Head lights (X100)

[alan99gill645]

Hi. I am finding my headlights (2004 XK8 - XKR) aiming a bit low on main beam (dip is the same). I have looked at a youtube that shows how to change out the complete headlamp unit, and it looks like there are no final beam aim adjustment? Does anyone know of a clever trick so to raise the main beam hight?

Thank you ...> Alan

[Astromorg]

The first point to be established is whether your lights are High Intensity Discharge (HID) or ordinary incandescent bulb type. Both can be adjusted but in different ways and if they are HIDs, there could be just a problem with the levelling system when they default to the lowest setting point.

As all four lamps are low, it sounds like a HID system fault and the first things I would check are that the level sensors - one on the front nearside suspension and one on the rear nearside suspension are properly connected to their linkages. Something like this - one part connected to the chassis and one to the suspension arm.

[alan99gill645]

Thank you Astromorg for your reply.
Attached is the type of headlight I have. Do I have HID or incandescent? See attached picture.

Thank you.
Alan

[Astromorg]

Sorry to say, I can't tell for sure from just that, so let's try this extract from the handbook

Does your console panel have a headlight adjuster knob as shown in the picture. That indicates standard incandescent type lights. If so, does adjusting the knob have any noticeable effect on the headlight setting? If it does, are you then saying that with the adjustment set to position 1 and the car loaded appropriately as described in the handbook, the beams are too low? There is adjustment available in that situation

If you don't have that adjuster, then you have HIDs. When you switch on the headlights, do the beams immediately automatically move up and down through their range for a self-check before settling in position? If not, then there's a fault with the automatic levelling system. That could be something straightforward as I described in my earlier post or it could be more complex, requiring a Jaguar-enabled diagnostic reader to read the relevant fault codes to enable it to be narrowed down.

Further to all that, if you would bring the Forum up to date we could then try to suggest a specific way ahead and get you sorted. I hope that all makes sense

[alan99gill645]

Thank you Astromorg. Very useful information. I do not have a level control knob on my consul. However, the headlights do move up/down (as to adjust level) when I switched them on. So HID I must have. Once I free up my ramp, I will drive the XK8 on it and inspect the level sensors.
Will keep the forum posted.
Thank you again ...> Alan

[alan99gill645]

Further to my last post, I may of had a poor connection at the rear level sensor. I had removed this sensor completely (not an easy area to work in with corroded nuts) and cleaned up.
Thank you all for your support.
Alan