Best way to improve xenon headlights?

[Tcochrane92]

The light output from the standard halogen bulbs is poor. The light output from the standard xenon bulbs is better, but still poor.

What's the best solution for improving the xenon headlights for usable light output?

From a bit of research I think these bulbs will be best:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSRAM-Xenarc-Night-Breaker-Unlimited-D2S-Xenon-HID-Headlight-Bulb-Twin/232426252758?epid=1468137525&hash=item361daf29d6:g:7TgAAOSwdnZaCfSo

Does anyone have any experience with these or other aftermarket bulbs?

Is it possible to do some of other upgrade? e.g. change the ballast too?

Cheers

 

[cj10jeeper]

Changing bulbs won’t help much at all. The Zed issue is the low level they are set at
You are right sticking to 4-5k as they give the most usable light for human Vision, albeit not as white as some like, however with the ones you link to but I doubt it makes any real difference to light output
You could
Adjust the lights up slightly but not to dazzle
go to 50w xenon but from memory they are illegal

 

[philbo909]

I struggle to see how the xenon output is poor, full beam isn't really needed with the lights my zed. Go any brighter and you start dazzling other drivers imo

 

[mjennings23]

I'd imagine stripping and cleaning the projector housing and glass would exhibit the biggest improvement, considering they'll be at least 9 years old by this point, possibly up to 14. I'm running those Osram bulbs and they're better, but still feel quite lacking compared to other OEM xenons in different cars, BMW and others.

 

[bradz]

Your best bet is...

Leaving the headlight on the car, take the lamp out and you can undo a few nuts and remove the projector, you will find it is covered in a dirty film.. This will improve the light output.

 

[Tcochrane92]

Thanks guys, I think my best bet is to clean the projector lens as mjennings23 & bradz says, then install the osrams. That's my Christmas project sorted

 

[mmm-five]

I hadn’t noticed how ‘dim’ my xenons had become as they’d gradually changed over 10 years and 145,000 miles.

One had started giving errors, so I decided to replace the pair, and whilst I (DLV) was in there we removed the projector lenses and cleaned the crud off them.

The combination of both has made night driving less of a chore as I can see the edges of the carriageway more easily, and can pick out signs, rocks, potholes & and critters from further away.

The only thing left to do on my lights is to get the plastic lenses polished as they’re a bit ‘frosty’ from all the accumulated stone chips.

 

[Johnr32]

The biggest difference would be to change the Fresnel lense projector for clear ones. Also never buy bulbs from ebay/Amazon because there are a lot of fakes. Use powerbulbs or autobulbs.

 

[Ducklakeview]

The biggest difference would be to change the Fresnel lense projector for clear ones. Also never buy bulbs from ebay/Amazon because there are a lot of fakes. Use powerbulbs or autobulbs.

As mmm-five mentors above, the fresnel lenses ARE actually clear, once you clean them!

Mike

 

[mjennings23]

The biggest difference would be to change the Fresnel lense projector for clear ones. Also never buy bulbs from ebay/Amazon because there are a lot of fakes. Use powerbulbs or autobulbs.

As mmm-five mentors above, the fresnel lenses ARE actually clear, once you clean them!

Mike

Is it much of a chore to remove the projector to clean? Considering giving it a go over the Christmas with a couple of other jobs!

 

[dhobbs]

The biggest difference would be to change the Fresnel lense projector for clear ones. Also never buy bulbs from ebay/Amazon because there are a lot of fakes. Use powerbulbs or autobulbs.

As mmm-five mentors above, the fresnel lenses ARE actually clear, once you clean them!

I'll be interested in this too.
I've polished the outer lense and replaced the xenon bulbs but still think it could be improved.
Mike

Is it much of a chore to remove the projector to clean? Considering giving it a go over the Christmas with a couple of other jobs!

 

[Ducklakeview]

The biggest difference would be to change the Fresnel lense projector for clear ones. Also never buy bulbs from ebay/Amazon because there are a lot of fakes. Use powerbulbs or autobulbs.

As mmm-five mentors above, the fresnel lenses ARE actually clear, once you clean them!

