Improving XF headlights

[A.J.M]

Looking for a way to improve the standard headlights in my Dads 2010 XF.

The headlights are very poor, don't have great distance for lighting up stuff and seem rather dull.
The headlight's have been cleaned up, with little success.

Compared to the xenons on my D3 they are like candles.

So, how can i improve them? Do people have upgraded bulbs they have used?
Or is it, find a set of xenons from a breaker and upgrade?

[Rockmonkey]

There's quite a big difference between cheap bulbs and high quality bulbs.
I use GE +130 bulbs and find them more than adequate.

[The Leaper]

I have the opposite experience. I've recently traded my 2009 XF 5.0 V8 n/a for a Land Rover Discovery Sport (losing 200BHP on the way, shame). The XF headlights were excellent whereas the DS headlights are rubbish. I've mentioned this to the LRMD and they say nothing can be done.

R.

[Evanivitch]

Ensure there's no fogging on the outside of the light housing. I wouldn't expect it on a 5 yr old Jaguar but worth checking it's still clear. If not you may want to try a home headlight restoration kit, or car detailers generally do it.

Otherwise, try uprated bulbs. Autoexpress due a review every year on them. I kfound Osram Night Breakers were good but that life was traded off against performance. Doing a lot of early mornings and late evenings meant it wasn't worth it as I kept losing bulbs.

[DangerMonkey]

I find the positive experiences above confusing as OP I'm with you on this one.

My XF headlights are very poor. I've experimented a bit with this, tried various fancy bulbs but there really hasn't been enough difference to be satisfactory. I find I go through at least a pair of bulbs a year too....and compared to the Xenons on my wife's Sorrento or my last GT86 they're simply crap.

I need to find a way of sticking Xenons in to make a worthwhile difference, be interesting if anyone has had success with this. I'll be getting another XF eventually and the headlights will be a deal breaker.

[liner33]

I have oem xenons in my 2012 XF and to be honest they are still pretty poor , the last mot showed a failure on headlamp aim so i assume they have just lowered them too much , but compared to other cars i've owned they arent that great

[8bit]

Unless I missed it, the OP doesn't say if the car in question has xenons.

Assuming not, try Osram Nightbreaker bulbs (think there are a few versions now, the latest ones are what you want). I fitted a set of these to a previous car I had the same complaint with and it helped significantly. Also check they are properly aligned.

[A.J.M]

Car has normal halogens.
Light is terrible, headlights have been cleaned up with no change.

I'll have a look for better bulbs. I'll price up the Osram ones, have their bulbs in my Disco and the light is superb.
Which is why i don't understand how the Jag can be so poor for lights.

[pods]

Might be worth asking these guys about lighting,
http://woodypeck.com/ seem to know their business.

[jimattfield]

Seems great if you own a Porker lol

[530dTPhil]

I can thoroughly recommend www.hids4u.co.uk . I have fitted two sets, one to a 2012 Mercedes E Class and another to a 2000 Peugeot 106. The Merc had normal halogen lights and higher output bulbs had been tried with disappointing results. The HID kit gave excellent results. The 106 had been running with higher output bulbs for a year but the HIDs are in another league.
They list kits for the XF, so perhaps worth considering. Fiddly to install but worth the effort.

No connection (no pun intended) other than a satisfied customer.

[Hammerhead]

I had good results with Osrmam Nightbreaker Unlimited in my XF - almost xenon levels of illumination.

[w824gb3]

Don't mess about experimenting with different types of Halogen bulbs. Just fit a HID kid from HIDS4U as the other poster said. I did this to my own XF 2 years ago. The difference is amazing. The kits from there are quality & easy to fit. Make sure the beam alignment is correct when done & there will be no MOT issues.

[A.J.M]

To continue this.

Got a set of Osram bulbs. Bit of an improvement but not huge.

One has now failed.

Think it may be time for the hids to try that.

[w824gb3]

Still no problems with my HID kit from HIDS4U. Best upgrade I did to my XF.

[Barreti]

Hi all.

Is there a cut-off where the lights get improved?

I got rid of my 2006 X-type because of the appalling (not poor, atrocious) headlights and the 2008 Merc CLK I currently have was a revelation.
I'm looking to change cars again and a 2015 XF R-Sport is one option I've seen, but there isn't a cat in hells chance I'm going back to the dark days of the X-type.
Do I just stick to my original plan and get the Merc E350 or has the XF got a chance?

Thanks.

[xjay1337]

The R Sport should have Xenons?
Why not ask for a 24H test drive? And drive one at night.

IMO the Jags are far nicer inside and to drive than the equivalent Mercedes.

My Dad has an XE R-Sport and the lights are excellent. (Bi xenon jobbies).

I can only imagine how good they'd be with upgraded xenon bulbs IE Osram Xenarc nightbreaker.

[Barreti]

Thanks, I'll check on the xenons

[Fore Left]

LED bulbs. Specifically those with Philips LUXEON Z ES LEDs. Like these or these. I have the latter in my 2010 3 series and they've totally transformed the lighting. E marked and designed to replace halogens so no issues with light cut-off or dazzling oncoming traffic.



Taken at dusk, even better when its really dark