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[Greenbay packer]

Hi All,  I'd be grateful if someone could throw some light on my confusion regarding the different headlight types available. 

I've never given much thought to the headlights as I've haven't even had to change a front bulb in the 7 years I've had my 1998 2.5 V6, but I now need to replace the complete driver's side unit (plus the wing and other bits) due to an unfortunate encounter with a Freelander on a remote lane in North Devon.  I thought this would be straightforward, but there seems to be a confusing number of options available advertised as 'projector type', 'Hella', 'Xenon', 'hid', 'electric aim' etc. 

Basically I'm not sure what my lights would be described as and what replacement options are available.  The label on the top of my unit bears the part number GM 90 566 798 RH and the rubber surround bears the name Hella, but I've also seen Hella units advertised with numbers GM 09 147 874 RH and GM 009 193 414 RH and Xenon units with different numbers again. 

Does anyone know what the difference is between these Hella units and whether they are interchangeable - ie, could I use any of them as a direct swap or will only another 90 566 798 unit like my smashed one do?  Also, what is the difference between these units and the Xenon's - I assume there is more to it than just a different bulb?

Thanks for any advice offered.

[I_want_an_Omega]

Does your car have headlight washers?

If so then it has Xenons, if not then it has projectors.

[albitz]

Imo any omega headlights which arent HID/Xenon are useless to the point of being dangerous. If I were you I would take the opportunity to upgrade to HID,s.
Cant help with all the part number stuff, but Someone will probably be along soon who can.

[Andy B]

Does your car have headlight washers?

If so then it has Xenons, if not then it has projectors.

true ....... most of the time, but IIRC some facelift 'sports' models had washers but had projectors. 

[gstylebaby]

My saloon has headlight washers but was the older type headlamps that go yellow.  So i upgraded to projectors and i'm going to fit a set of xenons.

[gstylebaby]

You can fit xenons mate so long as you have headlamp washers and just get a bit of the wiring loom and piece it in.  They are so much better.

[Andy B]

...

Thanks for any advice offered.

the easiest way to tell if you have xenons is  ..... do you have 0 1 2 3 nxt to your head light switch? If not you do, if you do you don't  Xenons take a second or two to 'warm up' all other are projectors & use ordinary H7 or H1 bulbs (can't remember which  )

[Greenbay packer]

Thanks for the replies - I have no washers but do have 0 1 2 3 next to the switch, so I guess that means I have projectors.  At least I know what to look out for now. 

Does anyone know anything about the part numbers listed in my OP - just wondering whether there is more than one number covering the projector light units and, if so, whether all are interchangeable?

[Greenbay packer]

You can fit xenons mate so long as you have headlamp washers and just get a bit of the wiring loom and piece it in.  They are so much better.

That may be an option if I can't find a single compatible unit to match the surviving one - are 'Xenon' and 'HID' units the same thing and can these all be identified by a box on top of the unit?  Also, will I need to add or change a headlight ECU to fit Xenon's?

To be honest I've never found a problem with my lights so will probably stick with what I've got - my other vehicles are a Triumph Herald and a Series III Land Rover so the lights in the Omega seem like the dog's danglies when I drive that!

[Entwood]

You can fit xenons mate so long as you have headlamp washers and just get a bit of the wiring loom and piece it in.  They are so much better.

That may be an option if I can't find a single compatible unit to match the surviving one - are 'Xenon' and 'HID' units the same thing and can these all be identified by a box on top of the unit?  Also, will I need to add or change a headlight ECU to fit Xenon's?

To be honest I've never found a problem with my lights so will probably stick with what I've got - my other vehicles are a Triumph Herald and a Series III Land Rover so the lights in the Omega seem like the dog's danglies when I drive that!

NO

Xenon is a "noble gas" that is used to enhance the light produced by a filament bulb, just as Neon and Tungsten and other gases do. They allow the filament to "glow" at a higher temperature without melting, so can produce more ligfht energy.

A HID (High Intensity Discharge) light has no filamant, the light is produced by an "arc" of electricity discharging between two points .. just like an arc welder. This arc is surrounded by a noble gas which reacts with this arc and flourecses (produces light).

Unfortunately, from a user point of view, the gas used is often Xenon, so leading to the common misconception that Xenon and HID are somehow the same ... they are not and cannot be so.

There are 3 types of lights on the Omega :

Standard Filament bulbs

Projector units with filament bulbs

Projector units with HID bulbs.

There are leagl requirements to fit the latter type which IMHO should be strongly enforced as if fitted/adjusted incorrectly they can easily blind other drivers.

HTH

[Greenbay packer]

Thanks for that clarification.

[Bionic]

My '98 Elite had projectors and headlight washers.......as standard OEM. Kate's got it now......

[tunnie]

My '98 Elite had projectors and headlight washers.......as standard OEM. Kate's got it now......

If it was Mini-facelift so 1998.5, they had HID as OEM 

If its had projectors, its been fiddled with