KD's Ultimate FTO light thread - headlights, bulbs, etc..
Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:45 pm
WORK IN PROGRESS
I will be continually adding to this. If you have any suggestions, please PM me.
What are the differences in lighting across the FTO models?
There are no differences across the models, but there are between early model (pre Feb '97) FTOs and the Series 2 ones which were produced from Feb '97 onwards.
- Series 1 (Up to Feb '97) have a separate front foglight/front indicator/parker unit
- Series 2 (Feb 97' +) FTOs have parkers built into the headlights, and separate foglight and front indicator assemblies. The front foglights are an option. The foglights and front indicators also have a different sized housings.
- Xenon (HID) lights were available as a factory optional to Series 2 owners. On GPvRs they were standard.
Replacement bulbs, what size are they?
Low Beam: HB4 51W
Low Beam (HID): D2S (D2C also compatible)
High Beam: HB3 60W
Front foglights (Series 1): H3 55W
Front foglights (Series 2): H3 55W
Front indicators: S-25mm 21W
Side indicators: T-10mm 5W
What are xenon (HID) lights? How do I know if I have them?
Stands for High Intensity Discharge. You'll see them on most Mercedes, BMWs and other high spec cars.
If you have the factory ones, if you look under the rear of the headlights, you should see the ballast unit. It has a high voltage warning on it.
I just checked by headlight bulbs and they are different, how come?
You probably have an FTO which USED to have the HID headlights. But the factory FTO HIDs do not meet ADR requirements.
As a result, when your car is imported, the xenon units are removed, and replaced with a generic halogen bulb. The bulb used will depend on the shop that did the work (it varies).
Unfortunately the resultant light output will be inferior as you are using a halogen bulb in a housing designed for HID lights. It sucks, but it happens on other imported cars (eg Sky-lines).
I will be continually adding to this. If you have any suggestions, please PM me.
What are the differences in lighting across the FTO models?
There are no differences across the models, but there are between early model (pre Feb '97) FTOs and the Series 2 ones which were produced from Feb '97 onwards.
- Series 1 (Up to Feb '97) have a separate front foglight/front indicator/parker unit
- Series 2 (Feb 97' +) FTOs have parkers built into the headlights, and separate foglight and front indicator assemblies. The front foglights are an option. The foglights and front indicators also have a different sized housings.
- Xenon (HID) lights were available as a factory optional to Series 2 owners. On GPvRs they were standard.
Replacement bulbs, what size are they?
Low Beam: HB4 51W
Low Beam (HID): D2S (D2C also compatible)
High Beam: HB3 60W
Front foglights (Series 1): H3 55W
Front foglights (Series 2): H3 55W
Front indicators: S-25mm 21W
Side indicators: T-10mm 5W
What are xenon (HID) lights? How do I know if I have them?
Stands for High Intensity Discharge. You'll see them on most Mercedes, BMWs and other high spec cars.
If you have the factory ones, if you look under the rear of the headlights, you should see the ballast unit. It has a high voltage warning on it.
I just checked by headlight bulbs and they are different, how come?
You probably have an FTO which USED to have the HID headlights. But the factory FTO HIDs do not meet ADR requirements.
As a result, when your car is imported, the xenon units are removed, and replaced with a generic halogen bulb. The bulb used will depend on the shop that did the work (it varies).
Unfortunately the resultant light output will be inferior as you are using a halogen bulb in a housing designed for HID lights. It sucks, but it happens on other imported cars (eg Sky-lines).
