self-leveling headlamps, and/or HID lights?

Last six of my VIN are G25535

 

If you are referring to a Jaguar X350 lights, then a simple test is to switch on the headlights against a wall where you can see the beam pattern. You would have self levelling lights if when you turn on the lights, the light beam goes down first and then up after switching them on.

You would have HIDs if your lights become bluefish or so when you first turn on the lights and then become whitish after a shortwhile. you'd also see 2 sprouts on the front bumper of your jag for water.

You won't have have HIDs if both your dim and bright light "lamps" look the same physically.

If you are still lost, send us a picture of your headlights and we'll confirm it for you.

 

Thanks Seth. I believe I do have self-leveling and not the HID lamps, but I'll get some pictures up to be sure.

 

I believe self-leveling was only offered with HID lights. the HID lights have what appears to be about a roughly 2" diameter "coke bottle" like lens that the halogen lights will not have. HID's will also include the headlight washers mounted in the top of the bumper.

 

The headlamp self leveling is provided by the air suspension
The module that is confused here is called the "headlamp leveling module"

It has nothing to do with the design requirements for self leveling headlamps
Self leveling is controlled by the air suspension witch controls the pitch of the vehicle

The "headlamp leveling module" is how you get "bi xenon" or dual xenon with only one lamp or in HID speak "one arc" and not two

I'll explain that an what the module does and how it relates to the lights

The Low beam is a HID in the outer lamp
High Beam is a H7 halogen lamp
When High beam is selected the low beam remains on

This servers 2 functions, more light and longer HID life
HID life is vastly reduced by switching them on an off, So to reduce this they remain on

When the high beam is activated a motor in the outer lamp is activated.
This changes the HID position and moves the beam upwards aligning it for "high beam"
The module that does this is called the ""headlamp leveling module"

Its only function is to align the beam from a "low beam" pattern to a "High beam" pattern
It has nothing to do with the pitch of the vehicle this is done by the air suspension

Cheers
34by151

 

You asked 2 questions, the first being about self leveling and the second about HID. Other forums terms have shed light into this issue. I agree with others that self-leveling is standard with HIDs, if you are driving a Jaguar X350/8 model, then look at the writing on your headlights in the bottom-middle part of the headlights just above the bumper, there are letters written on headlamps. The high beam has something like H7, and the dim light D1S (and this is an older version of HIDs) or maybe yours is a different HID series. So, what letters are written on your car's headlamps?

 

To quote the JTIS (note this is the same for all models with HID)
************************************************** *************
The HID headlamps, if fitted, consists of a headlamp bulb and a combined ballast and headlamp leveling module fitted to the headlamp. Burner wear for HID lamps is so low that the burner lasts the lifetime of the vehicle under normal use. Headlamp automatic leveling is controlled by the air suspension module receiving information from the controlled area network (CAN) data.
************************************************** *************

From the owners manuals (note this is the same for all models with HID)
************************************************** *************
Headlight levelling
No manual control of headlight levelling is required on this vehicle. The air suspension will keep the vehicle level.
************************************************** *************

The assembly is called the "headlamp leveling module" that you will find in the 03 onwards electrical manuals is actually the Valeo ballast. These are either the LAD5G or the LAD5G depending on your VIN. It does not matter if you have the D1S or D2S HID. Both can be driven from either unit. You can even convert between the 2 units by chang between the 4 and 12 pin plug. There are adapters for this on ebay or you can make your own.
see here https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-lad5gl-89738/

Cheers
34by151

 

Can I adjust the headlights up a bit with the self levelling as they are pretty low

 

You can adjust the headlamp assembly so the lights pattern is aligned

First you need to take the plastic panel off that covers the lights and radiator
You will ten see the 2 alignment bolts above the lamps. One each roughly above each lamp

The bolts are fairly obvious

Before you do an adjustment make sure you have the car on level ground and run the engine for few minutes so the suspension height is correct

The JTIS will help you a lot
look here

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/g...r-index-50609/

Cheers
34by151

 

The adjustment can be made without even the need to remove the cover. There will be holes on it that you just slip the socket down to it.

 

To tell the truth I haven't looked still just enjoying her immensely
I will adjust them now I know its possible thanks again guys

 

Just to add a little information, and it has been confirmed by a jag tech personally.

The 04s and possibly some early 05s have the headlamps with a stepper motor in them to keep them level. This is identical to the system that the 2003-2006 XKs have. In 2005, jaguar realized that the suspension is just as capable of being the 'leveling' system, so the stepper motors were phased out somewhere during, or right before the 2005 MYs. One less thing to break, I'm happy the motors were removed. That system was a nightmare on the s-types headlamps...a common failure.

 

I can confirm that my 2003 has the electric motor adjustment. When the car is started at night with lights on auto, the beam raises from a low position to the operating position. So when one shuts down the car, the headlight aim would seem to relax down ready for the next start.

My car is HID, and I think Jaguar followed advice that these needed an independent aiming device not dependent on the load in the car, but not realising the air system did this anyway.

 

My 03 X350 has the Hid lights and auto adjusting as well
I did manually adjust the lights last night as they where far to low no one has flashed me yet
I am hoping I didn't turn them up to high either way they are very good now just going to change the parker globes and high beam as they give of a yellow light not really matching the HID lights

 

Thanks for all the replies. I was out of town so I couldn't update til now. The reason I ask is because I recently converted my air shocks to the coil conversion kit from Strutmasters and had heard that the self leveling headlights may become an issue after the conversion. Also my headlights look like their "shaking"(flickering?) at standstill. I'm just wondering if swapping them out will fix this or if it may be something with the headlight assembly itself.
I'll try to get some daytime pics tomorrow. Got home at dusk tonight

 

According to Special Service Message 17841 (24-Oct-2004) the stepping motor on the dip beam of HID headlamps was deleted (because the suspension could do it) from VIN G39155 onwards.