Xenon Upgrade

[GoldenLeaf]

Hey everyone! I am new to the forum so be kind.

I have just bought a 56 plate Focus LX 1.8 TDCI and would like to upgrade the side lights, dipped lights and full beam lights. Would it be possible to upgrade to xenon bulbs without needing to replace the whole headlights? I have searched around the net and not found any definate answers to my question. Not sure if you need to know if it's a mk2 or mk2.5, I am not 100% on what the differences are?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[PeanuckleJive]

Proper xenon headlights require (last time I checked) projector lenses, headlight washer jets, and an auto levelling system.

All those parts don't come cheap, even the scrappies are well aware of the value they hold.

[GoldenLeaf]

Proper xenon headlights require (last time I checked) projector lenses, headlight washer jets, and an auto levelling system.

All those parts don't come cheap, even the scrappies are well aware of the value they hold.

So what other options do I have to upgrade side lights, dipped lights and full beam lights, to something that gives the same look as xenons? (white/blueish colour).

Thanks

[Brigante]

This has been a regularly discussed topic on the forums. Must be at least once a week.

To upgrade to xenon headlights you will need to source the following:

Focus st headlight units

Xenon bulbs

Ballast to power bulbs

Leveling module

Leveling sensors

Headlamp washers

Different shape washer bottle

And as yours is the LX, you will also need a different wiring loom

Then it will all need activating with elmconfig

From ford you will be looking at over a grand for all the parts

If you manage to source them all from breakers your looking at around 500quid but you will have great difficulty.

As a much cheaper option, look into xenon look bulbs. Your looking at things along the line of osram cool blue intense or philips for that clean white look.

Have a read here at a recent discussion on personal bulb preferences:

Here's what my osrams look like:

[GoldenLeaf]

This has been a regularly discussed topic on the forums. Must be at least once a week.

To upgrade to xenon headlights you will need to source the following:

Focus st headlight units

Xenon bulbs

Ballast to power bulbs

Leveling module

Leveling sensors

Headlamp washers

Different shape washer bottle

And as yours is the LX, you will also need a different wiring loom

Then it will all need activating with elmconfig

From ford you will be looking at over a grand for all the parts

If you manage to source them all from breakers your looking at around 500quid but you will have great difficulty.

As a much cheaper option, look into xenon look bulbs. Your looking at things along the line of osram cool blue intense or philips for that clean white look.

Have a read here at a recent discussion on personal bulb preferences:

http://www.fordowner...l__+what +bulbs

Here's what my osrams look like:

Ah ok I see. Well I have just spent a lot of money on this car already so I can't afford another grand or so... I will have a look at the osram cool blue intense, cos they seem to be quie popular. Do you know what type bulb will fit my focus?

Thanks

[alkyz89]

you have kind of answered your own question lol just change the bulbs.

easiest way is a trip to halfrauds and look for the bulbs that say bright white or xenon look... but dont pay for fitting charge as there are loads of pics on here that can help you...

with regards to your car id guess its a mk 2...the mk 2.5 is the facelift version, slightly different body and different lights... have you got the clear silver rear lights?

[GoldenLeaf]

you have kind of answered your own question lol just change the bulbs.

easiest way is a trip to halfrauds and look for the bulbs that say bright white or xenon look... but dont pay for fitting charge as there are loads of pics on here that can help you...

with regards to your car id guess its a mk 2...the mk 2.5 is the facelift version, slightly different body and different lights... have you got the clear silver rear lights?

No I don't think so, you can kind of see them from this photo:

Thanks for your help :)

[Brigante]

Your high beams are H1 and your dipped beams are H7. Your side lights are w5w 501 wedge bulbs.

Best place to get everything from would be eBay. Look here:

http://www.ebay.co.u... intense&_frs=1

http://www.ebay.co.u...tense&_osacat=0

[alkyz89]

yea as i thought you have the mk2 mate

[Stoney871]

If you want to see how bright the Osram bulbs are, this is my video showing side, dipped and high beams.

http://youtu.be/xYbTmKPpcvQ

[GoldenLeaf]

Your high beams are H1 and your dipped beams are H7. Your side lights are w5w 501 wedge bulbs.

