Xenon in a Ford Fiesta with a Pilot Digital Line

For one of our customers we fitted xenon lighting to his Ford Fiesta. Specifically the Pilot Digital Line, the flagship of our range.

What the customer wanted

• Lots of light
• A smart look
• A xenon kit that works perfectly, without faults
• A neat installation

Xenon Ford Fiesta: choosing the best product

Because this is a newer car, there is only one xenon kit that works properly without faults or the risk of a confused on-board computer.

New: the Hilox Evolution xenon kit

Want a better xenon kit that is easier to install and 100 cheaper too? Go for the H7 Hilox Evolution xenon kit. It is not only simpler to fit, it also gives 1,000 lumens more light than the Pilot xenon kits. In the world of aftermarket xenon, this was the breakthrough of 2016.

The customer chose a Pilot Digital Line in 6000K. The kit was fitted in about an hour, while the customer waited with a cup of coffee.

Which fitting does your headlight have?

Before you order a xenon kit, you need to know which fitting your headlight uses. The fitting is the base of the bulb: the part that clicks into the headlight and takes the plug. A kit with the wrong fitting simply will not go in.

Here is how to find your car's fitting:

• Check the owner's manual, in the chapter on replacing bulbs.
• Take the standard bulb out of the headlight: the fitting code is usually printed on the base.
• Check whether your car has separate bulbs for low and high beam, or one bulb that does both.

The Hilox Evolution II Black xenon kits come in the fittings H1, H7, H11, HB3/9005 and HB4/9006, with an HIR2/9012 version as a Solo kit. For cars that already have xenon from the factory, there are D1S, D2S and D3S kits.

Why a newer car needs a xenon kit with CAN-bus

The customer deliberately chose a kit made for a newer car, and for good reason: modern cars monitor their lighting through the on-board computer. The system checks whether current is flowing through the bulbs and flags a warning if one looks faulty. A xenon kit draws current differently from a halogen bulb. If the kit is not built for that, you get a dashboard warning, flickering lights, or worse.

A kit for a newer car therefore has a CAN-bus module. On the Hilox Evolution II Black it lives in the ballast, together with an IC chip that keeps the current stable and prevents overheating and flickering. For more background, read how to avoid xenon upsetting your on-board computer.

6000K: what does that colour mean?

The customer chose 6000K. That number is the colour temperature, measured in Kelvin. A halogen bulb gives a yellowish light. The higher the Kelvin value of a xenon bulb, the whiter and eventually bluer the light gets. Around 6000K the light is bright white with a slight blue tint: the crisp, modern look many people go for.

Prefer a warmer light? Pick a lower value. The H7 xenon kit Hilox Evolution II Black, for example, is available in 4300K, 5500K and 6500K. Whichever colour you choose, make sure left and right match.

Neat installation: what does a fitter look out for?

A neat installation was one of the customer's wishes. What does that mean in practice?

• Test first, tidy later. The kit is connected and tested before the cables are routed away for good.
• A proper home for the ballast. The ballast goes on a flat, dry spot away from hot engine parts, and is fixed firmly in place.
• No loose cables. The wiring follows the existing cable looms and is secured with cable ties.
• A watertight headlight. The dust cover goes back on properly, with a grommet and sealing rubber where needed.
• Beam check. After fitting, we check that the cut-off line of the beam is right.

After fitting, have the beam aligned and check that your car still meets the APK (the Dutch roadworthiness test) requirements; if in doubt, ask the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) or your inspector. Also note: according to the product information, the Hilox Evolution II Black kits have no ECE approval or E-mark and are not intended for public roads, but for the track and private grounds.