Headlights - Discussion and Questions

[ajay1940]

When you fitted the new bulb, did you cycle the ignition & headlight switch. I found out the hard way that you need to do this.

Ca you please expand, on that comment? I'm not sure what you mean.
Fitting aftermarket bulbs is probably the most common upgrade ever. It rarely causes problems. I've done it on every car I've owned, going back to the 1970's.

[the220]

hi guys
read through but just a tiny bit confused still lol
want to upgrade my lights on my 110tdi so standard halogen lights
i want to do the headlights, side parkers or whatever and fog lights..

do i need h7 and h11? whats the h15?
if anyone can help that would be great

also thinking of getting the diamond vision phillips 5000k

[DV52]

hi guys
read through but just a tiny bit confused still lol
want to upgrade my lights on my 110tdi so standard halogen lights
i want to do the headlights, side parkers or whatever and fog lights..

do i need h7 and h11? whats the h15?
if anyone can help that would be great

also thinking of getting the diamond vision phillips 5000k

the220: Here's a pic of the lighting specs for my TSI - It might help . You probably already know, but the "H" number refers to the ECE category (a UN regulation). As you can see from the table, the H7 size is just for Low Beam, but the H15 size has both Low-beam and parker. They are physically different (i.e. the two have a different lamp-base). You will need to look at your lights an see which lamp you currently have. The H11 is the Fog light.

My suggestion is that you have a play with the application on the OSRAM website (I'm not sure if PHILLIPS lighting has a similar application on their website). The OSRAM facility is real cool! Just click here . OSRAM-SYLVANIA also has a similar application which you can find here

[Euro Car Upgrades]

hi guys,
For a pair of genuine VW ones you can speak to us as we do have a few sets in stock for RHD market.
We also just started selling modules which make them plug & play with no errors.
You simply remove the old headlight, plug the new one is the job is done, Bob's your uncle.
We have now discounted them by $200 which is about 10% discount from SRP:
genuine VW Golf 7 Bi-Xenon LED headlights OEM 5G1941033 5G1941034 5G1941753 5G1941754 5G2941751 5G2941752 Euro Car Upgrades
Genuine VW with 12 months warranty.
Install at $399 when a module is purchased for plug & play operation

[jetz427]

Mk7 Golf GTI Aftermarket Bi-xenon headlights

Hi guys

I picked up my GTI last week in white and am absolutely in love with it. Unfortunately it is the non performance pack and came with the very average looking halogen lamps

Just wondering, where can I find a good reputable supplier of the GTI bi-xenon headlights (with red stripe). I tried dealing directly with Vacar but they have only produced the R (no red strip) headlights and am back at square one

Please help!

Thanks
JZ

[Dutch77]

Red electrical tape.

Alternately read through the thread here: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...hts-87200.html , it'll either cost a fortune or you'll be breaking the law.

[Jimi]

Agreed. Though I've got them and they are excellent, if I didn't have them I wouldn't bother with aftermarket bi xenons. It costs quite a lot and there's been a lot of pain with people struggling to install them properly and then get them to work. Plus the end result is illegal as you won't have washer jets.

Alternatively, doing it using OEM parts imported from Europe will probably set you back about $3k incl installation (as a factory option on MY14 they were $2k)

I'd suggest just getting some of those Philips Nightbreaker bulbs to make the headlights whiter, so it doesn't look like a stained yellow 20 yr old headlamp. I think they will also improve the beam a bit.

[jetz427]

Has anyone bought from these guys before? http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBa...=1427228937672

[jetz427]

Thanks jimi I might have to resort to that if I can't source bixenons

[dero]

I've read about the replacement bulbs to the higher intensity headlights - are these bulbs "tuned" (in a sense) to the reflectors in the head lamp array?

Pros of this headlamp are the lights are whiter, brighter and illuminate a distance further than the halogens, plus they look more premium.

Cons would be that they don't last as long, potentially the reflections of the lights can dazzle oncoming drivers' eyes and they cost more in terms of bulb replacement.