Best place to get everything from would be ebay. Look here:

http://www.ebay.co.u... intense&_frs=1

http://www.ebay.co.u...tense&_osacat=0

Cool! Really appreciate the help

[GoldenLeaf]

yea as i thought you have the mk2 mate

Yeah, thanks.

[GoldenLeaf]

If you want to see how bright the Osram bulbs are, this is my video showing side, dipped and high beams.

Cool, thanks for the video.

[Stoney871]

Welcome anytime.

Changing bulbs on a MK2 can be a real faff as you have to remove the whole unit but it's easy when you know how.

[Brigante]

I thought it was easy enough ;) no faff required

[GoldenLeaf]

I thought it was easy enough ;) no faff required

Hoping it's not going to be too bad, will use this as a rough guide http://www.pickwth.com/blogs/ford-focus-headlight.aspx

Going to Halfords tomorrow to have a look at the bulbs that have been recommened and if I get some I hope to fit them tomorrow also :D

Will post pics here when done.

[Brigante]

That guides good enough.

As it says, unscrew the screw, then theres 2 clips on the back of the unit, you will need a long ish screwdriver down the back of the unit to push em down, once the 2 clips are done the whole unit should easily pop straight out so be careful not to drop it.

Then the back of the unit comes off very easy then you have access to the bulbs.

Once the bulbs have been changed, line the unit back up n give it a good palm slap back in n it'll click back in place. Then replace the screw.

[GoldenLeaf]

That guides good enough.

As it says, unscrew the screw, then theres 2 clips on the back of the unit, you will need a long ish screwdriver down the back of the unit to push em down, once the 2 clips are done the whole unit should easily pop straight out so be careful not to drop it.

Then the back of the unit comes off very easy then you have access to the bulbs.

Once the bulbs have been changed, line the unit back up n give it a good palm slap back in n it'll click back in place. Then replace the screw.

Sounds easy enough :) Thanks for the info

[Stoney871]

Once you've done it a couple of times it takes about 20 minutes to change all headlight bulbs.

The tricky bit is getting the unit out and back into position.

A bit of a twist and a jiggle does the job.

[artscot79]

20 minutes man youre getting old clive i usually do the headlights sidelights and fogs in 5-10 minutes

[Stoney871]

That's including a smoke and a cuppa too ;)

[GoldenLeaf]

That's including a smoke and a cuppa too ;)

Well I have just been to Halfords and they only had their own brand bulbs and Bosh.

Going to by these I think:

H7

H1

W5W (501) - Either these or these

Why are the Philips side lights so much cheaper?

Do you like your set up, Clive? Is there a big difference in colour between the Osrams and the Philips bulbs you have on yours?

These bulbs will give me as much light, if not more than the standard halogens, right?

[Stoney871]

You wilt get much clearer light coverage and the high beams will light up a motorway like a football pitch.

I got the Philips side bulbs as I did order osram ones only to be told they were out of stock so I ordered from someone else only to find it was the same company trading under another name.

The Philips bulbs are good quality though.

The light from the osrams will be much cleaner and show up road signs and cats eyes very well.

The ones you've linked to are exactly the right ones to get.

[GoldenLeaf]

You wilt get much clearer light coverage and the high beams will light up a motorway like a football pitch.

I got the Philips side bulbs as I did order osram ones only to be told they were out of stock so I ordered from someone else only to find it was the same company trading under another name.

The Philips bulbs are good quality though.

The light from the osrams will be much cleaner and show up road signs and cats eyes very well.

The ones you've linked to are exactly the right ones to get.

Thanks, I've decided on the Osram side lights from what you have just said.

Slightly off topic I have just gone unscrew my aerial to find it won't come off. The rubber is just twisting... :/ Have you ever had any problems unscrewing yours? Could just be that it hasn't been unscrewed for a while, I don't know as I have only had the car a week.

[Stoney871]

Get a pair of pliers near the bottom where the spring is wider and closer to the thread on the aerial mount.