... I've been perusing the forum, looking for opinions on replacement headlamp bulbs.
I have a 2011 (Apr 11) SD4 GS and am confused about what lights I have as standard - halogen or xenons?

The SD4 GS comes with Clear View pack as standard I believe which implies that Xenons can be fitted or are fitted already - not sure which (if either).

So... do I have halogens or xenons as standard?
If halogens, can xenons be fitted with no adjustment or problems?
If xenons can't be fitted, do osram nighbreakers give a better illumination compared to current standard lamps?

Thanks for patience... ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

retro fitting xenons is a real pain,( and very expensive) and you could fall foul of MOT regulations.
Most likely you have halogens as standard

The Osram Bulbs make a great difference, money well spent. 

Clear View Pack does not include HID lamps. Clear view is Headlamp washers and fog lights.

There is also a lot of confusion with the use of the word "Xenon" this is a gas used in standard halogen lamps to make the filament burn hotter and therefore more white, it is also one of the gases used in HID, or High Intensity Discharge, these use an electrical arc in a gas filled envelope to produce the light as opposed to a filament.
Therefore both halogen and HID can be called Xenon lights.

An easy way to see if factory HID are fitted is the omission of the headlamp levelling control inside as it is not needed with slef levelling HID lamps.

HTH

Paul

... thanks both for the clarification...

I have a headlamp leveling control on my dash so I guess that (plus the clarification on the Clear View pack...) means I have standard halogen lamps.

TAZ, you have the same (MY11 SD4) as me I believe. Have you replaced the standard lamps in your SD4? To any significant benefit? ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

I specced up the GS and it includes factory HID, they were a £700 option but well worth it, I cover 35,000 miles a year, in winter this can be all in darkness, they make a huge difference.
If you have projectors type lights you will be fairly safe with a HID retro fit, I would get a decent one though, keep an eye on the beam levels to prevent glare and be ever mindful of the fact that insurance companies will do all they can not to pay in the event of a claim.

Paul

Thanks for the good advice...  ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

stick 4 Halfords Ultra brilliance + 120% lamps in , a lot easier than a HID conversion and very effective, the bulbs are often on 2 for 1 offers, then you will need a pair 8 or 10 led wedge bulbs from e-bay to make the sidelights look nice as they will appear yellow against the new lamps best £80 mod you can do. 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Can someone confirm the type of headlight bulb in a 2010 GS, please. I have read both H7 & H11....

Of course, they'll be H11, as I have a set of H7 nighbreakers in the garage.....

I don't want to make the changes required to go HID but I'd be interested in brighter / more effective standard halogens.

The H7 / H11 lamps in the Amazon links below don't specify compatible cars but can I be sure they will fit my MY11 SD4 GS?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004J3D...HSX80RP01E

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0046B0...BFX2260HYF

Thanks again chaps & chapesses. ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

open up your existing lamps and check your bulbs if your unsure

I think they stamp the bulb type on the headlamp lens too

H7 for head lamps and high beams and H11 for the front fogs if you have them

if your car has the new projector headlamps then i believe they are H11 all round

But as i have adaptive bi-xenons headlamps you better make sure

Fair enough. Was being lazy and trying to avoid opening up the units but I might have to...

I should have said... the front of the lamp units have H11 & H7 embossed on them but are all H7s the same fit, all H11s the same fit etc...? ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

yes, a H7 is a H7 and the H11 is a H11, so that side of things you shouldn't have to worry about

npinks wrote:

if your car has the new projector headlamps then i believe they are H11 all round

But as i have adaptive bi-xenons headlamps you better make sure

The bulb types are marked on the headlight lenses of my relatively ancient my2007 GS. High beam and low beam both H7. Original bulbs changed for one of the +100 or +120% versions along with LED sidelights. Must remember to put in the glow worm equivalent bulbs for the MOT. Just in case the tester is slightly blue sensative!

On the front lens of my head lights it is moulded h7 and h7 but not for the fog lights so you know what bulbs should be in there.