External Lighting

[First VW]

Hi Guys, first of all, R36 is an awesome car and tho I have only driven it for just under 300km and am still loving it and more.

However, IMHO, I found the exterior lightings, i.e. the turn lights too yellow? I am wondering if anyone is looking at putting LED bulbs or some sort of brighter/whiter lighting?

Also, is it true that if you change the bulbs to a different type, the car may give you lighting fault? Cheers.

[Lance B]

Hi Guys, first of all, R36 is an awesome car and tho I have only driven it for just under 300km and am still loving it and more.

However, IMHO, I found the exterior lightings, i.e. the turn lights too yellow? I am wondering if anyone is looking at putting LED bulbs or some sort of brighter/whiter lighting?

As far as I know, you are not allowed to use LED bulbs unless they come with the car, but you may need to check with the RTA if you are in NSW.

Also, is it true that if you change the bulbs to a different type, the car may give you lighting fault? Cheers.

More than likely.

[tryingavw]

As far as I know, you are not allowed to use LED bulbs unless they come with the car, but you may need to check with the RTA if you are in NSW.



More than likely.

just about to find out if i get a lighting fault but i doubt it with . i have ordered philips diamond vision H7 globes for the cornering lamps which as supplied are bog standard 55W halogen ( just about to find out if i get a lighting fault but i doubt it. But LED's probably would fault). i dont think a LED bulb would be any good/ powerful enough. unless you are talking about the parking LED's ( 5W beasties) yes they are also quite yellow but i cant work out how to get to them around the xenons.

[olcoop]

Just wondering, what lights are you talking about?
As far as I understand, you have the Xenon high (main) and low (dipped) beam head lights. So the 55w quartz halogen bulbs you are talking about would be in the fog lights, I think. If so, they should only be used when driving in fog or you will get booked for using them in general driving.
The Xenon lights in the R36 I'm getting have swiveling cornering lights I believe, so I would have thought that your Xenon lights would be the same.
Just another thought though, maybe your fog lights just seem to look yellow when comparing them to the bright white light of the Xenon light? Or maybe, if they are fog lights as I suggest they might be, maybe they are supposed to have a yellow tinge to them like some fog lights do???
Sorry if I'm right off the track here. My current MY07 103kw TDi doesn't have the fog lights fitted or Xenons either so I may be *issing in the wind here!

[First VW]

I am driving a R36 so I believe there is no fog lights. The lights that I am indicating are the turn lights or some of them call it the turn signals, it comes on when your steering wheel is of a certain angle. Hope this clear things up a bit.

[olcoop]

I am driving a R36 so I believe there is no fog lights. The lights that I am indicating are the turn lights or some of them call it the turn signals, it comes on when your steering wheel is of a certain angle. Hope this clear things up a bit.

Sorry, it seems as though I don't have a clue what I'm talking about then!!!
So, do the headlights swivel when you turn or not?
I just thought they did when I saw in the specs that they have cornering lights, but maybe these cornering lights that you are talking about are what the specs mean?
I was sure that other Passats with xenons have swiveling headlights, but maybe I'm wrong on that one too!!!
Are the lights that you are talking about below the headlights in the blinker light assembly, or are they in the headlight assembly?

[tryingavw]

Just wondering, what lights are you talking about?
As far as I understand, you have the Xenon high (main) and low (dipped) beam head lights. So the 55w quartz halogen bulbs you are talking about would be in the fog lights, I think. !

no the bi-xenons are basically fixed but do a little jiggle on startup -levelling? The "turning" bit is actaully a 3rd globe ( regular 55w halogen - yellow tinge) and lens system offset at around 45 degrees. when you turn the steering or put on the blinker the relevant side lights up!

i have to turn right into the drive & open the roller door- the system works really well and you notice the difference as you turn on the blinkers- BANG!

some cars light up the side fogs as well but i dont have fogs so cannot comment.

so ive ordered philips diamonds ( $ 70 inc from honkers, $125 locally) for the side halogens.

i only now have one major problem with the passat- i have to ask the wife to use it and her initial reponse is NO.. im loving "borrowing" it when i can. I just take it anyway. Still love my 7 series 2002 but cannot believe the value of the passat and the nifty 2litre diesel.

averaging 12.5 litres/100klm on the 7 series ( 2000kg) - need to be lightfooted and 6.9 on the passat ( 1600kg) - driving without regard to economy. the passat feels the same on takeoff

oops a bit longwinded - sorry!

[First VW]

during startup, the headlights (low beam) will 'adjust' themselves in terms of vertical and horizontal angle and this is done by the projecting lens. The turn lights are the ones below the actual headlight assembly.

Is it difficult to swap the bulbs out with brighter ones? Mind to share where you ordered it from? =) Cheers.

[First VW]

I can't seem to find the bulb type in the user manual. Is this normal? The manual does not even explain how to change the bulbs, all I can find is mention of H7. Has anyone here changed the bulbs before? Is it an easy process? Cheers.

[tryingavw]

I can't seem to find the bulb type in the user manual. Is this normal? The manual does not even explain how to change the bulbs, all I can find is mention of H7. Has anyone here changed the bulbs before? Is it an easy process? Cheers.

the corner bulbs are H7. you need to unclip black plastic cover to access them- not particularly easy - use a good torch.

[3Putt]

The bulbs (high, low and fogs) are a bit tricky to install, as they have to be fit snugly into place so that they sit perfectly in the 'focal point' of they fisheye lenses. Otherwise the beam will be useless, as I have found out from experience.

Herein lies the problem, because the bulb mount has a non-uniform outer rim which must be married up perfectly in order to clip in. The opening in the back of the light assembly is just big enough to fit my hand thru, holding the bulb. You cannot see what you are doing, so you have to feel for it, which is awkward, but eventually doable.

I managed to fit the high and lows myself, but for the fogs i just got a mechanic to do it, as it was in there with them at the time i bought the bulbs.

I would recommend getting VW to fit them during a service. I'm sure they will do it if you supply the bulbs. I still don't know for sure if my bulbs are sitting correctly, so will be getting VW to check them next time its in there anyway.

[olcoop]

no the bi-xenons are basically fixed but do a little jiggle on startup -levelling? The "turning" bit is actaully a 3rd globe ( regular 55w halogen - yellow tinge) and lens system offset at around 45 degrees. when you turn the steering or put on the blinker the relevant side lights up!

Now I'm more confused!
Here is a quote frm the Passat brochure. "The Bi-xenon headlights with dynamic cornering light system swivel to illuminate the cornering path."
This suggests that it has swivelling (dynamic) and an extra fixed (desrcibed elsewhere in the brochure as static) cornering light.
The only car I have driven with xenon lights is my brother's GTI which has a single fixed xenon. So, is the swiveling part of the lights a noticeable action whilst driving?

[First VW]

It is a noticeable action. It is very obvious and the brochure is right, the xenon itself swivels and the cornering light turns on and off when you make a turn.

[tryingavw]

The only car I have driven with xenon lights is my brother's GTI which has a single fixed xenon. So, is the swiveling part of the lights a noticeable action whilst driving?

thats quite possible but i haven't noticed, but the extra globe lighting up sure gets my attention!

i will check that out at night and get back to you.

[olcoop]

Thanks for clearing that one up guys.
I didn't know about the extra turning light that switches on when turnining into driveways etc.