Motoring Discussion > Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Mike Hannon Replies: 10
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New Thu 26 Jul 12 16:20 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Mike Hannon
At long last I may have found a Honda Accord in the UK that ticks all the boxes to be our hack in France.
But it has xenon headlights. Does anyone know if all xenons have switchable dip pattern arrangements or is it only some? I can't find anything on Honda websites so far and it's important because the cost of replacement xenons over ordinary headlights could scupper the deal.
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New Thu 26 Jul 12 17:54 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - WillDeBeest
There's bound to be a Honda forum that can answer your specific question, Mike. My experience doesn't extend to Honda but my xenons are adjustable.

Two caveats, though:
1. It's a dealer job because of 'dangerous voltages' inside the units; presumably not a problem if you're doing it only once.
2. Adjustment doesn't reverse the pattern; it merely flattens the top. I missed the verge illumination a couple of times between coming home and visiting the dealer for a (free) reset. Would a French vehicle inspection accept this setting for everyday use?
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New Thu 26 Jul 12 18:04 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Robbie34
Try here: typeaccord.co.uk/forum/index.php
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New Thu 26 Jul 12 19:16 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Mike H
Certainly not all have switchable dip patterns, my Saab 9-5 doesn't. There is a shutter inside the lamp that has a different shape depending on whether the lamps are for LHD or RHD. I ended up buying a second hand pair of LHD lamps for my RHD Saab from Ebay from a German car as I live in Austria and it was essential to have decent lights for the winter.
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New Tue 11 Sep 12 09:31 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Mike Hannon
Well, I haven't found the right Accord yet, but I thought it might be illuminating (sorry) to pass on this exchange with a Honda on-line forum.
Am I right to feel offended?
tinyurl.com/bt7wj5z
There's a piece on Sniff Petrol that seems to illustrate my predicament. It's called 'Ask a total **** on an internet forum'...
Last edited by: Webmaster on Wed 19 Sep 12 at 01:32
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New Tue 11 Sep 12 21:53 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Mike H
Not what I would call a straight answer. You could still investigate buying used headlamps on Ebay as I did.
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New Tue 11 Sep 12 22:51 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - rtj70
Could look for a car with adaptive lighting. Mine has an option in the menu for lighting relating to travel. Moves the beams over for European travel. Never likely to use it myself. A long drive to Greece from the north west of England.
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New Sat 22 Sep 12 16:19 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Mike Hannon
Just a little update. I really am beginning to feel out of my depth on this internet thing.
Having been offended by the reply I got from a specialist website, telling me to go and buy a VAG car if I thought it was better, I have just tried the same question on another specialist Honda-based website. This time when I put in VAG it was replaced with asterisks!
I thought all this was going to be simple.
Do you think if I phoned Honda customer service at Swindon they could put me on to a technical section that could answer my simple question?
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New Sat 22 Sep 12 16:28 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Zero
I thought you got your answer in the honda website.

Xenon = HID and the answer was No, there is no conversion lever/switch.
Last edited by: Zero on Sat 22 Sep 12 at 16:29
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New Sun 23 Sep 12 15:08 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Mike Hannon
He was wrong about which car has what and he seems an arrogant berk so I thought I'd go on asking until I got an answer from someone I could believe.
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New Sun 23 Sep 12 16:23 
 Honda Accord UK - xenon headlights - do they convert? - Manatee
>> Do you think if I phoned Honda customer service at Swindon they could put me
>> on to a technical section that could answer my simple question?


My experience of Honda UK was that they referred me to a dealer (question about wheels IIRC). I'd send an email to customers service anyway. You can always plead that your local dealers don't have information on UK cars.

The reason I asked them is that my experience of dealers is that they employ a lot of people who don't bother to find out about something if they can make up an answer.

I had more luck with Mitsubishi who confirmed what they called homologated wheel and tyre specs.

The winter wheels will be going on soon ;-)
Last edited by: Manatee on Sun 23 Sep 12 at 16:23
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