13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
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YOUR RESEARCHHeadlight Questions
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Check by seeing if the transformer
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Read evidence and context
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Suggestion
It's not listed as an option, obviously, but you can pull out a headlight and check by seeing if the transformer for the xeon bulbs is attached.
Leading evidence: 'Check by seeing if the transformer' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check by seeing if the transformer' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
Generally you can tell that they are HIDs if the headlight cleaning system is present, which it is on the OP's car.
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Suggestion
Replace both, so they will deliver the same lighting & appearance.
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Suggestion
if you have xenons and have the ballast you can replace the bulb with higher color temp bulb.
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I want to upgrade my car's headlight bulbs because they seem very dull compared to my old BMW with bi-xenon. I'm not sure whether my 2002 C4S has HID headlights or not. It has the headlight washers but it doesn't have the 601 option code on the sticker. How can I tell for sure if they are HID so I know what type of bulbs to get?
I dont know what code but bixenon is a option. if you take the bulb out you can tell. If you want to convert to hid xenon you can buy a kit for your car . look on ebay $50 to $100
Go into your spare tire tool kit and find the Headlight removal tool. Remove one of the headlights per your owners manual and check to see if you have a ballast attached to the back of it, like the shiny metal box in the back the headlight below.
Alright so I took out my headlight and I do have the ballast on the back of it so I do have HIDs. Does anyone have recommendations on good bulbs to replace the ones I currently have? Looking at replacing the high beams as well.
The only ones that have definite improvement and good QC with the longevity of an OEM is what the OEM's use. Osram CBI's seem to be a popular choice for those that upgrade that weak/old HID bulbs.
There are other alternatives out there but it will not satisfy all the three conditions IMO.
But really, these may only give you an incremental improvement. YMMV. The weak spot are the projectors themselves. Some elect to take apart the headlights and sand/polish the factory glass projector lenses for better clarity. Or they scrap them altogether and get new and better projector/lenses.
This is one example:
if you have xenons and have the ballast you can replace the bulb with higher color temp bulb. All stock porsche and MB come with 4300k bulbs, look on the bulb it will say that. I always use 6000k or 8000k. 6000 is blueish color, 8000 is brighter blue. There isnt any brighter light past 8000k, 10 or 12 is not brighter just different color. You can get all the bulbs on ebay, commonly $35-55 pair.
The ebay/amazon bulbs will work fine & cost a fraction of the others. Replace both, so they will deliver the same lighting & appearance. The k (Kelvin) designation is the color designation, which for brightness peaks at 4300k, but the cheap ones at 5000k are similar, if not slightly blueish whiter. Should be a noticeable improvement over your present bulbs if they are original or older replacements. GL!
Correct for turbos, but HIDs were optional on the C4S.
Generally you can tell that they are HIDs if the headlight cleaning system is present, which it is on the OP's car. That being said, the option code for HID headlights is 601, which isn't present on the sticker. The headlights could have been upgraded after the car was built. I guess a physical inspection is in order.
