Xenon on 77TSI?

[DoggieHowser]

Well well, thank you diesel-vert you just saved me from trawling through ADR but now I'm going to have to get an update

Interesting factoid though regarding washers, in sub-zero climates the headlight washers can be optioned/come standard with heated water jets

2000lm, like I said, may as well just stick with a good halogen bulb because while there are still benefits for a low powered xenon bulb (lower ongoing power consumption, high initial start up though and increased service life, a good pair of halogens will put out more light and cost ~$100 for a pair. A VW 35W xenon bulb (which is used across most xenon models) will cost $350 each or (for the mathematically challenged) $700 a pair. Xenon bulbs dont have a 7 times longer lifetime and at 25W, 7 times better light output.

Right. So using the same rationale, a bixenon option that costs around 2.5k (vs 0 added cost on a halogen set up) has to be infinite times better light output and infinitely longer in usable life for it to be worth considering then.

[nomadx38]

Hi and low beams will still exist as they do now with bi-xenon (1 globe for both operations). Their light output will just be limited that's all. 10watt of power will illuminate up to 2000lm for dipped beam and then it could supply 20watt to the same bulb to get 4000lm for high beam.

This differs from xenon globes which use a mechanical shutter to reduce light output (actually it lowers the cut off but doesn't lower the light output of the globe)

Getting really off topic I saw a brand new audi a5 alltrack (or somthing like that) which had LED headlights, 4 in an array horizontally, I thought it was the DRL untill I saw them on top of these LEDs. Quite bright for 4 LEDs but still not as bright as a xenon setup and a less spread beam. Was also quite white (5-6k temperature) which is why I looked at in the first place!

[nomadx38]

Right. So using the same rationale, a bixenon option that costs around 2.5k (vs 0 added cost on a halogen set up) has to be infinite times better light output and infinitely longer in usable life for it to be worth considering then.

What you are saying is technically true yes but I think what Gavs is getting at is, if you are going to pay a 2500$ premium for Xenons I rather get the 3200lumen ones NOT the 2000lumens one for the sake of no washers/levelling...

[alexaescht]

Xenon on 77TSI?

They already apply with several new cars already fitted with them. In fact, toyota are in the process of creating a permanent high-beam led headlight that uses reflected to reduce glare to oncoming traffic and vehicles in front of the car yet still maintain a full high beam. LED tech however has a long way to go still to match HID in everyday vehicles, not just high end applications, ala Audi R8.

VW already do that, albeit with xenon's, with their active high beam thingy. It keeps high beam always on, but uses cameras/infrared to detect oncoming cars and stops the light hitting the oncoming car, but with the road ahead still in high beam. It comes standard in the new Touareg and as an option in the MK VII golf and I think even passat.

[gavs]

Xenon on 77TSI?

VW already do that, albeit with xenon's, with their active high beam thingy. It keeps high beam always on, but uses cameras/infrared to detect oncoming cars and stops the light hitting the oncoming car, but with the road ahead still in high beam. It comes standard in the new Touareg and as an option in the MK VII golf and I think even passat.

Doesn't work very well then because I've been followed by a particular Touareg and it always blinds the crap out of me!

DoggieHowser aside from the option costing $1600 on the polo (less than a pair of good quality aftermarket HID driving lights) not $2500, the point I am making is that if you are paying for xenon/HID headlights for anything other than the look of them, you want them to be worth the cash outlay with a healthy gain in performance. If I forked out an extra 2 large on HID headlights that were no better in lighting performance than the standard halogens, I'd be pi**ed off.

I've come from reflector halogen Vw headlights and I can tell you, they are sh*t. Around the city where it's lit up they are fine. On a country road at 110kph in the middle of the night, a mag light or led lenser torch is more effective. Which is why I paid for the xenons, plus they look better. And I had a shorter wait if I ordered the car already on the books with them. I can drive along a country highway next to my girlfriends pug 207 (which has bloody great highbeams for a euro car) and with my high beams on, hers just look like fog lights in comparison. They light up the immediate surroundings very well but they have no penetration compared to the xenons. We regularly drive back from the peninsular over summer late at night and she let's me go first because she reckons its so bright that it makes her lights seem pointless, it's that kind of performance that matters to me. I want xenons because of the leap in lighting performance.

[alexaescht]

Xenon on 77TSI?

Doesn't work very well then because I've been followed by a particular Touareg and it always blinds the crap out of me!

Haha ok then. I've never actually witnessed the technology, just read about it...

[DoggieHowser]

Exactly, the halogens on the regular cars aren't the best in dark roads.

That's why requests like this keep appearing because for reasons known only to VW, they didn't think most people would spring 2k (which I think is what mine costs cos it includes auto swivelling) for the bixenon option, and most buyers don't/can't wait for 6 months for a special indent when they decide to buy a car.

