Passat Lights

[Swallowtail]

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.

If you can find an after-market HID package that guarantees ADR compliance let me know...

This makes for some amusing and interesting reading on the subject - http://forum.australia4wd.com/index.php?showtopic=12306

[3Putt]

Philips Xtreme's are the go.

I've got Xtreme's in my Passat, and they border on being too bright!

They are an unbelievable upgrade, seeings that they only cost about $80 a pair.

As for being unsafe too other drivers, i don't think it will make a difference because the 'fisheye' lenses used by modern cars now are able to focus the beam so well. As long as your headlights are aligned properly its not an issue.

Serioulsy, these things are a great alternative to HID's which are expensive and of questionable legality.

The Philips Xtremes are Australian street legal, and you can get them only from Autobahn stores, i believe. You can get them for your Hi, Low and fog lights.

[PHA]

It's done!

I've upgraded the low beams with high performance H7 globes as well as fitting a daylight running kit. The inners are now 35w 500K HIDs and what a difference! I almost went for 55w but figured they might be a tad too bright.
Problem solved. I tried to figure out the legality from the ADRs but gave up and the auto electrician couldn't figure them out either.
So, the final result is about as good as couple of decent driving lights. The focus isn't as good as driving lights but I guess I'll just have to live with that.

[sci_fianime]

Congrats - the difference should be like night and day...

[rotelman]

Saw a Passat the other day on the road to Adelaide with a set of Lightforce Monsters hanging off the front.

[PHA]

Hi All

I ended up fitting quality H7s to the low beam (and a daylight running kit while I was at it) and upgraded to high beam to 35W HID's. Brilliant (excuse the pun)! The focus isn't as good as the old driving lights but the light ouput is all I need.
I told my insurance company about it today and no problems there.
All good!