If you have the window sticker, it will show the options that your car has, of which the xenon headlights would be listed for about $1205 USD. If that isn't listed under the options, then you probably have the standard headlights.
Do I have Xenon headlights?
All,
since I got my 2004 Coupe last year I was not impressed with the headlights illumination. However, I did not look too much into it until now.
Based on my owner's manual, it looks like that cars that don't have the headlight height adjuster wheel next to the headlight switch, are equipped with Xenon headlights.
However, my car does not have the adjustment wheel but my headlights do not appear to be Xenon. I say this based on the fact that (1) if I start the car with the headlights ON I don't see the up/down self calibration motion and (2) my headlights are definitively yellowish and not white/bluish (which I understand it is a characteristic of Xenon bulbs).
So the question is: is it possible that I have regular headlights even if I don't have the adjustment wheel next to the headlight switch? Also, I have a build sheet for my car and it does not show Xenon headlights (I guess they were optional).
Alternatively, assuming that I do indeed have Xenon (and say the self leveling is not working and/or I have regular bulbs installed), what is the best way to confirm that I have the Xenon? Remove wheel arch lining and see if there is a ballast under the headlight assembly?
I searched a bit the forums but I could not find definitive answers. Hence the this thread.
![Font Parallel Terrestrial plant Rectangle Slope]()
since I got my 2004 Coupe last year I was not impressed with the headlights illumination. However, I did not look too much into it until now.
Based on my owner's manual, it looks like that cars that don't have the headlight height adjuster wheel next to the headlight switch, are equipped with Xenon headlights.
However, my car does not have the adjustment wheel but my headlights do not appear to be Xenon. I say this based on the fact that (1) if I start the car with the headlights ON I don't see the up/down self calibration motion and (2) my headlights are definitively yellowish and not white/bluish (which I understand it is a characteristic of Xenon bulbs).
So the question is: is it possible that I have regular headlights even if I don't have the adjustment wheel next to the headlight switch? Also, I have a build sheet for my car and it does not show Xenon headlights (I guess they were optional).
Alternatively, assuming that I do indeed have Xenon (and say the self leveling is not working and/or I have regular bulbs installed), what is the best way to confirm that I have the Xenon? Remove wheel arch lining and see if there is a ballast under the headlight assembly?
I searched a bit the forums but I could not find definitive answers. Hence the this thread.
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The window sticker that I was given by previous owner does not list Xenon. There is an "other options" category but that could be the skyhook, which is not listed anywhere else. The sticker matches what I have on the car except actually for "pwr soft top" (it is a Coupe!) in the standard list.
The build sheet includes skyhook (which I know I have) and includes everything else I have but not Xenon
I don't think so. (I will double check) All Xenon came with pop out washers?
That is what I was wondering. Would it show on a scan though? I just did a diagnostic with the X431 Pros Mini and nothing came out. I will look next time I take wheels off to see if I can spot the sensors. I guess that if I don't have the sensors then I don't have Xenon, right?
The lenses are very clean and transparent (at least cosmetically).
Plot thickens.
I checked the physical owner's booklet in the glovebox and it does not have the same graphics that I shared above. It just says that if you have Xenon, they are self balancing. However, it does not say that if you don't have Xenon then you have the headlight height adjuster wheel next to the headlight switch.
Perhaps this is US specific, but based on this information, it is possible that I don't have the headlight height adjuster and I don't have Xenon either.
Also, I looked at the bumper and there are no headlight wipers.
As I mentioned, bumper was replaced, but I checked the old bumper (see photos in listing below), and although not 100% clear I don't think there were headlight washers there. So I think my car did not come with headlight washers. Now last thing to check is whether I have the attitude sensors on the wishbones. If I don't, then everything seems to be consistent with a non-Xenon car.
www.maseratilife.com
Btw previous owner documented the lens polishing in this post and I can attest that lenses are still crystal clear!
www.maseratilife.com
I checked the physical owner's booklet in the glovebox and it does not have the same graphics that I shared above. It just says that if you have Xenon, they are self balancing. However, it does not say that if you don't have Xenon then you have the headlight height adjuster wheel next to the headlight switch.
Perhaps this is US specific, but based on this information, it is possible that I don't have the headlight height adjuster and I don't have Xenon either.
Also, I looked at the bumper and there are no headlight wipers.
As I mentioned, bumper was replaced, but I checked the old bumper (see photos in listing below), and although not 100% clear I don't think there were headlight washers there. So I think my car did not come with headlight washers. Now last thing to check is whether I have the attitude sensors on the wishbones. If I don't, then everything seems to be consistent with a non-Xenon car.
04 Coupe front bumper cover
Blue paint in nice shape Will need some repair/plastic welding, I cracked the chin spoiler as shown and the bottom holes that hold the belly pan will need to be repaired Badge looks good
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Btw previous owner documented the lens polishing in this post and I can attest that lenses are still crystal clear!
Headlight polishing inside and out
After all the threads of headlight cleaning/polishing and trying those solutions with no success, I tackled the undocumented: Cleaned and polished the inside of my Coupe's headlights! This is a crazy involved job as you need to remove the front bumper cover to get the lights out. I will...
www.maseratilife.com
And... for reference, I looked up some used headlight assemblies ads to spot the differences between Xenon and regular headlights.
A Xenon headlight is going to have a ballast at the bottom and two adjustment knobs.
![Personal protective equipment Eyewear Bag Fashion accessory Auto part]()
![Peripheral Input device Bag Gadget Personal protective equipment]()
The halogen appears to have only one adjustment knob
![Automotive lighting Automotive design Gadget Bumper Cable]()
And no ballast at the bottom
![Cable Wire Auto part Font Musical instrument accessory]()
A Xenon headlight is going to have a ballast at the bottom and two adjustment knobs.
The halogen appears to have only one adjustment knob
And no ballast at the bottom
Interesting. Doesn't seem to make much sense to eliminate the adjuster, but what do I know 
C
C
It's because you sit on the wrong side of the car, Chris
Interesting. Doesn't seem to make much sense to eliminate the adjuster, but what do I know
C
Thanks for the pointer, I will keep him in mind when I start digging more into this.
So, I bought a pair of budget (but with decent reviews) LEDs on Amazon to experiment.
Initial impressions are positive but I only evaluated them against the garage door. Light color is wither and overall they seem to emit more light so I am hopeful that if I will also be able to raise the beam a bit I may have a viable solution here.
Left is LED and right is halogen (I did not take down the model but brand name good quality halogen). Left beam is a bit high because front left corner was lifted.
![Cloud Atmosphere Automotive lighting Sky Hood]()
I will do a more detailed thread to document the swap later on.
Edit: writeup on LED upgrade in the thread below
www.maseratilife.com
Initial impressions are positive but I only evaluated them against the garage door. Light color is wither and overall they seem to emit more light so I am hopeful that if I will also be able to raise the beam a bit I may have a viable solution here.
Left is LED and right is halogen (I did not take down the model but brand name good quality halogen). Left beam is a bit high because front left corner was lifted.
I will do a more detailed thread to document the swap later on.
Edit: writeup on LED upgrade in the thread below
LED bulbs and headlight (halogen) aiming
My car headlights were kind of dim and pointing down so I wanted to find ways to improve the situation. Lenses were clear and low beam were already equipped with a good quality halogen bulb. So I decided to try LEDs and to adjust aim to see if I could get better results. I have actually not...
www.maseratilife.com
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