If there is a way to keep the car road legal and still get a reasonable bixenon set up after market even if it costs more than a factory fit, I wouldn't put a cold blanket on the idea. This is why you see others here pay more for a retrofit of OPS and RVC+ than even a factory install because (you guessed it), VWA doesn't think we would pay a fraction of what some of us did to have it fitted in the factory.

Kudos for those who have continued to persevere in this.

[Diesel_vert]

If there is a way to keep the car road legal and still get a reasonable bixenon set up after market even if it costs more than a factory fit, I wouldn't put a cold blanket on the idea.

If you install the washers and auto-levellers, then you have a perfectly roadworthy car.

It's just that no-one bothers to install them, due to time (labour), cost and complexity of installation and setup (electronics).

What you are saying is technically true yes but I think what Gavs is getting at is, if you are going to pay a 2500$ premium for Xenons I rather get the 3200lumen ones NOT the 2000lumens one for the sake of no washers/levelling...

Mandatory requirements (parts and wiring for washers and auto-levellers) combined with optional and often inseparable paraphernalia (like LED lamps or DRLs, motors and parts associated with dynamic, adaptive or cornering lights) adds significant expense to the design of gas-discharge projector headlamps.

I would expect the cost of installing headlamps based on D8S bulbs would be much reduced if manufacturers aren't required to fit washers or auto-levellers. Costs can be reduced further if optional features are not designed into the headlamp housing.

[DoggieHowser]

Fitting the auto levellers and washers IMHO isn't a simple job and the potential to go wrong is higher, hence the reluctance to go the whole 9 yards.

This new lower powered HID seems a good option if it pans out.

FWIW, I always thought my father in law's MkV GTI's HID were blinding from opposite sides, more so than most of my Japanese HID factory fitted systems which for some reason didn't come with washers.

[Diesel_vert]

Fitting the auto levellers and washers IMHO isn't a simple job and the potential to go wrong is higher, hence the reluctance to go the whole 9 yards.

Yes, it's an absolute pig of job, but it's a pathway to roadworthiness nonetheless.

FWIW, I always thought my father in law's MkV GTI's HID were blinding from opposite sides, more so than most of my Japanese HID factory fitted systems which for some reason didn't come with washers.

My understanding is that washers aren't required by Japanese regulations.

Though I don't know how they ended up on our shores without washers. Oh well, lucky you. Don't tell anybody.

[d_train]

My understanding is that washers aren't required by Japanese regulations.

Though I don't know how they ended up on our shores without washers. Oh well, lucky you. Don't tell anybody.

This is very common, especially with SEVS and grey imports. Some come with xenon with reflector housing, a no-no to some.

A decade ago, my 97 FTO had xenon without washers. I very much doubt it auto leveling either. My import EVO 7 was the same. But both were projectors and it didn't blind anyone. Well, I haven't been served my papers..yet

If we are to have rules, it should be regulated the same across the board and actively regulated.

The reason I mentioned the high and low beam thing was this:

Audi's Smart LED Headlights Banned In The U.S., Okay Everywhere Else

Gavs, it's not just the R8. Most of the facelift Audis coming out will have LED headlights as options. They are really trying to push the envelope here.

[Diesel_vert]

This is very common, especially with SEVS and grey imports.

Ah right, imports. That explains it, lol.

Some come with xenon with reflector housing, a no-no to some.

So long as you use DxR bulbs (as opposed to DxS bulbs) and the reflector housing is designed for gas-discharge bulbs, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

A decade ago, my 97 FTO had xenon without washers. I very much doubt it auto leveling either. My import EVO 7 was the same.

Yep, I'm pretty sure that Japanese regulations don't require washers.

[d_train]

Yep, I'm pretty sure that Japanese regulations don't require washers.

I guess my point is where's the level playing field when it comes to regulations in the land of Oz? They should all be recalled to get them retrofitted if H&S is paramount or at the point of compliance. Because to me, that's what road-worthiness means. It's difficult to be prescriptive when there are examples of inconsistencies that are not addressed.

[Diesel_vert]

I guess my point is where's the level playing field when it comes to regulations in the land of Oz? They should all be recalled to get them retrofitted if H&S is paramount or at the point of compliance. Because to me, that's what road-worthiness means. It's difficult to be prescriptive when there are examples of inconsistencies that are not addressed.

Yes, that is the whole point of roadworthiness. A safe motoring experience for all, without putting up with undue shenanigans from other motorists.

A vehicle imported via official distributor channels would certainly be expected to comply with all relevant regulations for that market.

I suppose in the mean time, enjoy your headlights and keep 'em clean.

[LunchboxVRS]

I was wrong the beetle does have auto self leaving its just s$&t (compared to golf R). But no washers. The manual has nothing on there operation and I can't find wher they would pop out. VW brochures for cars that have xenon options all say pop up washers but the beetles don't.

We lined up my nieces beetle (xenons), my uncles golf r (xenons), my mates mk6 gti with a very expensive hid kit and my polo gti (stock halogens). My polo was s?!t, mk6 ok, but he R and beetle where hard to tell apart. A little less distance from the Beatle but no much.