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16th March 2012, 18:55 | #1 |
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How to tell what type of headlights you have - Reflector, Projector, Xenon etc (MK1)
This seems to be a common form of confusion on the forum, so here goes...
This only applies to MK1's - MK2's were all projectors, with a mix of halogen and Xenon systems. There are two different types of housing: Reflector - bulb sits in a holder, a parabola of mirrors behind it focuces and aims the light. Projector - a ball-shaped lens focuses the light. There are two types of bulb technologies: Halogens - a "normal" filament bulb. Xenon - a gas that can be ignited by passing very high voltages through it. HIDs are exactly the same thing, but "Xenon" is normally used for an OE fitment, "HIDs" for an aftermarket install. Do not get these confused with a filament bulb full of Xenon gas (it's not the same - they are rubbish!) On our cars, reflectors are halogen, and projectors can be halogen or Xenon. But other cars can have Xenon reflectors (although quite rare). Pictures: Reflectors: ZT's came with "black insert" reflectors, where there was a dark bit at the front (pictures shows a 75, but it's the right headlights): 75's came with this shiny instead: Projectors: From the outside, halogen & Xenon projectors look virtually indentical. SOME (but not all) Xenon projectors have "XENON Technology" written on the inside of the outer lens, as shown here: They will also have a metal box on the back (a ballast) as well: Projectors on the left, reflectors on the right: From the factory the Xenon projectors would also come with powerwash (headlight washer jets) and auto levelling (so no levelling wheel on the LSM at all). Last edited by Jakg; 16th March 2012 at 19:45.. |
16th March 2012, 19:04 | #2 |
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Thanks for that I for one found it informative . I am quite happy with my standard reflectors , but had wondered what other folk were always going on about !
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16th March 2012, 19:09 | #3 |
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Nice edit Jack,i was just about to mention the deliberate mistake
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16th March 2012, 19:22 | #4 | |
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Quote:
From outside, halogen projectors and Xenon (HID) projectors look virtually identical. However, the Xenon (HID) type have the wording 'Xenon Technology' printed on the side of the outer lens, as shown here:' TC |
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16th March 2012, 19:45 | #5 |
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16th March 2012, 20:39 | #6 |
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Looks like I have reflectors.
There is a yellow sticker under the bonnet that mentions xenons?
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16th March 2012, 20:41 | #7 |
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Originally the Xenon sticker was only put on cars that had it - but to save money they combined the three stickers into one and applied it to all cars.
Mine had halogen relectors from the factory, but had the Xenon sticker under the bonnet. |
16th March 2012, 21:44 | #8 |
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I have a projector headlight with a metal ballast on the back but without 'Xenon Technology' wrote on the inside.
Do halogen projectors have the ballast too? |
16th March 2012, 22:24 | #9 |
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Halogen projectors have no ballast.
Not all Xenons have "XENON TECHNOLOGY" written on them (most do, but mine dont), but they will all have a ballast! |
17th March 2012, 05:14 | #10 |
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Xenons (HID with ballast units), or regular Halogen? take a look inside at your Light Switch Module Switchpack.
If your car has True Xenon Headlamps, you won't have a dial to the right for manual leveling. Part of the spec of the Xenon HID's is that they are self leveling. If however your switchpack does have a knob to manually adjust the headlamp level like this picture, then you have standard Halogen headlamps (which may or may not have Projector lenses). |
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