Different bulbs, 2 in the pre 2013 version and only 1 in the post 2013, different bulb holders. Anything is possible if you're determined enough but lots of hassle. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

jules wrote:

How to improve yours - not really sure as you already have a HID for dip beam. Maybe a brighter halogen for the H7. I assume your HID has a projector lens and the H7 has a reflector lens. You shouldnt use a HID in a reflector lens - pretty sure that would an obvious MOT fail to tester.

Thanks for your reply Jules. Yes mine has the HID in a proper projector lens and the H7 in a reflector lens.

I've been pondering the options. Decided to buy a whole replacement headlight unit for the drivers side as the internal frame was broken and the lamp assembly rattling around which isn't good. Attempting to open the unit up was futile and suggestions of putting it in the oven to soften the adhesives wasn't really where I wanted to go! For £125 I got a very good condition HID unit complete with lamps and chopped off connector from the donor loom. Delivered next day by UPS too

Driving tests in now much darker weather has accustomed me better to the change in the type of lighting offered. It could be that I was just spoilt with the Tuscon's strikingly powerful LED lighting design and now I'm back in the real world! My eyeballs need all the help they can get I suppose, might consider a few roofbar lights too for those dodgy backroads of Sussex.

So it seems my aftermarket HID headlights are playing up

I have 2 different kits (long story)
The passenger side works flawlessly every time
The drivers side is intermittent

So at the weekend I swapped bulbs side to side and the problem stayed put
So I swapped the ballast from the other kit in and it seemed like it was going to work and has been fine until today
But today it didn't turn on a couple of times cycling the headlights on and off a few times got it to go and it stayed on
Now I left the car running a while and did something else for a bit and as I was walking back to the car the signature strip went off
I tried to see if it would come back if I turned the headlights off and it didn't I needed to cycle the ignition
But I have now completely lost the headlight
I am pulling my hair out with it now

Tempted to get some LEDs and try those but I have read they are not great with projector headlights but anything has got to be better than those naff halogen bulbs that are that di I consider them dangerous

I would do the following at first:

1/ Have you tried to move the main light switch to another position, where there would be high/dipped beam on? I believe that on our car, it's the extreme left and extreme right position of said switch.

2/ I think you will have to measure resistance on all cables in the dead aftermarket headlight to make sure they are all good, including the connecting socket/multiplug. That would be a first step.

3/ Next step would be to look at fuses, wires in the car, and measure resistance on those.
Make sure there is a supply voltage to the plug (in the car), right before the receiving plug on the headlight.

4/ Next step could be to measure if the main light switch on the dash board is working properly. Mine did not turn on one of the rear fog lights. And no supply voltage was coming to the multiplug in the rear of the car.
I tried spraying into it, but it persisted not working.
So I bought an original light switch from fleabay and all is good. Eventually borrow a switch from a friend with a similar car, if possible.

Lesson learned about not taking for granted that it's a dead wire.
Probably you have tried all of the above, but just to make sure.

Kind regards,
Redfox.

Ps: I consider H7/H4 halogen bulbs safe for the "environmentally friendly" 20 km/h speed limit on well lit city streets.

Last edited by Redfox on 13th Dec 2024 8:04 am. Edited 1 time in total

I've read another post on here where the car turns off the signature strip if it detects a fault in any part of the headlight unit - I think it was related to indicators on the post I read. So maybe try disconnecting your HID modification and see if that restores the signature strip.

This "other" HID conversion kit where you got the replacement ballast, is it using the same lamps - the ballast/control units may be different if the lamps aren't the same type.

I have put an led bulb in and all works fine now
Unfortunately the led bulb gives less light output than the HID

I think the car needs programming for HID in the ccf