Xenon HID to Halogen conversion - can it be done?

[Ecoman]

I have a 54 plate Skoda Superb 1.9Tdi Elegance fitted with xenarc hid headlights. One headlight packed up and about a week later the other headlight went the same way. I got a pair of osram hid bulbs and proceeded to dismantle the car to fit them. I fitted the bulbs into the headlights, refitted the starters and plugged in the wires. I turned on the lights and the NS headlight stayed off. The OS headlight came on and then started to strobe. I turned the lights off and turned off the ignition. I swapped the bulbs over but with the same results. I then swapped the starters over and again got the same results so i effectively ruled out the starters and bulbs. This left the ballast packs and wiring. There is a constant 12v feed to each headlight with the headlights on. So that means that both ballasts are faulty and have packed up within a week of each other??! Thats a pretty big coincidence is it not?

I adked skoda for prices of the ballast packs but the only sell them with the headlight apparently, so i priced up new headlights and were told they were over £500 each!!!! Ouch!

I finally found a company called hid direct that do the ballast packs for around £140 each. This i can handle but before i spend out on them i was wondering if i could pick the brains of some grown ups on here?

I have been considering fitting halogen headlamps to this car and doing away with the HIDs. Can i simply plug in the halogen versions of the headlights or is it a more involved job?

Many thanks in advance.

Bill

Edited 25 March, 2015 by Ecoman

[jimbof]

Don't you need to have a working manual headlight leveller switch for halogens? Cars with factory HIDs don't have the switch.

[Ecoman]

No idea. I thought that was an optional extra?

[iob]

The leveling for the factory HIDs is done automatically by an electronic module which adjusts beam height considering the position of mechanical levers indicating load in the back of the car. The halogens don't have this, you would adjust the beam manually, via a knob...which is not fitted to your car at present

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[Ecoman]

OK thanks both of you.

 

Would the halogen headlight units be plug and play or would I need to modify the wiring?

 

Please can someone show me a picture of the socket and plug at the back of a halogen unit. I have searched but with no luck.

[Ecoman]

Anyone??

It seems that i was given some wrong information regarding the ballast availability. My local skoda dealer told me they were not available seperate from the headlight unit.. In fact they are and are a hella part. Not only that but are used an a wide range of car makes and models.

I am currently awaiting a pair of ballasts to come from my local factors. Hopefully i should be back on the road soon.

Just for the record though it would be good to find out if the xenon to halogen conversion could be done and what modifications i would be needed.

[jimbof]

I recall one guy doing the conversion, maybe try the search function for a bit. I don't know if the level adjustment is a legal requirement for halogens, so it might be that you can drop the lights in. There are still quite a lot of Xenons about in the second hand market as this car seemed to get more than it's fair share fitted with them (compared to other models) - I might keep an eye out for a pair and stash them in the garage.

[Ecoman]

Thank Jimbof,

I have been searching on here but i keep coming accross people either upgrading their halogen bulbs or threads on upgrading to Xenons but not the other way around. I will keep looking though.

[jimbof]

This was the tread from 2012. Doesn't look like it came to any conclusion. You are right, I was remembering wrong - the poster had halogens and bought xenons by accident. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?/topic/253279-oe-xenon-swap-for-standard-halogen

If you are good with electrical diagrams, a fiver at the ERWIN Skoda site will allow you to download all the wiring diagrams for the car, which would allow you to work out if the same cables are in use for xenons vs halogen.

[Ecoman]

Blimey!! Its been just over a year since i originally posted about my headlights and i'm almost back to square one again!!!! Grrrrr!

I ended up buying a pair of headlight ballasts as everyone i asked said the conversion couldnt be done. I removed the lights, dried them out. Re-sealed them with silicone and fitted the new ballasts.

A month ago i lost one headlight again, a week later, numer two went out. I checked the ballast packs and surprise, surprise, they are full of moisture again. I cannot see where it is coming in as the headlights are totally sealed, unless its a crack in the casing or a gasket i havent done. Anyway, i now have two duff headlights again.

The wife got so fed up of it she went and bought a 63 plate 1600 auto Octavia with all the toys as she needed a reliable car. I'm trying to keep this one going for myself as its been a great old bus so far.

Anyone had any joy with a conversion to halogen yet or shall i just bite the bullet and see what happens when i throw a pair of halogen headlights at it?!?!

[KenONeill]

Can you park the car facing downhill?

 

Beyond that, I can't see any reason other than needing halogen units and possibly re-coding if you have CANBus why halogens wouldn't "just work".

[jimbof]

If you're serious about trying to work this out it might be worth buying the schematics from ERWIN.  I had a quick look.  To me it looks like the halogen and xenon headlights use the same connector; but in the halogen case the adjustment motor is wired to the knob, and in the xenon case it is wired to the headlight range controller.  There are more wires used for controlling the height in the xenon than the halogen case - I imagine there is feedback to the controller of the headlight positon, which in the case of the halogens isn't needed.

 

If I were a betting man I reckon it might light but give you an error from the headlight controller about your headlights, because it won't be able to detect the headlight position.  Disconnecting the range controller might get rid of such errors.  You probably want to get the right headlight adjustment knob, and connect it into the two connectors left and right in the A pillars which go to the headlight adjustment motors.

 

If it were my car I'd read the schematic a bit more, buy the cheapest, gashiest looking halogen light (£30 on ebay), disconnect both xenon headlights and hook one up.  If it works acceptably and nothing is on fire (!), then buy a good set.

[superb2500]

I'm in a similar position where I cannot find a clean n/s xenon headlight and need to know if I installed a pair of halogens, they'd work without issue and be a straight forward install. I've purchased one halogen and will update you in the coming week. Fingers crossed!

[jimbof]

If you're not going to be reading & understanding the schematic yourself you want to think about getting an auto electrician involved.  As I say it looks like it may work, but who knows.  There are lots of things that could be gotchas.