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XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:23 am
by Citroenesque
I have a pair of XM headlights (S2) in VGC, from a LHD car. If your XM is going to be spending much time in France or elsewhere on the continent, then these probably make sense.

Local pick up only - I'm in Chelmsford, Essex.

How's £40 sound?

Phil

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:28 am
by Dieselman
What's the actual difference in LHD format and what condition are the reflectors in?

By difference I mean what is the beam pattern when the internal fresnel lens is removed, is the reflector the same?

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:42 am
by robert_e_smart
Hi Will,

Series 2 LHD lights are completely different to our lights. For LHD markets, they re-designed the lights for the series 2 cars. They did away with the beam deflector thing. The lights are a million times better than our RHD ones.

I have a set of these LHD ones at home that I bought when I was in France with my XM.

I see the angle that you're going down Will in light of your own lighting mods (pun not intended!).

However, £40 is a fair enough price for them IF you need a pair. You'd probably struggle to get a set that cheap in France. I believe my pair were €60 from a French breakers Dec '09.

They're handy to have if you are going onto the continent with the car for a while. I'd put my set in if I was taking my XM abroad on holiday, and put beam defelectors on for the Uk.

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:44 am
by Citroenesque
As I understand it the modifications Citroen made to the headlights for S2 cars was only applied to LHD XMs - the UK cars had to make do with the original (poor) design.

I can't describe the technical differences, but looking at them the reflectors and the lens inside are crystal clear.

But someone on here might well be able to add to this. It's a 'received wisdom' TBH.

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:46 am
by Citroenesque
"put beam deflectors on for the UK."

So even with those, these lights would be better?

(Hang on, if so I might not sell 'em :lol: )

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:49 am
by robert_e_smart
Good try Phil :lol:

Meh, I'd keep 'em myself. Handy to have, even to use when waiting for a RHD spare to come along if a lamp gets smashed.

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:10 am
by robert_e_smart
In fact, thinking about this more, if the law changes, and you have to use your dipped lights all the time, as per scandinavia, then it would be even more beneficial to have these LHD lamps for holidays.

In Poland they use their dipped lights all the time, and would flash you if you didn't. I don't know if it was obligatory, or just something they did.

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:00 am
by Citroenesque
OK, I'll retire to contemplate. For now, they're in the shop window but the shop's not open yet :roll: :lol:

Having said that, if someone really wants them and collects them this weekend in exchange for a crisp £40 in cash, then I guess it's all academic!

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:11 am
by xmexclusive
Phil

If you do decide to sell them then I will take them.
Have been on the look out for a set of Mk2 LHD ones to strip, compare and document against the equivalent RHD ones.

John

Re: XM abroad? Lights for sale.

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 10:32 am
by Dieselman
Thanks, especially to Robert. I was aware that S2 LHD lamps were redesigned but not having seen any wasn't aware of exacly how.
So it would appear that instead of a universal complex parabolic reflector and fresnel lens, they used a specific LHD one, as most cars do now for both LH and RH drive vehicles.
It's a bit annoying that they couldn't spend a few more centimes for a mould for the RHD type...

Obviously it was Zut Alor...NO..!!