84 XJS Euro. headlights--Can't see at night!!
#1
84 XJS Euro. headlights--Can't see at night!!
I have the Euro. type headlights on my 84. The lenses are Glass and they are clean.
The lights don't give off much light--driving at night is very difficult.
Going to the double light per side--is that a good answer???
Is it expensive- Can it be done???
Any other ideas???
Thanks for any help.
The lights don't give off much light--driving at night is very difficult.
Going to the double light per side--is that a good answer???
Is it expensive- Can it be done???
Any other ideas???
Thanks for any help.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
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I've heard complaints about the Euro headlamps a few times over the years. I can't remember the details, sorry. I'm pretty sure some guys have converted to Euro and then reverted back to the four lamp system.
Before making any changes you might wanna check that the lamps are getting full voltage and are properly grounded.
Or perhaps there are some upgraded bulbs? I don't know what type of bulbs they use...but it seems that upgraded types are available for everything these days.
Did you install the lamps? If so, are they from a LHD car? If not, the lenses will throw the light in the wrong direction....which can't be good.
I'll bet there's some info in Kirby's book that would be helpful.
Cheers
DD
Before making any changes you might wanna check that the lamps are getting full voltage and are properly grounded.
Or perhaps there are some upgraded bulbs? I don't know what type of bulbs they use...but it seems that upgraded types are available for everything these days.
Did you install the lamps? If so, are they from a LHD car? If not, the lenses will throw the light in the wrong direction....which can't be good.
I'll bet there's some info in Kirby's book that would be helpful.
Cheers
DD
Last edited by Doug; 01-08-2012 at 09:51 AM. Reason: spelling
#3
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Doug's right, check everything first. All that failing, changing to the quad lights is a direct fit and very easy. Just have to locate any year quad lights. I put 84 year model lights in my 95 XJS, and I can see much better. There are new replacement quad lights out there, but pretty expensive.
#4
Over the years, different bulb types have been regulated by the gov and some types are considered European and some US standards. Both were sold in the US as regulations changed. There were interchangeable and it is possible that you have one of the poorer types and a bulb change may be all you need. Search "headlamp" specifically for the Wikipedia site and the information is there.
In the late 1980's the U.S. government saw that broken glass involved in car accidents was a hazard and began requiring car manufacturers to replace glass headlight assemblies with plastic assemblies. Today almost all cars and trucks have plastic headlight assemblies....Great,now we get to deal with the clouding of the lenses and poor night vision again.
Someone on the Jaglovers Forum was actually given a ticket for his headlight configuration, even though it was delivered new that way..anyone remember what the details were? Doug D, George B?
He was going to argue it in court but I don't remember reading the outcome either.
In the late 1980's the U.S. government saw that broken glass involved in car accidents was a hazard and began requiring car manufacturers to replace glass headlight assemblies with plastic assemblies. Today almost all cars and trucks have plastic headlight assemblies....Great,now we get to deal with the clouding of the lenses and poor night vision again.
Someone on the Jaglovers Forum was actually given a ticket for his headlight configuration, even though it was delivered new that way..anyone remember what the details were? Doug D, George B?
He was going to argue it in court but I don't remember reading the outcome either.
#5
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Someone on the Jaglovers Forum was actually given a ticket for his headlight configuration, even though it was delivered new that way..anyone remember what the details were? Doug D, George B?
He was going to argue it in court but I don't remember reading the outcome either.
He was going to argue it in court but I don't remember reading the outcome either.
I vaguely remember.
Actually I thought it was tail lamps, not head lamps. In any case, I recall that his lamps didn't have DOT markings, which suggests they came off of a non-USA car. So, what he has is a correct Jaguar configuration but lacks the specific lenses required by the DOT...making the policeman technically correct even though he cited the fellow for the wrong reasons!
Cheers
DD
#6
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FWIW.....
My XJR lights seemed a bit weak of late. Following advice from others I removed the lights and cleaned them with water and a few drops of dish soap...using the slosh slosh slosh method.
The reflectors are now shiny silver rather than milky gray....and the result is an undeniably brighter, whiter light. Good improvement.
Not sure if the same process would do any good on XJS Euro lights but thought I'd throw the idea out there
Cheers
DD
My XJR lights seemed a bit weak of late. Following advice from others I removed the lights and cleaned them with water and a few drops of dish soap...using the slosh slosh slosh method.
The reflectors are now shiny silver rather than milky gray....and the result is an undeniably brighter, whiter light. Good improvement.
Not sure if the same process would do any good on XJS Euro lights but thought I'd throw the idea out there
Cheers
DD
#7
I vaguely remember.
Actually I thought it was tail lamps, not head lamps. In any case, I recall that his lamps didn't have DOT markings, which suggests they came off of a non-USA car. So, what he has is a correct Jaguar configuration but lacks the specific lenses required by the DOT...making the policeman technically correct even though he cited the fellow for the wrong reasons!
Cheers
DD
Actually I thought it was tail lamps, not head lamps. In any case, I recall that his lamps didn't have DOT markings, which suggests they came off of a non-USA car. So, what he has is a correct Jaguar configuration but lacks the specific lenses required by the DOT...making the policeman technically correct even though he cited the fellow for the wrong reasons!
Cheers
DD
Thanks for the clarification Doug. I wonder how that came out?
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#8
If its the same guy I am thinking of, he was a facelift owner in Minnesota who had the original smoked out rear lights all facelifts have. The ignoramus of a cop who stopped him claimed that those where aftermarket even after he showed him the owners manual (I may be embellishing here). The car was a US car and it did actually have the DOT markings on it. I do not recall an update after he went to court.
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#10
84 XJS Euro. headlights--CAN'T SEE AT NIGHT
The bulbs in the Euro lights are H4 bulbs, over in Euroland at least. There are national regulations about wattage and I do not know what the US regulations are. But certain makers make much more effective bulbs than others. So buying a set of high performance H4 bulbs may make a very big difference.
A bear to change them though, as the entire light unit has to come out, that bit is OK, but getting them back in is a challenge!
A bear to change them though, as the entire light unit has to come out, that bit is OK, but getting them back in is a challenge!
#12
I have the Euro. type headlights on my 84. The lenses are Glass and they are clean.
The lights don't give off much light--driving at night is very difficult.
Going to the double light per side--is that a good answer???
Is it expensive- Can it be done???
Any other ideas???
Thanks for any help.
The lights don't give off much light--driving at night is very difficult.
Going to the double light per side--is that a good answer???
Is it expensive- Can it be done???
Any other ideas???
Thanks for any help.
Then, check to see of the reflectors are shiny. Maybe they require cleaning.
Then, check your bulbs ... they can dim.
Glass lenses, with glass reflectors and good halogen bulbs are usually quite satisfactory when well aimed.
You can find interesting technical articles on aiming, bulbs and upgrades at:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
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