Headlight lenses - halogen & xenon interchangeable?

[parabolica]

Are the plastic lenses on halogen units interchangeable with xenons? I.e. could I bake & separate the lenses off a halogen unit and fit them to my xenon units? I'm assuming yes but I know there are posters on here who have done light projects who will know for sure.

I've refurbed my xenon lights twice in about 5 years and despite coating them afterwards to protect them, they are yellowing again plus the plastic is deteriorating from the inside. Anyone who has looked at getting second hand xenons (esp in chrome) know how expensive replacing the whole unit can be. I'm considering doing the xenon upgrade as per https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=118199 but want to address the lens issue first. I figure getting a decent set of halogen units will be much easier than any of the alternatives.

 

[Jembo]

Before u go too deep, consider these challengess
- the Xenons are self levelling & halogens don’t have this, so MOT failure if not there
- Xenons are supposed to have a wash system (though strangely the law for new car LED’s don’t), another MOT failure as all Xenon Z4’s have wash system

 

[parabolica]

I'm keeping the xenons - all I'm talking about it getting rid of my trashed lenses and replacing them, and I would have much more choice (not to mention cheaper) if I can take the lenses off set of halogen units and put them on my xenon units.

I've swapped headlight lenses before so know how to do it, I just wanted to check that halogen and xenon units both use the same lenses.

 

[Jembo]

Ah ha... wasnt aware of that though regret can’t help with other part of Q

 

[lucasxdiniz]

I have been wondering if it's possible to swap the internals of a xenon into a halogen housing. If this is possible, I'd probably buy a black pair of halogen headlights so I can have bi-xenons with black internals.

Edit: No, I don't fancy splitting them before someone suggests that.

 

[Spriteracer]

I am in the process of swapping my all halogen set up which has projector lenses on the dipped side (outer) for the Morimoto 5 Xenons. lamp holders and projector lens fitting is a straight swap. Ballasts and some witing mods have to be added, but it all connects to the existing bulb connectors. My car has headlight washers and the sensors and brackets for the auto adjust mechanism can be retrofitted. (to existing wiring pre-facelift and with added wiring post-facelift.)

However I have not been able to find out so far if the halogen set up motors - controlled manually from the dashboard - are the same as those in the Xenon set up and just controlled differently. Anyone ?

I've taken the view that I will risk the MOT and change back temporarily to the Halogens if there is an issue. I'm advised there shouldn't be as long as the beam setting is within tolerance. We shall see !

To answer the Q. It would seem that the basic lamp shell is pretty much interchangeable with the caveat on the motors.

 

[Spriteracer]

I am in the process of swapping my all halogen set up which has projector lenses on the dipped side (outer) for the Morimoto 5 Xenons. lamp holders and projector lens fitting is a straight swap. Ballasts and some wiring mods have to be added, but it all connects to the existing bulb connectors. My car has headlight washers and the sensors and brackets for the auto adjust mechanism can be retrofitted. (to existing wiring pre-facelift and with added wiring post-facelift.)

However I have not been able to find out so far if the halogen set up motors, controlled manually from the dashboard, are the same as those in the Xenon set up and just controlled differently. Anyone ?

I've taken the view that I will risk the MOT and change back temporarily to the Halogens if there is an issue. I'm advised there shouldn't be, as long as the beam setting is within tolerance. We shall see !

To answer the Q. It would seem that the basic lamp shell is pretty much interchangeable, with the caveat on the motors.

 

[Spriteracer]

Sorry- seem to have submitted twice....

 

[MrPT]

If you guys can figure this out it’d be a pretty amazing upgrade for the boggo headlights.

 

[parabolica]

I'm pretty sure the halogen units do not have the connectors on the underneath of the unit for the ballast - that is what controls the self-levelling for the xenons I think.

It was for that reason I had discounted fitting xenon internals to a halogen unit, and instead keep my xenon unit but trying to replace the front clear plastic lenses.

 

[G600]

The clear plastic lenses have H7/DS2 moulded into them so I'd assume that means they are the same part on halogen and xenon lights (the rest is different though)

 

[parabolica]

The clear plastic lenses have H7/DS2 moulded into them so I'd assume that means they are the same part on halogen and xenon lights (the rest is different though)

Ah this sounds promising, thanks.

 

[CrazyBaptie]

I have my MOT licence and just to clarify - headlight washers for Xenons are only mandatory if the car was first used on or after 1 September 2009. If you get any hassle from the tester point him in the direction of section 4.1.6!

 

[Mr Tidy]

I have my MOT licence and just to clarify - headlight washers for Xenons are only mandatory if the car was first used on or after 1 September 2009. If you get any hassle from the tester point him in the direction of section 4.1.6!

That is really useful - thanks.

The 3.0Si I am selling has Halogens, so I pulled the fuse for the headlight washers as they make a mess and use so much fluid!

But I've now got a 2006 Z4M and a 55 plate 3 Series both with Bi-Xenons that seem to drink amazing amounts of washer fluid, so it looks like I could do the same with them and still be OK for the MOT - result!

 

[CrazyBaptie]

I have my MOT licence and just to clarify - headlight washers for Xenons are only mandatory if the car was first used on or after 1 September 2009. If you get any hassle from the tester point him in the direction of section 4.1.6!

That is really useful - thanks.

The 3.0Si I am selling has Halogens, so I pulled the fuse for the headlight washers as they make a mess and use so much fluid!

But I've now got a 2006 Z4M and a 55 plate 3 Series both with Bi-Xenons that seem to drink amazing amounts of washer fluid, so it looks like I could do the same with them and still be OK for the MOT - result!

Yes you should be absolutely fine - sadly just depends on the tester but you can let them no if they make the mistake

 

[lucasxdiniz]

I have my MOT licence and just to clarify - headlight washers for Xenons are only mandatory if the car was first used on or after 1 September 2009. If you get any hassle from the tester point him in the direction of section 4.1.6!

That is really useful - thanks.

The 3.0Si I am selling has Halogens, so I pulled the fuse for the headlight washers as they make a mess and use so much fluid!

But I've now got a 2006 Z4M and a 55 plate 3 Series both with Bi-Xenons that seem to drink amazing amounts of washer fluid, so it looks like I could do the same with them and still be OK for the MOT - result!

I forgot to code mine on for my MOT back in October and the tester didn't seem to care. He tested the beam pattern (non-OEM projector) and passed my car.

 

[G600]

I have my MOT licence and just to clarify - headlight washers for Xenons are only mandatory if the car was first used on or after 1 September 2009. If you get any hassle from the tester point him in the direction of section 4.1.6!

What about auto leveling? I've got proper projectors with xenons that I've been swapping out at each MOT, it'd be nice if I didn't have to!

 

[CrazyBaptie]

I have my MOT licence and just to clarify - headlight washers for Xenons are only mandatory if the car was first used on or after 1 September 2009. If you get any hassle from the tester point him in the direction of section 4.1.6!

What about auto leveling? I've got proper projectors with xenons that I've been swapping out at each MOT, it'd be nice if I didn't have to!

As in you keep swapping out the Xenons because the car does not have auto levelling? They dont need an auto level it just has to work if one is fitted.

 

[G600]

I have my MOT licence and just to clarify - headlight washers for Xenons are only mandatory if the car was first used on or after 1 September 2009. If you get any hassle from the tester point him in the direction of section 4.1.6!

What about auto leveling? I've got proper projectors with xenons that I've been swapping out at each MOT, it'd be nice if I didn't have to!

As in you keep swapping out the Xenons because the car does not have auto levelling? They dont need an auto level it just has to work if one is fitted.

Yes, that's good to know, thank you.