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  • MKV Headlights

    I had my first real night drive last weekend and was appalled at the poor lights on the GTI.
    I realise I should have had the Bi Xenons option when bought the car but I dont want to pay for a dealer fit now.
    Does anyone have an option to improve the standard lights?
    2008 Golf GTI DSG Tornado Red

  • #2
    Cheapest and easiest fix is to fit better globes. Philips X-treme (+80) or Osram Nightbreaker (+90) seems to be the best for actual vision improvement without needing re-wiring or producing too much heat.

    Some people like the "whiter" globes that have a blue tint to the glass, but so far none of these actually produce more usable light.
    2017 MY18 Golf R 7.5 Wolfsburg wagon (boring white) delivered 21 Sep 2017, 2008 Octavia vRS wagon 2.0 TFSI 6M (bright yellow), 2006 T5 Transporter van 2.5 TDI 6M (gone but not forgotten).

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Steve_GTI View Post
      I had my first real night drive last weekend and was appalled at the poor lights on the GTI.
      I realise I should have had the Bi Xenons option when bought the car but I dont want to pay for a dealer fit now.
      Does anyone have an option to improve the standard lights?
      You can't dealer fit them now, well maybe you can but I priced the parts alone at close to $3000 + fitting on top + wiring changes + painting (parts on the front bumper) so you will be lucky to get change from $4000.

      As mentioned look at using better globes. The other option is the projector units they use the halogen lights. Around $600 US from memory.

      I did the nightbreaker +90 globe upgrade, I did a writeup on www.golfmkv.com in the Australian forum with a heap of photos.
      website: www.my-gti.com

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Steve_GTI View Post
        I had my first real night drive last weekend and was appalled at the poor lights on the GTI.
        I realise I should have had the Bi Xenons option when bought the car but I dont want to pay for a dealer fit now.
        Does anyone have an option to improve the standard lights?
        Installed Philips X-treme (+80) from (www.powerbulbs.com) and it has made a world of difference, they not xenon by any means, however, they provide nice subtle white light, which is no comparison to the standard Golf's candles!
        Plus you get free Philips parking bulbs which are really good.

        Another option is to purchase OEM Xenon set from TM Tuning for 2100 USD, however you will not have washers which is illegal in AU.

        Good luck

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        • #5
          Originally posted by alexander_the View Post

          Another option is to purchase OEM Xenon set from TM Tuning for 2100 USD, however you will not have washers which is illegal in AU.

          Good luck

          It is not illegal not to have washers!

          It is illegal not to have washers in Europe or America.

          There is no where in the ADR's which says all xenons must have washers!

          So if u want xenons buy some factory lights
          2009 Volkswagen R36 Wagon
          1968 Audi F103 75L Coupe
          1966 Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Steve_GTI View Post
            I had my first real night drive last weekend and was appalled at the poor lights on the GTI.
            I realise I should have had the Bi Xenons option when bought the car but I dont want to pay for a dealer fit now.
            Does anyone have an option to improve the standard lights?
            Have you futzed with their aim at all?
            They may be focussed downwards a bit too much.

            Little dial next to the one that dims/brightens your dash.
            I believe the Xenons do this sort of levelling automatically.
            .: MK2 Golf GTI [FWD R32 Project]:.

            MK4 R32 parts for sale - click here

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            • #7
              Originally posted by alexander_the View Post
              Installed Philips X-treme (+80) from (www.powerbulbs.com) and it has made a world of difference, they not xenon by any means, however, they provide nice subtle white light, which is no comparison to the standard Golf's candles!
              Plus you get free Philips parking bulbs which are really good.

              Another option is to purchase OEM Xenon set from TM Tuning for 2100 USD, however you will not have washers which is illegal in AU.

              Good luck
              And don't forget you have to fit the self leveling system for the bi-xenons, this requires running a loom from the engine compartment all the way to the back of the car through the inside and then down to the rear suspension where a sensor is fitted.

              There is a write up on this on vwvortex or golfmkv.com and the whole job is massive to fit them.
              website: www.my-gti.com

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Maverick View Post
                You can't dealer fit them now, well maybe you can but I priced the parts alone at close to $3000 + fitting on top + wiring changes + painting (parts on the front bumper) so you will be lucky to get change from $4000.

                As mentioned look at using better globes. The other option is the projector units they use the halogen lights. Around $600 US from memory.

                I did the nightbreaker +90 globe upgrade, I did a writeup on www.golfmkv.com in the Australian forum with a heap of photos.
                Cool, thanks Mav!

                Like Steve I haven't gone for any more night drives through the nearby mountains as I find the headlights are indeed pissy as Steve points out. I'll go over to the "other" side and have a read with great interest!
                Last edited by Greg Roles; 08-06-2008, 09:31 AM.
                2014 Skoda Yeti TDI Outdoor 4x4 | Audi Q3 CFGC repower | Darkside tune and Race Cams | Darkside dump pDPF | Wagner Comp IC | Snow Water Meth | Bilstein B6 H&R springs | Rays Homura 2x7 18 x 8" 255 Potenza Sports | Golf R subframe | Superpro sways and bushings | 034 engine mounts | MK6 GTI brakes |

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                • #9
                  Thanks Guys,

                  I will go for the globe replacements.
                  2008 Golf GTI DSG Tornado Red

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Steve_GTI View Post
                    I had my first real night drive last weekend and was appalled at the poor lights on the GTI.
                    I realise I should have had the Bi Xenons option when bought the car but I dont want to pay for a dealer fit now.
                    Does anyone have an option to improve the standard lights?
                    I purchased 4 x H7 Osram Night Breakers. Very happy with the performance improvement over the stock lamps.

                    DJ
                    Moblog: http://phlog.net/user/OzDJ
                    AVC-9000: http://phlog.net/tags.php?tag=avc-90...umentries=1000
                    sigpic

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by XXX-1.8T View Post
                      It is not illegal not to have washers!

                      It is illegal not to have washers in Europe or America.

                      There is no where in the ADR's which says all xenons must have washers!

                      So if u want xenons buy some factory lights
                      That's not my understanding. It was my impression that the ADRs specify that not only are washers required for Xenon/HID headlights, but that such headlights must also have a self-levelling feature. Both features are required to prevent other road users being dazzled by such headlights.

                      http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...cr%3DcountryAU <- Seems a lot of people agree...
                      Last edited by Manaz; 08-06-2008, 08:24 PM.
                      Nothing to see here...

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Manaz View Post
                        That's not my understanding. It was my impression that the ADRs specify that not only are washers required for Xenon/HID headlights, but that such headlights must also have a self-levelling feature. Both features are required to prevent other road users being dazzled by such headlights.
                        ADRs 77/00 and 78/00 (which govern HID implementation for passenger vehicles) are presented here in the interest of looking at facts rather than forum hearsay:

                        http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legi...INAL+FRLI].pdf

                        http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legi...0FINALFRLI.pdf

                        DJ
                        Last edited by OzDJ; 08-06-2008, 09:48 PM. Reason: Fix URLs
                        Moblog: http://phlog.net/user/OzDJ
                        AVC-9000: http://phlog.net/tags.php?tag=avc-90...umentries=1000
                        sigpic

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                        • #13
                          correct do u see where it mentions washers?

                          I dont...
                          2009 Volkswagen R36 Wagon
                          1968 Audi F103 75L Coupe
                          1966 Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe

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