Xenon in a BMW F10 520D: Pilot Digital Line

If you buy a new car without xenon lighting, like Leendert did, there are 2 options.

Xenon BMW 520D: new xenon headlights or a xenon conversion kit?

1. You can have new xenon headlights fitted by the dealer (cost: €3,000).
2. Or you can install a Pilot Digital Line xenon kit. For this 2011 BMW 520D, such a xenon kit costs just €299.

Read more about xenon in BMW. Also take a look at all Hilox xenon kits.

Xenon kit or new xenon headlights: what is the difference?

The customer story shows two routes: new xenon headlights from the dealer, or a xenon kit in your existing headlights. The difference is mostly in what you replace.

• New xenon headlights: you replace the complete headlight units with ones built for xenon at the factory. That is a big job with a big bill to match, like the €3,000 in this example.
• A xenon kit: you keep your existing headlights and only swap the halogen bulb for a xenon bulb with a ballast. That is a lot cheaper and quicker, like the €299 for this 2011 BMW 520D.

A xenon kit has two parts per headlight: the xenon bulb and the ballast. The ballast produces the high ignition voltage that lights the bulb and then keeps the current stable. A xenon bulb ignites straight away but takes the first few seconds to build up to full brightness. That is normal.

How to choose the right xenon kit for your car

Before you order a kit, get three things straight:

1. The fitting. Look at the old bulb or in the owner's manual to see which fitting your headlight has. A kit with the wrong fitting won't fit.
2. Bulb monitoring. Many modern cars use the on-board computer (CAN-bus) to check that the bulbs are working. If yours does, choose a kit with a CAN-bus module to avoid warning messages. You can read more about this in how to avoid xenon and a faulty on-board computer.
3. The colour. Colour is expressed in Kelvin: a lower value gives warmer light, a higher value gives whiter, bluer light.

An example from the current range is the H7 Xenon Kit, Hilox Evolution II Black, Duo. According to the product details you get two H7 xenon bulbs in 4300K, 5500K or 6500K and two Evolution II ballasts with IC chip and CAN-bus II module, with 2 years' warranty on bulbs and ballasts. The H7 xenon bulb in this series is 35W and delivers 4200 lumens per bulb. The Hilox kits are also available in H1, H11, HB3/9005 and HB4/9006, among others.

Please note: according to the product information, these kits have no ECE approval or E-mark and are not intended for public roads, but for the racetrack and private land.

Fitting and adjusting

Fitting a xenon kit is much like changing an ordinary headlight bulb, with the ballast as an extra step. The broad strokes:

1. Switch off the ignition and lights, and open the back of the headlight.
2. Take out the halogen bulb and fit the xenon bulb. Don't touch the glass of the bulb.
3. Connect the original bulb connector to the ballast, and the ballast to the bulb.
4. Test the kit before you tuck the cables away for good.
5. Fix the ballast in a solid, dry spot, away from hot engine parts.
6. Close the headlight up again so it is watertight.

Then check the beam pattern: the cut-off line of the low beam should sit at the same height on the left and right, so you don't dazzle oncoming traffic. 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.

You will find a more detailed step-by-step guide in xenon in your car: how to go about it.

Looking after your xenon lighting

Once the kit is in, it asks for very little attention. A few things are worth checking now and then:

• Are both bulbs burning the same colour? A bulb that turns pinker, more purple or weaker is often due for replacement. Ideally, replace xenon bulbs in pairs.
• Is the ballast still fixed in place? A ballast that comes loose and starts to vibrate or touches hot parts will fail sooner.
• Is the headlight dry inside? Condensation points to a dust cap that isn't sealing properly.
• Is the headlight lens clear? Cloudy headlights scatter the light. In weathered headlights: how to make them look like new again you can read how to restore them.