2003 JDM headlight pattern problem

[Macnore]

Hello there 2003 350z going in for an MOT and knew I had a dipped headlight bulb out.

Thought I had nothing else to do but replace the bulb, so took the bumper off to get the headlight out.

 

Firstly sorry for the long post, but suspect this maybe a common cheap workaround for replacing dipped headlight bulbs.

 

Mmmmm, previous owner had converted the dipped fitting to an H 7 type bulb fitting, wiring loom has been modified and the ballast had been bypassed, so replaced like for like with an H7 type bulb.

Seemed to be ok and worked, did'nt fit very well, not seating in the bulb opening very well, but clip held it in position ok.

 

Anyway off it went this morning for the test, got them to start with the lights as suspected there may be an issue.

Instant fail, light beam pattern all over the place, ok so bulb may be in wrong position, started rotating the bulb and tested again, shape changed but still not correct, 2 hours later unable to get a pattern that would pass.

 

Gave up and mot tester distraught by now.

 

No wonder at night dipped headlight were rubbish.

 

Checked the other side which was working ok and it's the same, wiring loom modified for an H7 bulb and the ballast bypassed.

 

So makes sense now, previous owner stuck H7 fitting bulbs in instead of replacing with the correct expensive D2R bulbs.

Can only assume after the last MOT and me buying the car as no way the beam pattern from an H7 bulb and the existing 350 headlight unit will pass an MOT.

So looks like I need to convert back to the original fitting, problem is one of the existing fitting looks like it may be faulty with the mesh style wiring section being badly corroded.

 

Are the Ballast parts prone to go faulty, don't want to buy D2R bulbs to find out the Ballast are also needing replaced.

 

Any advice and guidance appreciated.

 

Either way looks like I need to experiment with the bulbs first, can get cheeper ones for £60 for a pair.

 

Has anyone had the same or a similar issue I am experiencing, or am I just unfortunate previous owner did a work around.

 

Thanks

[Macnore]

Problem resolved now and passed MOT.

 

Got £10 set of xenon bulbs from Ebay and managed to re wire the ballasts and bulb connectors etc.

Fortunately the existing Ballasts were OK.

 

Headlight pattern now what it should be apart from the kick up on the near side of the pattern, which is for Uk headlights.

As we drive on the left.

 

My headlight lens did not provide the kick up, just a straight line on the headlight tester.

Garage suspected this was due to the age ( 03 2003 ) and possibly as it was an Import.

They just noted it as an advisory.

 

Took out tonight in the dark and they are surprisingly good, plenty bright, but noticed when you first switch them on its flickers slightly and it sparks up, rather like a fluorescent tube light.

But once sparked,up gets to full light in a couple of seconds.

For £10 for x 2 D2R HID 4300 Xenon bulbs can't be bad. Will see how long they last.