I have a standard halogen set of headlamps in the 500, want to buy the abarth xenon set rather than just a hid kit to keep it original. If i did so (realising that id have no headlamp wash etc) would the connector be the same or is it different? Also I realise that Id have to get a levelling system too. Anyone know if this would be greif or if a bit of head scratching and tinkering could do the job relatively simply?
Cheers!

I have thought of doing this, but think it would be way too much work. Like you say washers and levelling required which all have to connect up and be fitted and working for MOTs afaik.

Let alone the cost of just buying the parts... A bit of a nightmare really.

I presume they hook into the "system" of the car and mine is a 2007/8 so that presents possibly even more issues since you couldn't get xenons at all with those models. Not sure what age your car is...

I really wouldn't bother unfortunately, would be easier (and who knows possibly cheaper) to sell your car and buy one with xenons!

Yeah, I guess you're right. With adding to the wiring loom etc for the levelling it's going to be stupid money, and it's 'only' a £600 option on a new one. I mean the headlamp wash it's not hard to do, it's more the levelling system. If it's at all possible, and indeed viable, I'll let you know, as mines a 2011 it may be different though. Need to find the wiring diagrams now!

indeed, good luck if you try and obviously post the results

With the headlamp wash, I'm not sure how simple it is. I read that they have a different tank, I mean yeah, you just mount it up, but I presume to pass MOT it had to "go off" when you wash the windscreen or whatever? I have not owned a car with washing headlamps, but have witnessed them going off when people spray the windscreen typically... That would certainly involve some kind of wiring/loom/hook-in.

Alternatively you can just hide a button somewhere that does it, not sure if that would make them "regulation". Basically when I got to this point in my thought process when I was considering them I just had to tell myself to stop! haha

Still, good luck! ;-)

Yeah I think your right, I know minis work off the windscreen wash, but most vw/Audi group stuff Is a button on the stalk. Maybe lii just shove a pump on the standard tank, but it'll be a mission!

It'll be an expensive mission.

HID headlamps £545 each
Front and rear sensors £114 each.
Hydraulic washer jets £55 each.

Plus brackets and link rods for the sensors.
Plus extra wiring.
Bigger washer bottle.
Extra high pressure pump.

Re: HID headlights?

You could just fit the Abarth/Fiat OEM HID units and plumb in a separate tank for the washers and not bother with the self levelling, although would be very naughty!

Or alternatively could fit Xenon bulbs like Ring xenon max or Osram Nightbreakers

The factory fit HIDs do have a separate washer bottle, to prevent headlamp wash depleting the washer fluid from the main one.

bgunn said:

The factory fit HIDs do have a separate washer bottle, to prevent headlamp wash depleting the washer fluid from the main one.

Click to expand...

May also be that they couldn't fit a bigger one in the same possition as the origional, although a separate one is a much better idea for the reason you stated.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

May also be that they couldn't fit a bigger one in the same possition as the origional, although a separate one is a much better idea for the reason you stated.

Click to expand...

Quite likely, the front overhang is very short on the 500, so there's not a huge amount of room for one big bottle. The nature of the aerodynamics of the 500 means I'm always using the washers for the rear window, so it's probably a good thing that there isn't another pump (and it's a high flow/pressure one at that) drawing water from it.

If you're driving at any speed and you pull the wiper stalk when the lights are on, it all goes dark for a second as the washers absolutely blast the lights, and then the water flies out of the side of the car - it's great for annoying people in their cars who are too close

I discovered this interesting video:

It is interesting. That is the absolute worst, people shoving HID bulbs into halogen reflectors... *sigh* unfortunately see plenty of those around and it infuriates me.

Just to be sure, OP here is not talking about doing that, but fitting the proper Fiat projector headlamp units with HID 'bulbs' (or whatever if they're not bulbs exactly).

frupi said:

I discovered this interesting video:

Click to expand...

Yep, that's what half the chavs do which cause god awful glare for everyone like this



It's what give proper factory HID setups a bad name, and their sale should be outlawed and people punished properly IMO - but thats a rant for another thread.

charliestyr said:

with HID 'bulbs' (or whatever if they're not bulbs exactly).

Click to expand...

They are bulbs