Passat Lights

[PHA]

Hi all

I just a bought a new 2.0 TDi Coroporate Special (read Passat Poverty Pack) and love the car, but the lights are woeful. OK on the autobahn but no good in the bush which is where I spend most of my time. Nearly hit 2 roos on the second trip out 'cos I just couldn't see them on the road.

I've got a couple of decent driving lights I took off my faithful old Toyota but I've been told I can't fit them 'cos they will set the front parking sensors off and they can't be disconnected The dealer hasn't been able to offer any suggestions.

Does anyone know how I can brighten the candles on this thing?

[Gipper]

I used to own a subaru impreza that seemed like it had candles instead of headlights. They were downright dangerous for country night driving. I took it to a 4wd specialist and they upgraded the headlight wiring looms and upgraded the globes to top shelf Philips units.. The difference it made was phenomenal, and all with the standard headlight assembly. Maybe worth a look.

[Peter Jones]

I strongly recommend getting them professionally aligned.

Find an auto-elec who has the proper optical aligning tools.

I've had heaps of new company cars like that, where you were afraid to drive them in the dark and all it often needs is alignment.

It only costs about $20 so it's a good first step.

Pete

[PHA]

Thanks guys.

Both sound like good suggestions which I'll follow up.

[Lance B]

Look at my thread from last year:

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=20661

So get yourself a set of Philips-X-Treme bulbs, which are an 80% higher output light, for the same power.

[PHA]

Thanks Lance
I'll check em out. Narva also recommend a "Blue Power" performance globe Part No 48535BL2. I've had a good run from Narva in the past.
Can you confirm that the bulbs are H7s?

[sci_fianime]

Upgrade to HIDs

[PHA]

I made some enquiries and provided it's legal that looks the way to go and it's not as expensive as I expected. Thanks. I'll have to find a space to fit the ballasts though. Probably just do the inners for starters and see how they go.

[Breno]

I made some enquiries and provided it's legal that looks the way to go and it's not as expensive as I expected. Thanks. I'll have to find a space to fit the ballasts though. Probably just do the inners for starters and see how they go.

Therein lies the problem, retorfit HID's are not legal. ADR's require self leveling and squirters/self cleaning mechanism. I'm not sure how savvy the authorities are though in detecting illegal retrofits, also may have insurance implications?

[sci_fianime]

Therein lies the problem, retorfit HID's are not legal. ADR's require self leveling and squirters/self cleaning mechanism. I'm not sure how savvy the authorities are though in detecting illegal retrofits, also may have insurance implications?

Did not know that - however, I believe that the Passat also comes with HIDs as an option, so it would be rather difficult to differentiate between a factory fit and a retrofit.

[richdave]

Did not know that - however, I believe that the Passat also comes with HIDs as an option, so it would be rather difficult to differentiate between a factory fit and a retrofit.

yeah... tell that to your insurer after you have rear ended a 7 series BMW

[passatpout]

Personally, I don't think the low-beam lights are too bad, the intensity is OK, the aim adjustment needs to be a smidge higher (probably about half a degree). High beam is fine, it picked out the roadside roos quite nicely on Friday night.

[sci_fianime]

yeah... tell that to your insurer after you have rear ended a 7 series BMW

Thought with better lights it would be safer?

[Swallowtail]

Thought with better lights it would be safer?

Yes better is usually safer, but brighter is not always better and most definitely brighter is not always safer.

Especially if 'brighter' means the driver in front of you / coming the other way can't see as a result of all those extra light-charged molecules entering his/her eyeballs...

Alignment is the first thing to check as has been mentioned above. If that is not enough, then effective and accurately aligned additional lights or better bulbs are the best option.

After-market HIDs are NOT legal under ADRs unless fully fitted with automatic self-levelling and cleaners. Been through this before on another forum, and did a heap of research through the relevant ADRs.

The cost of retro-fitting full HIDs is rather large if done properly. Hasn't stopped heaps of people doing it though.

[sci_fianime]

Especially if 'brighter' means the driver in front of you / coming the other way can't see as a result of all those extra light-charged molecules entering his/her eyeballs...

Thanks - I understand all you have written and totally agree that a botched upgrade is dangerous due to the glare to other road users. That is why proper homework needs to be done before retrofitting including checking the suitability of the light housing - generally only projector housings are retrofit compatible, and not all of them.

The response you quoted was to another forumer on the issue of rearending another car and that insurance will not pay if HIDs are fitted, which I feel that is not reasonable, as HIDs do not contribute to rear end accidents unless the beams were way off and the driver was driving blind...

Anyway, I used to drive an Audi A4 (B5) which had retrofitted HIDs - the difference in light output was like night and day. As the A4 had projector lights, the beam was focussed and there was no glare affecting other road users.