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BI-Xenon headlights fault

6.9K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  TubaPlayer  
#1 ·
just noticed driving back toinght right dip beam headlight is flickering,checked and fuses and they are ok, car is XJ6 2003, is it time to replace the bulb? just checked the hand book and it doesn't list the bulb type,just says they are B-Xenon lights any idea what they could or what the fault is.also any idea were igniter could be located? :( :(
 
#2 ·
My guess would be the bulb is on it's way out. The bulb you require is 'D1S' fitment HID. The igniter is part of it.

Could possibly be the ballast which regulates the power supply. This is fixed to the underside of the headlight (bumper and grille need to be removed to remove headlight) but I would guess it'd be the bulb, especially if it's the original 2003 bulb - they do last years but it may be starting to show it's age. And I'm led to believe they do flicker on and off when they're nearing the end of their life.
 
#3 ·
just got the car back from Jaguar who have informed me the fault is with the head light unit, not the bulb, but the price for the complete unit is well over ÂŁ500 so i am not to pleased. got the car back and now looking for second hand unit but so far unable to loacte one, any one aware of any second hand units any were?? have checked ebay and no luck..
 
#4 ·
Hi, did they tell you which part of the headlight unit is at fault? Ballast? Wiring? Sounds to me like they couldn't be bothered investigating. How can the unit as a whole be faulty? It is a plastic moulding! The ballast can be replaced, as can the wiring loom and the bulb. Why tell you to replace the whole unit?

Anyway, if that is they way you'd like to go, depending on the side you need, I have a spare unit... I will need to check, but I think it's a near side headlamp. And if's not the correct side, I know an eBay seller who will be able to get one no problem.
 
#5 ·
Had the same problem with my o/s xenon headlight. Jag also said I needed a new unit for over ÂŁ500. Got it checked elsewhere and found the fault to be the battery. One of the cells in the battery has failed causing the voltage of the battery to drop just enough to effect the light. Nothing else is effected, car starts fine and everything else works, so unless you check the battery you wouldn't know. Hope this helps.
 
#6 ·
Hi guys might be worth checking to see if light flickers when you turn them on manualy as they can flicker a bit if you leave them set to auto as its something to do with street lights mucking up the reading from sensor on dash they had quite a few reports of this on an american jag forum.
But like the others said i think its more likely the bulb than the whole headlight.
 
#7 ·
this may sound stupid, but does it clicker or does it seem like switching on and then off. (almost the same thing)

as i have seem this fault before, and it turned out to be one of the earth points behind the headlamp unit had corroded away and was not attatched to the chassis anymore, i simply made a new earth point and it sorted the fault.
 
#9 ·
What would we do without this forum, the OS Xenon was flickering on my new X350 and as a result of this forum I identified the problem as a corroded earth and have now fixed it without having to resort to going to the local garage.