Hi folks, does anyone know what you have to do to convert a Mondeo Mk3 to work with XENON headlights instead of Halogen ones.
Is it not just a question of replacing the original headlights with the complete XENON unit?
I was reading an ad on E-BAY that had the complete units and said you could convert 'if you knew what you were doing' so that got me thinking there must be more to it than just swapping them over.

 

The headlamp multiplugs are different so they won't plug straight in. The cars with xenons use auto levelling from sensors on the front and rear suspension wishbones but the normal adjustment wheel inside the car will work as normal with them.

It would be a case of getting a section of loom with plugs on the end and soldering them on to your original loom to get them to work. Best person to speak to would probably be Dojj, he knows the mk3's inside out.

 

I don't know specifically for Mondeos but for a golf you need headlights, ballast control unit, self levelling control unit and different wishbones, headlight washers with control unit and all the wiring to go with it. A bigger screen wash tank is a good addition with that lot, but not essential.

To pass an MOT they need to be able to auto level and wash.

 

I think this is still a bit of a grey area, as headlamp washers are not tested on the MOT. Friend of mine who is an MOT tester said he will pass aftermarket HID's for example just so long as they have the required beam pattern. I think a VOSA check may be different though as it all comes under type approval etc.

 

HID and xenons are different though?

HIDs are just normal style bulbs that are just really bright, blind everybody and generally look shit?

 

HID and Xenon bulbs are the same thing, they just seem to be called HID's for the cheap aftermarket kits and Xenons for the standard fit headlamp units.

The reason the HID kits usually blind everyone is people put them in housings designed to be used with a normal halogen bulb. The HID (high intensity discharge) kit has a much higher intensity than a normal filament bulb, so the reflector just scatters the light everywhere instead of projecting a normal beam pattern at the road.

A Xenon headlamp unit has either a reflector or a glass lens that is designed to be used with a HID bulb, so it won't scatter the light everywhere, thus giving a good beam pattern.

 

Here's an example for you, look at this pic of a cheap aftermarket HID kit, fitted in to a headlamp designed for a halogen bulb. See how the light pattern is everywhere and there is no distinct cut off. (pic shamelessly nicked from another thread on here)



Then this is my car, the halogen housings have been changed for some designed to be used with a HID bulb, I also have a cheap HID kit. Sorry the pic isn't very good, only one I've got!

 

When you see genuine xenons it is a sharp light coming from a small point in the headlights.

When you see the crappy ones it is a super bright light coming from all the headlight.

Probably the worst explanation ever, sorry

 

As said, all down to the reflector, a halogen bulb normally sits in front of a big chrome reflector, whereas a xenon / hid bulb would normally sit behind a glass projector lens.

 

Its fairly straightforward as long as you get the car loom side multiplugs from the donor car, there is a fitting guide here:

http://www.fordwiki.co.uk/index.php?...etro-fit_Guide