Headlight / Headlamp Upgrades (Bi-Xenon / HID / LED / Replicas)

[Lima]

If you want more light and a crisper look to normal halogen lights the just swap the bulbs to some Philips VisionPlus 50%+ or 80%+. They make a tremendous difference for less than 10% of the price of the bi-xenon option.

We have Philips BlueVision (IIRC) in the Mk5 and they are very good. They're just a whiter light and not a +50% type bulb, in fact, they probably provide slightly less light than the OEM H7s if a boffin cbf to measure it, but the overall effect is more pleasing to the eye.

[Lima]

...but my son in law has a WRX which, BTW comes standard with low beam xenons for $40k dollars, not a rip off like VW...

Maybe Brian is just upset that he bought a car with a class-leading interior and class-leading refinement. Meanwhile his pesky son-in-law got wanker lights thrown in for free when he bought a $20K econobox with a $20K engine.

[Mk6 GTI]

Maybe Brian is just upset that he bought a car with a class-leading interior and class-leading refinement. Meanwhile his pesky son-in-law got wanker lights thrown in for free when he bought a $20K econobox with a $20K engine.

LoL!

When i was car shopping i thought id take a look at the WRX just for interests sake. I opened the drivers door took one look and then shut it again. Didnt even bother taking it for a drive! LoL

Interior was HORRIBLE.

Im happy to pay for xenons on the GTI! lol

[Brian]

Maybe Brian is just upset that he bought a car with a class-leading interior and class-leading refinement. Meanwhile his pesky son-in-law got wanker lights thrown in for free when he bought a $20K econobox with a $20K engine.

You got me, Lima! I wanted to buy a WRX for the performance. (5.3 secs 0-100, 13.3 sec quarter mile at 101 mph off the showroom floor!) These sort of figures for $5k less than a 2 sec slower GTI Golf. However...... you are right, I went for the technology and finish of the TSI. I'm a VW convert.

[iBoost]

If you want more light and a crisper look to normal halogen lights the just swap the bulbs to some Philips VisionPlus 50%+ or 80%+. They make a tremendous difference for less than 10% of the price of the bi-xenon option.

This is probably what I'll do. Are the Phillips VisionPlus ones a white sort of light? Do I need to change the parkers and the fog lights in addition to the main globes? Anyone know what specification globes the Mark VI GTI uses?

I'd like something which is similar to the Xenon look if possible. I've seen that you can get blue tinged globes but I think they'd look cheap, correct me if I'm wrong though...

[pologti18t]

The Philips Visionplus 50+ and 80+ (X-treme) look whiter without a blue tinge.

[iBoost]

Cheers pologti18t. That sounds like the best compromise I think...

[gregozedobe]

If you want to improve the output of halogen headlights then the best H7 globes are the Osram 65W Rallye, for H1 and H4 globes I'd recommend Philips X-treme globes. I don't know whether the mk 6 Golf has H7 for both Hi and Lo beam, or is H7 for Lo and H1 for Hi.

I've tested quite a number of different globes (dozens actually) by many different manufacturers in my Transporter (2 different sets of headlights) and Hi beam of my Octavia before coming to that conclusion, and I do a lot of night driving with my 57 year old eyes, so I am a bit particular about how good my headlights are.

Note that the "+80%" claimed by the Philips and Osram marketers is more like a real world +25-35% for most headlights.

Most of the globes with a blue tint on the glass capsule sacrifice both visible output and longevity for more "whiteness".

If anyone wants to buy some of my "also-ran" globes (H1, H4, H7) to try them out themselves PM me

[sillygogo]

Get Factory HID if you can, it worth it. Much better lumen and wider lighting, not to mention kinder to other road user(compared to aftermarket kits from ebay).

Careful with performance bulbs upgrade, don't waste your money on the cheapos, go for philips or osram Some you might get whiter light but you lose out on the lumen and some are not road legal.

[iBoost]

Ahh you guys are killing me, every time I think I've decided to be sensible and not option them on I get convinced otherwise.

I've called the dealer and am waiting on a call back, we'll see what happens.

[Pharkus]

Get Factory HID if you can, it worth it. Much better lumen and wider lighting, not to mention kinder to other road user(compared to aftermarket kits from ebay).

There is NO comparison with aftermarket kits from e-bay. I see cheap HID kits, but they never come with the appropriate equipment to fit them. Just to name a few.

- Projector lenses
- Auto levelling etc etc etc

Once you have chosen not to factory fit, it's most likely going to be an expensive option to get them installed properly.

[johnyfalco]

I currently own a car with factory fitted HIDs and would not even consider buying another car second hand or new, unless it had factory HIDs. In fact I have been looking for a second hand Jetta or Golf but cant find one with HIDs.
I say order them you wont be disappointed

[Corey_R]

Correct, I haven't OWNED a car with xenon lights, but my son in law has a WRX which, BTW comes standard with low beam xenons for $40k dollars, not a rip off like VW, and I still say they are an unnecessary waste of dollars for urban driving. If you do a lot of highway at night then go for it! Dont try and talk the rest of us into "needing" them for round town, cause its a w@nk.

Hmmm - maybe that's your issue then. As with anything there are varying qualities of product. From what I have seen, I wouldn't rate the WRX's xenon lights as comparable to the VW's.

But in any case, there is a HUGE difference between the road vision when you have the VW Bi-Xenons (even around town) to even good quality traditional headlights like the VW Polo GTI I drive... so anyone who thinks that a feature which adds safety is a w@nk feature to me is not worth discussing the topic with

[iBoost]

Left phone messages with the dealer today regarding this and am still awaiting a call back....

[Pharkus]

Let me know when I can invite you to my w@nkers club

Seriously see if the dealer will let you borrow a car with HID's overnight so that you can make up your mind a bit better.