Headlamp Colour

R

RickRob

Veteran
 Ifold, West Sussex
I have just noticed that when I am on full beam and the light is shining on a white surface (garage doors) one of the lights is white, whilst the other has a bit of a "light purple" tinge.

Is this a sign that the bulb is on its way out or that I just have different bulbs?

Please shed any light you can! :P
 
They can have a colour shift just before failure, or it could be the quirk of xenon that at certain angles they appear to have a tinge.
I'd be ready to buy a pair of bulbs
 
Usually head towards pink on their way out, have a look from the front when on. Worth getting a new pair ready :)
 
yeah mine did it just before xmas,

noticed on cold start up odd time the light would flicker, then turned to a purple colour, replaced with osram nightbreakers and all is fine
 
The purple bulb is no longer purple - it's dead!

I realise, with the benefit of hindsight, I should have got them changed when it was obvious that one was on the way out. However, they now need replacing ASAP as I drive in the dark most days.

I should stress that there is no way that I am going to do the replacements myself. The urgency precludes ordering off the Internet.

Despite strong reservations I find myself with little choice but to get Halfords to supply and fit. Is this a massive "NO"? If so, what are my alternatives?

All thoughts gratefully received. Thanks!
 
If you have a trolley jack ,wheel brace etc buy the bulbs from Halfords or similar car spares shop ecp if you have one close by.
Fit them yourself to ensure the covers are fitted back correctly to avoid moisture in the headlights :thumbsup:
 
sw4nny said:
If you have a trolley jack ,wheel brace etc buy the bulbs from Halfords or similar car spares shop ecp if you have one close by.
Fit them yourself to ensure the covers are fitted back correctly to avoid moisture in the headlights :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks. I do have a trolly jack, wheel brace etc but I have no confidence to do actually do the job myself. At £60 for each side I don't want to damage them.

The handbook also stresses that only people who know what they're doing should replace xenon bulbs.
 
RickRob said:
sw4nny said:
If you have a trolley jack ,wheel brace etc buy the bulbs from Halfords or similar car spares shop ecp if you have one close by.
Fit them yourself to ensure the covers are fitted back correctly to avoid moisture in the headlights :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks. I do have a trolly jack, wheel brace etc but I have no confidence to do actually do the job myself. At £60 for each side I don't want to damage them.

The handbook also stresses that only people who know what they're doing should replace xenon bulbs.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest getting clued-up and having a crack at it yourself. Looks easy enough imo. Will be swapping in some new'uns myself soon
there's a ton of vids on yewtewb:
[youtube]Ooh16mEY3hQ[/youtube]
Make sure ignition is off and preferably battery is disconnected before going near the ballasts. lots of high voltage knocking around in those headlamp enclosures.
If using a trolley jack and removing front wheels don't rely solely onthe jack to keep ur car in the air. i always use axle stands placed directly under the front suspension for safety if the car drops/moves etc, but still use the jack to support the car.
 
Thanks Chris. A helpful and clear video, but I really don't have the confidence in my ability, or lack thereof, on anything mechanical. My biggest fear is nothing working when I fail to put it back together properly.

It's looking increasingly like a trip to Halfords, which fills me with almost as much dread as attempting it myself!

Congrats on your Lifer status! :thumbsup:
 
RickRob said:
Thanks Chris. A helpful and clear video, but I really don't have the confidence in my ability, or lack thereof, on anything mechanical. My biggest fear is nothing working when I fail to put it back together properly.

It's looking increasingly like a trip to Halfords, which fills me with almost as much dread as attempting it myself!

Congrats on your Lifer status! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Fair do's mate. what bulbs are you gonna go for? pics on completion.... :poke:

and thx :thumbsup:
 
Chris_D said:
RickRob said:
Thanks Chris. A helpful and clear video, but I really don't have the confidence in my ability, or lack thereof, on anything mechanical. My biggest fear is nothing working when I fail to put it back together properly.

It's looking increasingly like a trip to Halfords, which fills me with almost as much dread as attempting it myself!

Congrats on your Lifer status! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Fair do's mate. what bulbs are you gonna go for? pics on completion.... :poke:

and thx :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

If I do go the Halfords route then I only have two choices - their own brand at £59.99 each or ones made by GE at £69.99 each.

If you want pics you may have to wait until I have restored the headlamp glass and I know that I will be struggling for time in the near future. Getting a puncture on the Discovery fixed tomorrow (when I'm supposed to be "working from home") and then Saturday getting roof motor fixed and bulbs done on the Zed.
 
If you dont want to trust the Halfords muppets any decent garage should easily be able to do this. Do you have one local you use/trust?
 
MACK said:
If you dont want to trust the Halfords muppets any decent garage should easily be able to do this. Do you have one local you use/trust?
Click to expand...

Thanks MACK. There is a very good independent that I use - they did my last 2 services, including an Inspection 2. I think that I'll call them in the morning to see if they could squeeze me in tomorrow, but they're usually maxed out for weeks into the future.

It all serves me right for not doing the sensible thing when it started to go purple.
 
My local independent was, as I suspected, maxed out with work and I continued to wimp out at the idea of having a go myself.

So off to Halfords I go. Fortunately to fit xenon bulbs they have to be "specially trained", which meant that I got someone there to fit it who started to shave a few years ago. Actually a really nice guy, very interested in the Zed and said that he had done bulb changes on several Zeds. Anyway, 10 minutes from starting he had finished. All looks good! :)

If you go to Halfords and Broadbridge Heath (near Horsham) ask for Nathan. Whilst I wouldn't overall recommend Halfords, if they were all like Nathan then I would.

Off to see Bowser134 tomorrow to fix/relocate the roof motor.
 
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