How to choose the perfect headlight bulbs for the Cadillac CTS?

Cadillac has transformed from the ultra-luxurious carmaker to a sporty one in the recent few years, and the CTS is one of their best examples. Owners of this vehicle have excellent performance on their disposal and luxurious amenities inside. The CTS is also very comfortable on long journeys, whatever the road you’re driving on.

All of this only puts an even bigger importance on the lighting system of the Cadillac CTS. While Cadillac really did a great job with the headlights, for example, you can still improve on them. For example, if you have a model with normal halogen headlights, you can replace them with HID bulbs that will shine brighter and last longer.

At the end of the day, keeping the headlights in great shape is also very important – you don’t want to replace your broken bulb with a worse one, do you? In this guide, we will talk about ways to improve the headlights, and also how to keep them in shape in the long run.

The importance of an effective lighting system in the Cadillac CTS cannot be overstated, especially considering the vehicle’s blend of luxury and performance. While Cadillac has done an admirable job with the stock headlights, there’s always room for enhancement.

For instance, models equipped with standard halogen headlights offer the potential for a significant upgrade. Replacing these with High-Intensity Discharge (HID) bulbs can markedly improve your driving experience. HIDs shine brighter and have a longer lifespan than traditional halogen bulbs, enhancing both visibility and the vehicle’s aesthetic appeal.

Cadillac CTS Headlight Bulb Size Chart

Cadillac CTS Second generation (2008–2013)

How to find the right headlight bulbs for Cadillac CTS?

Cadillac used different types of headlight bulbs depending on the year when the CTS was produced. That’s why, it is always best to check in the owner’s manual for the bulb type or ask at the nearest Cadillac dealer. That said, we will still include a guide here, but take it with a grain of salt, especially for model years that overlap.

Halogen headlights: Produced from 2004-2013

Xenon headlights: Produced from 2014-present

LED headlights: Produced from 2019-present

This is just a general guide as some models, especially those from 2014 to 2016, may have come with halogen headlights even if they were produced during the years when Cadillac used xenon headlights. It’s always best to check your owner’s manual or ask your dealer to be sure.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s move on to changing the headlight bulbs on your Cadillac CTS.

• 2003 through 2007 mode year – 9006XC headlight bulb for the low beam, 9005XS headlight bulb for the high beam
• 2008 through 2013 mode year – H11 headlight bulbs for the low beam, H9 headlight bulbs for the high beam

How to upgrade the headlight bulbs on the Cadillac CTS?

Most new Cadillac CTS models already come with HID bulbs, which cannot be greatly improved when it comes to brightness. However, you can still replace them with aftermarket headlights for better looks. Other than that, owners of CTS with halogen headlights have a lot of options to improve the lighting on their vehicles.

The first one, and obviously the most straightforward, is to always replace the headlight bulbs on your CTS with high-quality ones from reputable manufacturers. There are a lot of cheap bulbs that promise great performance, but trust us, here you get what you pay for. High-quality bulbs will not only shine brighter, but they will last longer.

HID bulbs are an even better option. They produce a brighter light than halogen bulbs and last even longer. That said, they have drawbacks, namely the price, which is much higher than halogen bulbs. They are also not very easy to install – you must use a conversion kit because they work on different electricity.

In the last few years, LED bulbs have surfaced as a viable option. They claim that they shine even brighter than HID bulbs, while also being more efficient. However, in reality, they don’t work very good with existing headlight housing design. In other words, to get the most out of LED bulbs, you will need to buy completely new aftermarket LED matrix headlights.

Ah, yes, aftermarket headlights. In the past, replacing the headlight assembly with an aftermarket one meant that you’ll get an inferior product, but not anymore. Today you can find excellent headlights for the Cadillac CTS, which will not only shine brighter, but they will look much better as well. Most of them come with LED daytime running lights, as well as the ability to change color temperature and even full RGB support. Of course, these headlights are not cheap, but if you’re serious about lighting, they are definitely worth it.

How to replace a headlight bulb in a Cadillac CTS

If you’re comfortable enough with changing a headlight bulb, the process is relatively simple. First, remove the cap on top of the headlight assembly. You can use your hands or a flathead screwdriver to do this.

Once the cap is off, locate the headlight bulb and release it from its socket by gently pushing down and pulling up at the same time. Be careful not to touch the glass of the new bulb with your fingers as it may cause the bulb to break.

Install the new bulb into the socket and replace the cap by pushing down until it snaps into place. Finally, test your headlights by driving slowly in a dark area.

If you’re not comfortable with changing the headlight bulb yourself, we recommend taking it to a professional mechanic or your nearest Cadillac dealer.

Common problems with Cadillac CTS headlights

One of the most common problems with Cadillac CTS headlights is that they may stop working altogether. This can be caused by a blown fuse, a bad headlight bulb, or a problem with the headlight assembly itself.

Another common problem is that the headlights may appear dimmer than usual. This can be caused by a weak battery, dirty headlight lenses, or old headlight bulbs that need to be replaced.

Finally, some models may experience issues with the adaptive front lighting system (AFS). This system adjusts the headlights based on the angle of the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle.

If you’re experiencing problems with your Cadillac CTS headlights, we recommend taking it to a professional mechanic or your nearest Cadillac dealer for diagnosis and repairs.

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