If they can be replaced, is it a straight replacement? No issues of voltage reading errors showing up in the vehicle status messages between the old halogen vs these newer higher intensity bulbs?

[agentthumb]

Headlights

I've read about the replacement bulbs to the higher intensity headlights - are these bulbs "tuned" (in a sense) to the reflectors in the head lamp array?

Pros of this headlamp are the lights are whiter, brighter and illuminate a distance further than the halogens, plus they look more premium.

Cons would be that they don't last as long, potentially the reflections of the lights can dazzle oncoming drivers' eyes and they cost more in terms of bulb replacement.

If they can be replaced, is it a straight replacement? No issues of voltage reading errors showing up in the vehicle status messages between the old halogen vs these newer higher intensity bulbs?

@dero, I'm assuming you are referring to High Intensity Discharge (HID) bulbs when you are talking about "higher intensity headlights"?

If so, then no. They are not "tuned" to work with your stock halogen reflectors. Due to the different ways light is created between HID and halogen bulbs, you will end up throwing light everywhere when you simply replace your factory halogen bulbs with HID bulbs and ballast. This is illegal and will often daze oncoming traffic.

You can buy conversion kits that replaces the whole head light housing with correct light cutoffs for HIDs (to not daze on coming drivers) however, in Australia, the ADR specifies HIDs (or any front light sources brighter than 2000 lumens) will need to be fitted with headlight washer and auto levelling capabilities. These requirements render most, if not all after market conversion kits illegal.

The only legal option for retrofitting HIDs is to fit correct housing, washer and leveller. At the moment, only the factory parts offer these capabilities.

As for "brighter" halogen bulbs offered by Philips and Osram, they are just brighter based on better design and higher quality (i'm talking about bulbs here that run specified wattage, will get into higher wattage bulbs in a tick). I have tried Philips xtremeVision, and did find them to be brighter than the factory bulbs in my Toyota Camry, they are road legal and are relatively cheap (~$60 off eBay for a pair), I'd recommend you try these first. They are just a simple swap out from the original factory bulbs.

Some manufacturers offer higher wattage halogen bulbs ie. 100W as opposed to 55W standard. They are obviously brighter than your standard 55W bulbs, but be very careful using these. More wattage = more heat, you run into danger here of melting your head light housing etc.

Edit: forgot to mention that higher wattage bulbs can also damage your factory wiring.

[Zepto]

As for "brighter" halogen bulbs offered by Philips and Osram, they are just brighter based on better design and higher quality (i'm talking about bulbs here that run specified wattage, will get into higher wattage bulbs in a tick). I have tried Philips xtremeVision, and did find them to be brighter than the factory bulbs in my Toyota Camry, they are road legal and are relatively cheap (~$60 off eBay for a pair), I'd recommend you try these first. They are just a simple swap out from the original factory bulbs.

In case anyone is looking for a pair of Philips X-treme Vision bulbs, they are currently only $48 from powerbulbs.com.

[dero]

Thanks for the thorough explaination!

I'll look into which set of brighter halogens I may need to get to upgrade my headlights.

Another thing I've been thinking of is looking at the wreckers and seeing if a wrecked car has a pair of HIDs and maybe buying those off the wrecker for fitting. Would that still end up being more trouble than its worth? Reason I ask this is because my car has the Dynamic Chassis Control in it and I read a while back that there are a specific set of HID lights required for cars with active suspension. Is this something to do with a different way of auto-leveling?

[agentthumb]

No worries @dero.

I'm not sure about different parts for DCC equipped cars. Perhaps other forum members could shed some light.

Other than that, I can't see any reasons you can't get the required parts from a wrecker.

Just remember, you will need the housing (should include ballast and bulbs), components for headlight washer, and components for automatic levelling.

You will also need VCDS to code everything properly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dero]

Ok, just to confirm, the washer and components for levelling don't come as a part of the pair of headlight units? There are other components outside of this?

I recognise that cars, especially VWs these days are like big model kits. Just big handle'able blocks which slot into containers designed to house those blocks. Lights are one of them - I thought all the components (bulbs, levelling, washer, etc) are built into the lighting brick for either side of the car?