Brighten your headlamps, for free!

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by phil1968

Did my Bi-Xenon headlamps yesterday, there is a marked difference in light output it has to be said, very worthwhile.
The plug on the ballast with the red/black/green wires cleverly unplugs itself as you rotate the ballast to remove it.
All I would add is that if you are doing this in the colder weather & you're bringing the headlamps into a heated space such as your home, it would be a good idea, if you have time, to let them reach the same temperature as that space overnight. Otherwise when you open the lamps up you will get condensation forming on the inside surfaces & you'll then suffer misting inside your lamps when they're back on the car.

I dried mine out with a hair dryer before putting back in my car to make sure this didn't happen.

[phil1968]

As a side note I did notice a sort of apparatus controlled by a solenoid on the side of the projector unit that controls, via a set of levers & a mechanism, a sort of half-moon shaped metal gate that I'm guessing normally covers half the aperture on dipped beam & lifts to reveal the full aperture on main beam. I'd assumed that it was just the inner lights that took care of main beam but it appears all 4 lamps are on main beam; you learn something new every day. Seems a bit Heath Robinson, but obviously does the job satisfactorily

[Bin The L Plates]

I've a 2010 C30 D2 SE Lux with Active Bending Headlights and I've tried to do this 'clean up' but it's proving impossible,
I can undo the 3 screw and loosen the bulb housing but it is proving impossible to remove.
The inside of the headlight looks different to the photos that others have posted and possibly its due to all the mechanics of the bending mechanism.
The particular problem is a plastic bar that blocks the reflector unit from clearing the headlight, and no matter how a manoeuvre it around it still catches and I'm unable to wiggle it free.
Anybody got any clues ..........

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Bin The L Plates

I've a 2010 C30 D2 SE Lux with Active Bending Headlights and I've tried to do this 'clean up' but it's proving impossible,
I can undo the 3 screw and loosen the bulb housing but it is proving impossible to remove.
The inside of the headlight looks different to the photos that others have posted and possibly its due to all the mechanics of the bending mechanism.
The particular problem is a plastic bar that blocks the reflector unit from clearing the headlight, and no matter how a manoeuvre it around it still catches and I'm unable to wiggle it free.
Anybody got any clues ..........

Could you take it apart from the other side instead? By removing the clips.

[Bin The L Plates]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

Could you take it apart from the other side instead? By removing the clips.

Didn't know that was possible, I'd assumed it was all sealed up.
Be interested to hear I if can do it that way.

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Bin The L Plates

Didn't know that was possible, I'd assumed it was all sealed up.
Be interested to hear I if can do it that way.

It is possible, you can use a hair dryer on the seals (or put it in the oven on a low temperature) to loosen it and it can come apart. There's some articles about it somewhere which you might be able to search through.

[mdon]

My not has an advisory for poor headlight output, I'll try doing this today and see how I get on.

[oneilldom]

Originally Posted by mdon

My not has an advisory for poor headlight output, I'll try doing this today and see how I get on.

What bulbs are you running? I'm running some dirt cheap (but bright) H7's but they're unreliable and when they're on their way out their output drops considerably in the few days prior to blow out.

Try cleaning as per the guide first, then try nightbreakers. And if they fail to fix it then it could be an elec issue but I'd have no idea where to start on that. Sure the lads here can offer some direction though. These have seen it all. Good luck.

[Trillian]

Originally Posted by phil1968

Did my Bi-Xenon headlamps yesterday, there is a marked difference in light output it has to be said, very worthwhile.
The plug on the ballast with the red/black/green wires cleverly unplugs itself as you rotate the ballast to remove it.
All I would add is that if you are doing this in the colder weather & you're bringing the headlamps into a heated space such as your home, it would be a good idea, if you have time, to let them reach the same temperature as that space overnight. Otherwise when you open the lamps up you will get condensation forming on the inside surfaces & you'll then suffer misting inside your lamps when they're back on the car.

That orange and black box on the back, is that what I would have if I had xenon's?

[oneilldom]

Originally Posted by Trillian

That orange and black box on the back, is that what I would have if I had xenon's?

Yes you would have the ballast if you have bi-xenons. There would also be a ballast if you have an aftermarket HID kit fitted.