Mike

Is it much of a chore to remove the projector to clean? Considering giving it a go over the Christmas with a couple of other jobs!

4x7mm nuts. Can be done without removing the headlamp.

Mike

 

[Tcochrane92]

As mmm-five mentors above, the fresnel lenses ARE actually clear, once you clean them!

Mike

Is it much of a chore to remove the projector to clean? Considering giving it a go over the Christmas with a couple of other jobs!

4x7mm nuts. Can be done without removing the headlamp.

Mike

Wheel off job I'd imagine, Mike?

 

[mjennings23]

Well that's simple. Think I'll make a day of it anyway and take the full light out, that way I can give it a sand back and polish the outer lens too. They're not bad but I have the free time after this week, thanks to the office shutting down for 2 weeks...

 

[Chris_D]

As mmm-five mentors above, the fresnel lenses ARE actually clear, once you clean them!

Mike

Is it much of a chore to remove the projector to clean? Considering giving it a go over the Christmas with a couple of other jobs!

4x7mm nuts. Can be done without removing the headlamp.

Mike

Is it bumper off to replace xenon ballast mike? me right one's gone pop. it's def the ballast and not the bulb sadly.
Was going to clean up the lenses on both while i'm at it....

 

[Ducklakeview]

Is it much of a chore to remove the projector to clean? Considering giving it a go over the Christmas with a couple of other jobs!

4x7mm nuts. Can be done without removing the headlamp.

Mike

Is it bumper off to replace xenon ballast mike? me right one's gone pop. it's def the ballast and not the bulb sadly.
Was going to clean up the lenses on both while i'm at it....

Yup as it's at the bottom of the lamp, and trapped by the metal mounting bracket..

Mike

 

[Chris_D]

4x7mm nuts. Can be done without removing the headlamp.

Mike

Is it bumper off to replace xenon ballast mike? me right one's gone pop. it's def the ballast and not the bulb sadly.
Was going to clean up the lenses on both while i'm at it....

Yup as it's at the bottom of the lamp, and trapped by the metal mounting bracket..

Mike

drat.
thx for the confirmation.

 

[Ducklakeview]

Is it bumper off to replace xenon ballast mike? me right one's gone pop. it's def the ballast and not the bulb sadly.
Was going to clean up the lenses on both while i'm at it....

Yup as it's at the bottom of the lamp, and trapped by the metal mounting bracket..

Mike

drat.
thx for the confirmation.

Have you checked the igniter? Also, if the lamp has water in it, the connector on the ballast ISN'T waterproof, so it drains right into it. I've rescued a couple by opening and drying them out, for some mad reason, the PCB isn't potted like it it on even the cheap ballasts..

Mike

 

[Chris_D]

Yup as it's at the bottom of the lamp, and trapped by the metal mounting bracket..

Mike

drat.
thx for the confirmation.

Have you checked the igniter? Also, if the lamp has water in it, the connector on the ballast ISN'T waterproof, so it drains right into it. I've rescued a couple by opening and drying them out, for some mad reason, the PCB isn't potted like it it on even the cheap ballasts..

Mike

yer. swapped the bulbs igniters over and still no cigar.
Left to presume it's the ballast as I came back from Germany one week and noticed the headlamp was misted up. back cover off and it was like a friggin swimmin pool in there. obviously leaked through and shorted out.
oh well. it can wait til after winter. not drivin it much atm anyway. still got the Skoda Superbfantasticdivineoutstanding to play with :lol:

 

[Attilio]

Your best bet is...

Leaving the headlight on the car, take the lamp out and you can undo a few nuts and remove the projector, you will find it is covered in a dirty film.. This will improve the light output.

Hi bradz,

looking at the lens I noticed that the parabolic mirror (the projector I guess) has a "milky" appearance. I guess that is what you are describing.

Are you talking about accessing the lamp and projector from the wheel arch? I looked at the engine bay and it seems very "crowded"! I am assuming it is necessary to remove the front wheel...

Also only today I realised that only the outboard/external bulbs light up for dipped and high beams...what are the inboard/internal bulbs/lens for?

Thanks in advance!
A