Upgrading the headlights

[backdoc]

I didn't order the factory xenons. Don't know why, but I am regretting it a little now.

Anyway, was wondering what my aftermarket options are?

What is the difference between factory xenons and putting in HID globes? I read on other posts about the headlight washers and the auto adjust which obviously would be different, but would I essentially get the same light/look by putting in aftermarket HID globes?

Has anyone done this? How much are the globes and which ones should I use? Is any additional wiring required?

Thanks in advance.

[K1W1]

HID globes normally come as a kit with the ballasts required. On a car it should be reasonably easy to mount the ballasts somewhere in the engine bay. If you are not mechanical it would probably be worthwhile getting an auto electrician to do the job.

Hate to rub it in but I just came home and the Xenons with the turn function and "corner" fog lights work really well through the Dandenongs at night.

[backdoc]

HID globes normally come as a kit with the ballasts required. On a car it should be reasonably easy to mount the ballasts somewhere in the engine bay. If you are not mechanical it would probably be worthwhile getting an auto electrician to do the job.

Hate to rub it in but I just came home and the Xenons with the turn function and "corner" fog lights work really well through the Dandenongs at night.

I'm an idiot really as I had the Xenons on my last 2 cars (Renault Clio Sport & MkV R32). God knows why I didn't option it

Anyway, I was reading about these ballasts. I am reasonably mechanically inclined, but do you think I would need to create mounting points for these things, or cable tie them to existing structures?

Need one of those photographic step by step thingys.

[K1W1]

I have only been involved with HID on motorcycles and then it's always been cable ties but I'm sure that there must be a stack of people who have done conversions on Golfs and similar cars.

[gregozedobe]

The cheaper, simpler and legal option is to put brighter halogen globes in. After trying out many different brands and models of globes I recommend Osram 65W (H7) and Philips X-treme 55W (H1 & H4).

Before you go down the HID route you might want to do some research on the following issues (there are heaps of threads around about the pros and cons of aftermarket HIDs, and lots of heated discussion too) :

Excess glare for other drivers from putting HIDs into optics designed for Halogen globes.

Error codes due to HID globes using less current than the std Halogen globes.

HIDs on lo beam are not roadworthy unless:
- installed in headlights that are designed and certified for HID globes, and
- self-levelling mechanism, and
- headlight washers are also fitted
(this is all very expensive to do retro-fitting or aftermarket).

Car is uninsured if not roadworthy.

Adding HIDs is a modification to your car that you should tell your insurer about.

Aftermarket HIDs on Hi beam only is generally not so closely regulated (as you are supposed to dip to LO beam when there are any other cars around). In the ACT the registration authority doesn't care about Hi beam, only that you leave Lo beam as OEM. I have fitted HIDs to Hi beam of my Transporter van. The biggest disadvantage is the time they take to get to full brightness after you switch them on.

What "colour" HIDs are best ? (OEM are usually around 4,300K)

Cheap'n'nasty ballasts can fry your cars expensive electronics.

Regardless of the above, fitting aftermarket HIDs is quite a popular mod.

It is your car, so you make the choices (and live with the consequences of your choices).

[backdoc]

The cheaper, simpler and legal option is to put brighter halogen globes in. After trying out many different brands and models of globes I recommend Osram 65W (H7) and Philips X-treme 55W (H1 & H4).

Before you go down the HID route you might want to do some research on the following issues (there are heaps of threads around about the pros and cons of aftermarket HIDs, and lots of heated discussion too) :

Excess glare for other drivers from putting HIDs into optics designed for Halogen globes.

Error codes due to HID globes using less current than the std Halogen globes.

HIDs on lo beam are not roadworthy unless:
- installed in headlights that are designed and certified for HID globes, and
- self-levelling mechanism, and
- headlight washers are also fitted
(this is all very expensive to do retro-fitting or aftermarket).

Car is uninsured if not roadworthy.

Adding HIDs is a modification to your car that you should tell your insurer about.

Aftermarket HIDs on Hi beam only is generally not so closely regulated (as you are supposed to dip to LO beam when there are any other cars around). In the ACT the registration authority doesn't care about Hi beam, only that you leave Lo beam as OEM. I have fitted HIDs to Hi beam of my Transporter van. The biggest disadvantage is the time they take to get to full brightness after you switch them on.

What "colour" HIDs are best ? (OEM are usually around 4,300K)

Cheap'n'nasty ballasts can fry your cars expensive electronics.

Regardless of the above, fitting aftermarket HIDs is quite a popular mod.

It is your car, so you make the choices (and live with the consequences of your choices).

Wow, had no idea. Thanks for the update. Looks like I'll leave them alone and try the globes you suggested!

Is the H7 the low beam & the H1/4 high beam?

Do these globes produce a whiter light?

[Spook]

Backdoc, I see from another thread that you have yet to receive your RS. How important are the HIDs to you? Would your dealer be willing to put in a new order, and if so, are you willing to wait again?

[backdoc]

Backdoc, I see from another thread that you have yet to receive your RS. How important are the HIDs to you? Would your dealer be willing to put in a new order, and if so, are you willing to wait again?

Fact of the matter is I sold both of my cars before ordering this (long story) so I have been without a car now for 3 months......been borrowing the cars of friends and family and this is wearing thin! I borrowed my dads Ford Falcon wagon to go on holiday with my wife and I lent him the Ford Fiesta we had borrowed from a friend. Just got back today and I find out he managed to reverse it inot the garage Now I have to fix that in the next 2 days before she gets back from the UK! God knows how he managed that having gone from the biggest car to the smallest!

Anyway, I think for the 50% tax break my order will need to stand. Not to worry. I don't think it will bother me too much...........I hope.

