Headlight / DRL / Foglight / Park light bulb replacement

[eugeq]

Hi,

Has anyone changed, or know how to change the headlights and driving lights on the new gti yet? I'm thinking of swapping bulbs to get a white/blue light instead of the yellow.

What type of bulbs should I get?

Cheers

[gregozedobe]

If you are after more light to see better then I recommend Philips X-treme H1 55W and Osram 65W H7 Rallye (depending on what fitting your headlights take - it is probably mentioned somewhere in your owner's manual).

If you really must have the blue/white look (and don't mind the reduced output and/or shorter life that comes with that at no extra charge) try looking at the powerbulbs UK website. You may want to change your parker globes as well if they are a bit "yellow" (but they are a lot harder to change than headlight globes on some VW lights).

[kimiraikkonen1a]

How do you change the front park light bulbs?

I recently bought H7 philips crystal vision headlight bulbs to put in my 118tsi. Changing the main dipped beam bulbs was easy enough. I am having a lot of trouble with the 5W park lights though. The instruction manual doesn't really detail how u r supposed to remove the fixture, it just says to pull it out. I have tried twisting and pulling it with great difficulty as there is hardly any wiggle room to fit ure hand in. My only hesitation to apply more force is that I might break it as Im unsure of the correct procedure to remove the fixture.

Does anyone know how to do it correctly? I really dont want to waste money and take it to an auto electrician to change 2 park light bulbs.

[sillygogo]

Its really tight, wiggle it little to loosen it and pull it straight out. It helps if you have small hands.

I found the main dip was way harder to put it. eventually brought it to VW, the tech guy was happy to do it without charge. He need to remove a few parts to get into the main dip. He said that there is a small plier like tool for the 5w parkers.

[sillygogo]

apology, it was the other way around. Main dip was easy, parkers were a pain. Took the VW tech guy a good 20minutes because he need to remove some parts in the engine bays to gain good access to the bulbs.

[kimiraikkonen1a]

Yeah the main dipped ones were no problem. Now I know not to yank the parkers out, do u know where i could get that plier-like tool from? I'd rather have a go myself.

Just curious, what bulbs did u fit in your car? how do u find the brightness etc?
The Philips Crystal vision are a nice blueish white, but definately not brighter than the stock bulbs, they are about the same if not very slightly less bright.

[JIMMYP]

Replacing Factory Headlight and Parking Light Bulbs???

G'day everyone,
Have had a look through this great forum as well as on the net, but still not clear on a few things.

I will be getting the MkVI TSI 118 in April. I have heard that the headlights are pretty weak. My questions are:

1. Are the lights really weak? I will be doing some country driving, will it really be worth upgrading the bulbs if I am?

2. I am thinking of the Phillips Xtreme H7's - anyone like these?

3. Is it difficult to actually gain access to and remove/change the bulbs?

4. Does changing the bulbs to the non-factory types cause problems with the electrics and/or the warranty?

5. Is there a potential problem with the bulbs not being "aimed" correctly? Or is this only if you actually replace the whole light set-up (e.g. with an HID kit)? I don't want to end up with problems like this, and also obviously don't want to blind oncoming drivers with poorly directed headlights.

Sorry for all the questions, but I couldn't find the answers to these anywhere, and figure that if anyone knows, its my fellow forum members!

Thanks alot!

Cheers.

JIMMYP

[sillygogo]

1. Are the lights really weak?
NO

I will be doing some country driving, will it really be worth upgrading the bulbs if I am?

YES, extra driving lights if its really dark or OFFroad.

2. I am thinking of the Phillips Xtreme H7's - anyone like these?

About the same as standard, but legal.

3. Is it difficult to actually gain access to and remove/change the bulbs?

YES, need to remove a few parts in the engine bay.

4. Does changing the bulbs to the non-factory types cause problems with the electrics and/or the warranty?

No to electric, warranty is debatable.

5. Is there a potential problem with the bulbs not being "aimed" correctly? Or is this only if you actually replace the whole light set-up

Lines up fine, but it also depends on the bulbs.

(e.g. with an HID kit)? I don't want to end up with problems like this, and also obviously don't want to blind oncoming drivers with poorly directed headlights.

Retro HID kits are not legal and if not install correctly will blind everyone on the road, accept for the folks behind you.

[gregozedobe]

2. I am thinking of the Phillips Xtreme H7's - anyone like these?

I have compared quite few different H7 globes, and the Philips X-treme gave the best improvement in output (approx 25-30% real improvement) of any of the standard wattage (55W) H7 globes.

4. Does changing the bulbs to the non-factory types cause problems with the electrics and/or the warranty?
Not if they are the same voltage and wattage as the OEM globes.

5. Is there a potential problem with the bulbs not being "aimed" correctly? Or is this only if you actually replace the whole light set-up
If you are replacing a good quality globe with another good quality globe there "should" be little (if any) change to the aim, but it is worth checking after installing any new globe to make sure it is still OK.

............

[Pharkus]

5. Is there a potential problem with the bulbs not being "aimed" correctly? Or is this only if you actually replace the whole light set-up (e.g. with an HID kit)? I don't want to end up with problems like this, and also obviously don't want to blind oncoming drivers with poorly directed headlights.

Too late to option up factory HID's?

[sillygogo]

Too late to option up factory HID's?

Factory HID not available on the 118TSI GOLF

[Pharkus]

Factory HID not available on the 118TSI GOLF

Too bad. Guess the technology hasn't fully filtered down to every car just yet.

[sillygogo]

Too bad. Guess the technology hasn't fully filtered down to every car just yet.

Well the technology is there, it is available as an option in NZ for the GOLF but i guess the importer didn't want to bring it in for OZ.

[Corey_R]

3. Is it difficult to actually gain access to and remove/change the bulbs?

YES, need to remove a few parts in the engine bay.

Really? Did this change with the MK6 ?
I remember that segment on Fifth Gear where they had the Renault Megane vs the VW Golf MKV, and the Megane took a mechanic over an hour to change a headlight bulb (have to remove wheels and all), whereas the Golf could be done in 30 seconds with one hand whilst sitting forward on the front of the car eating a hamburger in the other hand... (literally)

[sillygogo]

Really? Did this change with the MK6 ?
I remember that segment on Fifth Gear where they had the Renault Megane vs the VW Golf MKV, and the Megane took a mechanic over an hour to change a headlight bulb (have to remove wheels and all), whereas the Golf could be done in 30 seconds with one hand whilst sitting forward on the front of the car eating a hamburger in the other hand... (literally)

hmm, I haven't see that segment.
What I found was, hard to gain access to, awkward angle, very small opening and hard to grip the bulb.