xenon headlight upgrades

**dieselvec1** · 10th May 2007, 11:03

A question for those who have done the HID upgrades.

I'm in the process of fitting HID headlights to an 04 vectra using green Growler's how to wiring. Unlike others on this forum I've opted to fit the factory xenon vauxhall headlights and modify the internal wiring (so that you end up with the correct lens and reflectors etc)

Bulb check works fine and lights power up ok. However, i've noticed that while they don't flicker (using 3200uF worth of capacitors), there is a very slight high pitched transformer whine like noise from the ballast/starter pack.

Is this normal?

**Neil** · 10th May 2007, 11:23

My previous car had factory fit Xenons. When you switched the lights on, if you where at the front of the car it gave a high pitched whining sound that disappeared as they got hot!

**stevedee3** · 10th May 2007, 12:33

dieselvec1, I'd like to hear more about your setup - have you fitted the self-levelling?

**dieselvec1** · 10th May 2007, 18:34

Originally Posted by Neil

My previous car had factory fit Xenons. When you switched the lights on, if you where at the front of the car it gave a high pitched whining sound that disappeared as they got hot!

That kind of makes sense. I'll have to let them warm up at the weekend and see if the noise stops. I haven't actaully swapped the lights over yet just connected them to the wiring harness for testing.

**dieselvec1** · 10th May 2007, 18:41

Originally Posted by stevedee3

dieselvec1, I'd like to hear more about your setup - have you fitted the self-levelling?

I've taken the standard xenon headlights and modified the wiring so that they are compatible with the non-xenon wiring. Essentially you take green growler's wiring and cut the blast connections inside the headlight and then run a secondary earth cable.(ie no changes to the original loom if I need to swap back).

The self-leveling could in theory be fitted but would probably require a scrapped car to take bits of the harness off which are missing.

The only thing I haven't yet done is sorted out the leveling motor. The xenons have a 4 wiring motor as opposed to 3 wiring although the headlight fitting are the same. I will either leave the 4 wire motor in place if I can get it to work or swap them for the 3 wire ones on my existing headlights.

**pricey** · 10th May 2007, 19:45

I'm been a bit nosey here, but how much are the headlight units if you don't mind me asking?

**stevedee3** · 12th May 2007, 03:52

Thanks dieselvec1.

**dieselvec1** · 15th May 2007, 16:11

Originally Posted by pricey

I'm been a bit nosey here, but how much are the headlight units if you don't mind me asking?

They work out at about £450 each using New Vauxhall bits or about £180 for a pair from ebay or a scrapyard (the route I used).

If you can find them on via ebay etc the price isn't bad considering you end up with the near factory spec.

Have opted to replace the standard blubs with 6K ones from HIDS though.

Will probably fit bank holiday weekend post how 2 at some point.