Halogen bulb upgrade

[Lance B]

The standard bulbs of the Halogen(non xenon) equiped Passat are not what I would call the best for light. My wife's Hyundai i30 has brilliant lights and they are non xenon, so I thought there must be a better bulb out there.

3 Putt(of this forum) and I met last Sunday and discussed quite a few matters and the bulb questiuon arose. See 3 Putts thread:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=20560

After a bit of research, I had already purchased a set of Philips Power2Night bulbs, which are supposedly a 50% brighter and whiter light, and thought they were an excellent upgrade as they made a *big* difference over the standard bulbs. They really are nice and white and light up the road slightly further and also have a much better spread nearer the car. Previously, I had sometimes switched on the fog lights to give more light nearer the car, but with the new bulbs I no longer feel the need to do this.

After reading 3 Putt's thread about Philips-X-Treme bulbs, which are an 80% higher output light, for the same power, I decided to give them a try as well.

The X-Tremes are a tad brighter and a tad longer in beam length but not as big a difference over the Power2Nights as the Power2Nights are over the standard bulbs. Anyway, I replaced both the low and high beams with the X-Tremes and I can highly recommend them over the standard bulbs and I would also highly recommend the Power2Nights if you do not want to spend the extra.

The high beam is also quite a revelation using either bulb type, but the X-Tremes seem to give a more uniform light.

Standard pricing for Power2Nights are $59.95 a pair and for the X-Tremes $79.95 a pair.

[3Putt]

Awesome Bulbs

The Philips Xtremes are bloody fantastic, I agree.

On an unlit road (its hard to see their true intensity when on lit city streets) they really do turn night into day!

Highly recommended cheap mod to your ride.

The low beams are a bit fiddly to get in if you have big hands, as you cannot see the mount where they slot into the back of the fisheye lense. You just have to feel for it.

The high beams are easy, because you can see the mount.

Be careful to slot the bulbs in correctly, as the lenses' effectiveness relies on the bulb sitting in exactly the right spot - the 'focal point' of the lense, if you like.

[azza67]

Hi Gents,

Just wondering if you used the same globe wattage as the originals or did you increase it with the newer types?? If so to what??

Finally its been a while since you posted on this topic, can you tell me how the new lights are going? Any reliability issues ie failure due to heat???

Thanks!

[Lance B]

Hi Gents,

Just wondering if you used the same globe wattage as the originals or did you increase it with the newer types?? If so to what??

Finally its been a while since you posted on this topic, can you tell me how the new lights are going? Any reliability issues ie failure due to heat???

Thanks!

Same wattage as the originals it is illegal to use a higher wattage.

No issues with long term reliability and the bulbs are still working great.

[drbass]

azza67,

Put them in as well (same wattage, of course). Certainly an improvement but not quite as striking as expected.

I firmly believe in having my lights on all the time (visibility to other motorists is much improved, particularly with a black car). With that in mind, there are no performance issues or failures to report.

Was rather fiddly to change them, though.

Hope this helps.

Seeya,
Michael

[snodrogs]

Did you get the X-tremes from a motoring shop or over the net guys?

I could sniff around and get it, but it would be appreciated if you have the part numbers for the globes handy too.

Thanks very much for posting this information, and the update when requested. Certainly want as much bang for my buck from the lights without coughing for the bi-xenons retrofits (too nervous to do this anyway), especially when we are doing country runs at night. I couldn't think of anything worse than a bull bar and spotties on the front of the car to ruin a good look...

Andrew

[gregozedobe]

I bought my X-tremes from fleaBay (watch the freight costs though).

I have read somewhere that the X-tremes (and the similar Osram Nightbreakers) don't last as well as the std halogen globes (thinner filament to create the brighter light or somesuch). IIRC of the order of 350 hours vs 800 hours (cf HIDs of 10,000 hrs if not switched on and off a lot).

Some of our UK cousins have had a few issues with the Nightbreakers - general consensus seems to be the Philips x-tremes are better.

X-tremes aren't available in a H1 fitment yet (I don't know what a Passat takes, but hi beam on both my Transporter and my Octavia are H1s).

[3Putt]

The Xtremes really come into their own on country (unlit) roads. i was amazed at the difference they made.

They are almost too bright, as they light up roadsigns / cateyes etc too an almost dazzling level.

As the reviews say, these things are the best low cost upgrade you could make to your car.

Only one of the car parts chains carries them, Autobahn. About $80 a pair. You can get them for the high and low beams, as well as the fogs.

[Lance B]

The Xtremes really come into their own on country (unlit) roads. i was amazed at the difference they made.

They are almost too bright, as they light up roadsigns / cateyes etc too an almost dazzling level.

As the reviews say, these things are the best low cost upgrade you could make to your car.

Only one of the car parts chains carries them, Autobahn. About $80 a pair. You can get them for the high and low beams, as well as the fogs.

Couldn't agree more.

[azza67]

Thanks Gents for responding so quickly and for taking the time to do so!!

Its much appreciated

[Craig]

Lance or 3Putt,

I want to get Phillips X-tremes for my Passat wagon on both low and high beam. Do I just get 2 lots of H7 pairs. or are they different globes. Can you tell me what part numbers I need to get for both high and low beam lamps

[VolksFlagon]

Dont let this stop you but, note that the globes in your headlights should be under dealer warrantee. If you change the globe with after market ones and they blow, the dealer will not replace the globe without charging, and they would replace them with standard factory types which suggest that both would need to be changed to avoid the difference in appearance.

[Lance B]

Lance or 3Putt,

I want to get Phillips X-tremes for my Passat wagon on both low and high beam. Do I just get 2 lots of H7 pairs. or are they different globes. Can you tell me what part numbers I need to get for both high and low beam lamps

The high and low beams are the same, so, yes, just get 2 pair of H7's. Better still, get the low beams first and then if you aren't happy with the result, you haven't wasted your money on 2 pair, just one. Havind said that, I am sure that you will NOT be disappointed.

[Craig]

The high and low beams are the same, so, yes, just get 2 pair of H7's. Better still, get the low beams first and then if you aren't happy with the result, you haven't wasted your money on 2 pair, just one. Havind said that, I am sure that you will NOT be disappointed.

Tx Lance

I will definitely be getting 2 sets. I see I can get 2 sets from the UK for about 50 pound free delivery ($AU103). I will go and see how much they cost in Australia first though.

[Manaz]

Dont let this stop you but, note that the globes in your headlights should be under dealer warrantee. If you change the globe with after market ones and they blow, the dealer will not replace the globe without charging, and they would replace them with standard factory types which suggest that both would need to be changed to avoid the difference in appearance.

Doubtful they'd come under warranty anyway, as they're considered a consumable.