Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - 05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 13:24
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - dieselpower
I converted my st to xenon using the proper projector headlight but had problem using the standard ballast so i bought a kit d2s kit off ebay rewired the headlight back to the plug that was on the standard headlight so it would plug into the cars loom - everything works fine but im not happy with the light output and wanted to try and run the bulbs from the ford ballast.
does anyone have any ideas how i can do this
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 13:29
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - Screwloose

Did you fit all the self-levelling equipment and the washers too?
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 16:26
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - rtj70
"Did you fit all the self-levelling equipment and the washers too?"

And if not the conversion is not legal. It's been discussed here so many times so I once asked the relevant government department what the situation was and I got an email to clarify.
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 16:38
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - Hamsafar
Both OE and aftermarket ballasts usually have the same HT two pin socket. I think it's a type of DIN socket.
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 18:00
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - dieselpower
I didnt fit the self leveling far too much hassle. I had rewired the inside of the xenon headlight using the wiring and plug from the ordinary headlights so it just had the 2 pin h7 bulb plug whick then fed the aftermarket ballast was the easiest way to do it as the main plug on the xenon headlight is different than the main loom. but the ford ballasts have loads of pins so im unsure if it just needs a live and an earth or which pins i need to supply the power to on the ford ballast
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 18:03
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - dieselpower
As for headlight washers they came as standard as its an st
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 19:00
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - Screwloose
I didnt fit the self leveling far too much hassle.


So you have 165watt equivalence bulbs without any form of self-levelling? Is the safety of other road users of no interest to you at all?

This bodged-up installation is totally illegal to use on a public road.
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 19:14
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - Hamsafar
As long as you manually set the level if you're carrying a load and have the aim checked you should be fine (certainly in comparison to the huge numbers of Eastern European LHD cars now in the UK).

I think the self-leveling is worse as it causes 'bobbing' which causes dazzling flashes which would not occur without it.

Sort out the cars on the road which do dazzle rather than those which might or may in exceptional circumstances.
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Sat 15 Nov 2008 19:35
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - Screwloose
As long as you manually set the level if you're carrying a load and have
the aim checked you should be fine


The DfT would disagree.... www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
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Sun 16 Nov 2008 10:11
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - dieselpower
In my opinion if the lights are set correctly i dont see a problem ive been running with the installation over a year now and never once has any one flashed at me to let me know there dazzling them
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Sun 16 Nov 2008 14:43
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - Screwloose

I'm sure that VOSA will take your opinion into account if you are ever stopped. They are starting to get interested in illegal headlights and those LED conversions on bikes.

So is it all right for me to fit Hella's 165/130 halogen bulbs in my car? That's going to be exactly the same light output as your HIDs - and they are correctly adjusted....
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Sun 16 Nov 2008 16:01
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - dieselpower
it shouldnt matter how much light output a bulb has provided there set correctly the should not blind other drivers, plus i am using a proper xenon headlight, i may not have the self leveling but i dont really think its needed
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Sun 16 Nov 2008 16:11
05 2.2 xenon headlight conversion - Screwloose

Regardless of the setting on a level surface; there are numerous undulations in the road surface that lift the beams straight into oncoming driver's eyes - dazzling them, particularly spectacle wearers, thus endangering cyclists.

Good self-levelling constantly corrects for this, keeping the beams level - THAT is why your installation is illegal.
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