[gregozedobe]

Is the H7 the low beam & the H1/4 high beam?

Do these globes produce a whiter light?

On my pre-FL Octy Hi beam is definitely H1, but I have the Lo beam (only) OEM HIDs. IIRC the std Lo beams are H7. Mk II Octys don't have H4 (dual filament) globes.

The globes I suggested have the best visible light output and are slightly whiter than the std lobes, but not as white as some that you can buy. The really "white" halogen globes don't produce anywhere near as much as light, as they use a blue filter to make their ouput appear whiter. So you have to choose between better night vision or "cool" white lights when choosing halogen globes. The best (most light output) "white" halogen globes I tested were the Osram Nightbreaker series, but I have read a few reports of fairly short life (burn out in much less time than std globes).


When it comes time to put the new globes in an Octy it is MUCH easier to release the headlights from the car than trying to do it from behind with the headlights in situ (not enough space).

Do this by:
1 Remove the white plastic nut at the top inside corner of the headlight.
2 Put a towel on the bumper (so it doesn't scratch the bumper)
3 Pull the black metal locking lever (located at the bottom front of the headlight) towards the centreline of the car (don't bend it, just pull in line with the angle it is already on). It should move a approx a couple of cms.
4 Wriggle the headlight straight forward to release it from the catches.

NB If you have OEM HIDs do NOT switch the engine ON while the headlight electrical connector is unplugged. If you do the self-levelling controller will lose its place and won't work properly any more. Then you have to get them reset with VCDS or the dealer software tool ($$$). I speak from experience because that is what happened to mine while it was at the crash repairer being fixed. You shouldn't need to disconnect the main headlight plug (the big one with all the wires, not the smaller internal ones for each individual globe) to replace a globe.

[backdoc]

The cheaper, simpler and legal option is to put brighter halogen globes in. After trying out many different brands and models of globes I recommend Osram 65W (H7) and Philips X-treme 55W (H1 & H4).

Have you tried the Philips as the low beam as well? What is the main diff btw it and the Osram you recommend?

[dodgey]

Doesn't the Skoda come with projector housings for low beam already? That would mitigate the glare of HIDs in a reflector housing, like on other cars...

If they do not change the housing of the lights, it would probably have a space under the housing to fit the ballasts to (usually screws, but cable ties would probably work)

The throw of HIDs would be better than "brighter" halogen bulbs. The halogens would look better than stock, but not as good as HIDs.

HIDs would be close to the optioned Xenons, but depending on the colour of the HID bulbs, it might be whiter/bluer than Xenons...

That does not make the car road worthy though (as mentioned earlier) You still need auto levelling and washers, that can be installed as well, but it might get expensive (as previously mentioned too)

Not impossible, but....

[gregozedobe]

Have you tried the Philips as the low beam as well? What is the main diff btw it and the Osram you recommend?

According to my 55 year old eyes, the Osram H7 65W "Rallye" globe is actually about 25-30% brighter than the Philips H7 X-treme 55W. As opposed to the marketing percentages of +55%, +80% and +90% which the manufacturers claim, which seem to be more like 10 - 35% real world improvement over std globes in the headlights I have tested them with.

This particular Osram globe runs a H9 burner on a H7 base and is a lot more efficient (smaller envelope, produces more light), it also lasts longer than all the +80 and +90 globes because it isn't being over-driven (the reason the Osram Nightbreaker globes in particular don't last as long as std globes). The Osram H7 65W "Rallye" globe is a bit harder to buy, and sometimes is out of stock at the few places that do sell it.

If you were in Canberra you could come to my place and I could let you try one out in your headlight to see what you thought. I was happy with them in the twin reflector headlights in my Transporter, and a mate is pleased with the improvement he got in his Mercedes Vito (H7 in both Lo and Hi beams).

[K1W1]

Why to cars with Xenons need washers to be roadworthy?

[gregozedobe]

The official answer - Because headlight washers are a legal (roadworthy) requirement for HIDs (here and in Europe), along with self levelling and very strict cut-off requirements (the optics). The headlight washers are much more powerful than the windscreen washers so they can do their job without mechanical assistance (eg wiper blades).

AFAIK the reason all these are required is it is to reduce glare to other motorists. HIDs have a much higher light output than std halogens, and so much more potential to dazzle other motorists. A dazzled motorist can't see properly and hence is less safe than one who can see.

When the headlight lenses are dirty the dirt film on the outside of the lens causes scatter, this scattered light causes glare. In Europe cars are driven in rain and snow/slush much more than in Oz, so headlights are often dirty from road grime. They also use salt on the roads in places that get snow, so their road grime is worse than ours.

This can also be a problem with rigid clear plastic headlight covers/protectors as the dirt can build up on the inside of the cover and also on the outside of the lens. Unless you regularly take the covers off and clean them you will get light scattter and glare. I removed the headlight covers on my Octy because they were much too difficult to remove for regular cleaning. I have some of the thick clear plastic film protectors which I must get around to installing.

The same reason (glare/dazzling) is used to justify self levelling and tight control of the beam cut-off pattern. Oz ADRs have simply adopted the Euro standards.

I clean my windscreen and headlights frequently, so I rarely need to use my windscreen washers. IIRC the OEM HID headlight washers come on with every 5th or 6th use of the windscreen washers (count reset each time you switch off/on). I've only ever seen my headlight washers come on twice so far.

[K1W1]

My headlight washers worked the first time I tried the windscreen washers but not since (the 5 times rule I guess). On the Audi you can make the headlight washers work by holding the windscreen washers on for a period (5 seconds?). I guess it's the same on the Skoda.

The big test will be to see if they work with baked on insects after a trip through a rural area in the sun. I wonder if the Euro standard took that into account?