Generally, on modern cars, do headlight washers imply xenon lights?

Ricochet J · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:14

Nowadays even halogen headlights come with a spherical lens caps which look like xenon headlights, but they aren't.

Is it fair to say if you have xenon's, you also have headlight washers.

If you don't have headlight washers, you don't have xenon's.

Otherwise how can you distinguish without driving the car?

Naturally the difference is far more obvious on old cars - on old cars you can physically see the reflectors.

Example: Does this old Saab have xenons?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...earlynew,used&searchcontext=default&logcode=p

tom_e · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:16

To pass an MOT they need to have washers, so if they don't but they're still claimed to the xenon then they're probably an aftermarket kit or were factory fit before that became a regulation.

Howard · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:18

Cars with factory-fit xenons will always have headlight washers.

Cars with headlight washers aren't always xenons.

Cars with projector lenses ("spherical lens caps" as you described them) aren't always xenons either.

It's usually noticeable when you turn them on since the light is pure white, sometimes with a blue tinge, with xenons versus the yellowy hue to halogen lights.

Other than that, you'll have to look at the specifications of the car in question I guess...

Ricochet J · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:19

tom_e said:
an aftermarket kit

Which are now illegal if I'm not mistaken.

tom_e · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:20

Ricochet J said:
Which are now illegal if I'm not mistaken.

They're not legal in the sense it should fail an MOT due to lack of leveling and washers but that doesn't actually make them illegal when it comes to the vehicle lighting regulations which are the actual laws IIRC.

That Saab may have as the rules involving washers and self leveling didn't come in until 2010.

GinG · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:34

I would say on that Saab it would be projectors...looks very similar to the wifes Qashqai.

tom_e · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:39

GinG said:
I would say on that Saab it would be projectors...looks very similar to the wifes Qashqai.

That doesn't answer the question though, you can have projector lamps and still use halogen bulbs.

Ricochet J · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:40

tom_e said:
That doesn't answer the question though, you can have projector lamps and still use halogen bulbs.

Exactly my problem - how can you tell on a second car?

grudas · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:41

turn the lights on

ZeeWrath · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:41

My wifes 07 Qashqai has reflector xenons and my e90 has reflectors and headlight washers.

Xenons are required to have a self leveling mechanism so you might be able to tell if there is an absence of a manual headlight adjuster.

Clarkey · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:41

Projector lamps have been around since the 80s, and washers probably before that. Neither of them are any indication of Xenon discharge lights.

tom_e · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:43

There's really no way to be 100% sure without being stood in front of the car and being able to see the colour of the headlights and how quickly they light up, xenons have a slight delay while they warm up.

I'm sure someone on here a few months ago even asked a dealer to confirm the car they were buying had them and they obviously just seen projectors and said yes then it turned out it was just standard bulbs in projector housing.

GinG · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:47

tom_e said:
That doesn't answer the question though, you can have projector lamps and still use halogen bulbs.

Sorry that's what I meant...also would have thought the advert would state Xenon if it had them.

TheVoice · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:49

ZeeWrath said:
My wifes 07 Qashqai has reflector xenons

As a factory-fit option? Does it have the headlight washers also?

I'm surprised LED headlights don't require the washers like HIDs do.

tom_e · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:51

TheVoice said:
As a factory-fit option? Does it have the headlight washers also?

I'm surprised LED headlights don't require the washers like HIDs do.

http://www.carlightblog.com/2013/10/22/a-clean-beam-the-purpose-of-the-headlamp-washer-system/

Apparently technically they do as they will emit over 2k lumens on low beam. At least under ECE regulations.

iaind · 2 Jun 2016 at 16:58

Definitely not standard xenons on that one, it may have aftermarket HID bulbs but I doubt it. The headlight units look the same as my old face-lift vector sport with normal headlights.

Another trick for checking is to look for the adjustment wheel for headlight leveling - some cars have washers for normal headlights on some models but the lack of adjuster means they're self levelling which normally means xenons

Alibaba99 · 2 Jun 2016 at 17:07

Clarkey said:
Projector lamps have been around since the 80s, and washers probably before that. Neither of them are any indication of Xenon discharge lights.

I believe the Saab 99 was the first car with headlight washers and wipers and that had them in 1970.

Howard · 2 Jun 2016 at 17:11

tom_e said:
They're not legal in the sense it should fail an MOT due to lack of leveling and washers but that doesn't actually make them illegal when it comes to the vehicle lighting regulations which are the actual laws IIRC.

I think this is the wrong way round - I believe they're technically not legal since an aftermarket installation won't be type-approved for road use, and they need to be E-marked. But you will pass the MOT if the beam pattern is correct and they are adjusted properly. You won't fail an MOT if the headlamp washers and levelling aren't present, but you will fail the MOT if they are present and not working.

TheVoice said:
As a factory-fit option? Does it have the headlight washers also?

Yep, it's not unheard of. Old Honda Accord Type R had reflector xenons, as does the previous generation Civic, Volvo XC90 and probably a few others.

That Saab won't have xenons. It does have a very knackered driver's seat though! :eek:

wassap · 2 Jun 2016 at 17:11

My old 2010 Accord had projectors but no Xenons, a mate had a early 2000's accord at the same time, with Xenons in reflectors (fac fit).

The colour of the light is the give away.

TheVoice · 2 Jun 2016 at 17:14

Cool, did not know that. Always assumed HIDs had projectors (but not the other way around).