Headlights - Discussion and Questions

[flashman1207]

Before you start thinking about cornering lights and configurations, let's cover the basics:

Are you referring to the standard headlight operation only? Or also foglights, high beam, etc?

Have you confirmed you don't have any bulb issues? Does the right bulb appear dimmer than the left?

AdamD, no I haven't done any of those things, the car is brand new. Its low beam I am talking about (dont have fog lamps). The lights look equally bright from the outside. It is so bad that I would have thought that if it was a general problem that everyone would be having the same issue. Best way to test is drive along a road and turn right into a turning that has a skinny median strip or island in the middle. I cannot see anything on the right of the vehicle as I am approaching and turning into it.....

Car is going into dealers to get 'airbag' light fixed. Will report it then

[slashj]

I'm pretty sure I don't have fog or cornering lights..... Anyone else with a Comfortline out there that can confirm?

Wouldn't be doing 50km/h at a t-junction. Would be still

My 90TSI Comfortline mk7 has no cornering lights or fog lights in front. The stock halogens are very weak, made worst because I am used to bi-xenon from previous cars.

I changed them to Philips Xtreme Vision which improved things greatly. Still nowhere as good as xenons but I believe it's one of the better alternatives available.

[flashman1207]

My 90TSI Comfortline mk7 has no cornering lights or fog lights in front. The stock halogens are very weak, made worst because I am used to bi-xenon from previous cars.

I changed them to Philips Xtreme Vision which improved things greatly. Still nowhere as good as xenons but I believe it's one of the better alternatives available.

Have you noticed the same problem as me though? and if so did the new bulbs improve things (cant see how they could as it seems to be the reflector)

[Eaglehawk]

Page 113 of the manual. It's 40km/h for the static cornering lights...if you've got it...also turns on when in reverse. Duh?

[flashman1207]

There are no cornering lights on Comfortline model as standard. The very fact that they are provided on a Highline surely indicates that they are needed. Why else ?

[flashman1207]

So the wife takes the car to the dealer and gets told there is nothing wrong with the lights (apparently they 'checked' them). So the fact that I nearly crash the car every time I turn right when its pitch black has something to do with my wife and my eyesight? Strange that my eyesight works just fine in my other 2 cars, one of which is 20 years old

[BFPO40]

So the wife takes the car to the dealer and gets told there is nothing wrong with the lights (apparently they 'checked' them). So the fact that I nearly crash the car every time I turn right when its pitch black has something to do with my wife and my eyesight? Strange that my eyesight works just fine in my other 2 cars, one of which is 20 years old

To be honest there isn't much you can do about the headlights other than upgrading the bulbs, others have commented on the Halogens not being particularly good and I found them pretty week with the stock bulbs on a loan mk7.

There has been pretty good feedback on various forums regarding upgrading the bulbs and that really is your best bet.

I assume the intersections you are having issues with are not street light illuminated?

I've been hanging around a few mk7 forums for almost a year and yours is the first complaint I've seen regarding lighting/turning issues so it isn't a common complaint from my observations, your local and poor street lighting could be a factor?

Go for the bulbs, it could be a game changer for you.

Good luck and regards.

[Flipper]

I fitted the Osram night breaker bulbs $30 from Powerbulbs you can see the difference here when I fitted the first 1 to the RHS its a lot "whiter" and brighter. It may not solve your unusual problem but it is a big improvement of standard.

[flashman1207]

I assume the intersections you are having issues with are not street light illuminated?

Good luck and regards.

Correct, no street lighting... Will try some other bulbs

[NCGR1]

I would suspect a vehicle designed for European speeds has more than adequate headlights. Not sure VW would ever be able to make all the fringe owners satisfied. However, it is possible that the setup for right-hand drive vehicles is not optimized.

[Dutch77]

I would suspect a vehicle designed for European speeds has more than adequate headlights. Not sure VW would ever be able to make all the fringe owners satisfied. However, it is possible that the setup for right-hand drive vehicles is not optimized.

You would suspect wrong. The Mk7 halogens are bordering on a disgrace. Having said that, unless you regularly drive on unlit roads at night then the xenons were an overpriced styling option only.. which for us here in Australia has been taken away from us by VWA on base GTIs in any case.

[REGS12]

Unroadworthy headlights---- again and again!

You would suspect wrong. The Mk7 halogens are bordering on a disgrace. Having said that, unless you regularly drive on unlit roads at night then the xenons were an overpriced styling option only.. which for us here in Australia has been taken away from us by VWA on base GTIs in any case.

Having started this thread, It has been interesting to see that the problem is widespread across the whole range of Mk 7's.
I think the scariest downfall is the darkness to the right side. Driving through the hills with blind right hand bends is downright dangerous. I too have complained to the dealer, only to be spun the old line of "no-one else has complained"

I seriously believe the headlights are inadequate. So poor that they are dangerous and unroadworthy. I love my GTI , just as I have the previous two Golfs we've had. VW build good stuff, but ****house, disgraceful headlights. The Aussie car guys could show the Germans a thing or two about how to design decent lighting!

Does anyone from VW that cares read this stuff, or are we just whinging among ourselves?

[BFPO40]

I would suspect a vehicle designed for European speeds has more than adequate headlights. Not sure VW would ever be able to make all the fringe owners satisfied. However, it is possible that the setup for right-hand drive vehicles is not optimized.

Probably more accurate that VW ran out of budget when it came to the mk7 halogen headlights, the MK7 is clearly designed for the U-LED Xenons right down to the red / silver strip running through the headlight. All the concept drawings I have seen show the U shaped DRL.

The Halogens are an after thought and very little thought went into them, they look cheap, nasty and out of place on the mk7. They are the most disappointing part of the Golf Mk7 and make the car look dated in the current hatch market.

And to boot the performance of the halogens is crap. Even the polo halogens look better.

To add to VW's penny pinching ways the GTI and Highline models have been downgraded to these sub-standard halogens outside of the German market - tight as.

[kamold]

Yeah reflector halogens do offer a very budget look to the front end of any car. At least use some cheap projectors to give the impression you care VW.... Not a good look for what in this market is a premium brand.

[Dutch77]

The chrome strip on TSI and the R looks ok, but the red strip is a no-no for me (and judging by a lot of comments in the USA forums they feel the same). I'll admit over time I've gone from hating it to simply disliking it; I might even think it's ok by the time I'm ready to move on from the Mk7.

But like I say with the Santiagos on the PP - each to their own.