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Author Topic: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017  (Read 15873 times)

Offline spicypixel

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Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« on: October 14, 2017, 10:09:56 pm »
So as topic says, what's available for a Mk5 that's worth upgrading to? the factory silver reflectors look pretty poor these days so wondering what's available still or worth getting.

Is Depo + HID the way to go still? I assume there's no road legal LED options for the mk5?

Thanks
Mk5 GT TDI 170 - MY2007

Offline r5gtt

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2017, 11:41:18 pm »
Go depo with led bulbs as I did over a month ago and will never go back to hid bulbs ever again :sick:

Offline sjr999r

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2017, 07:13:44 pm »
Led for dipped or just the main?

Offline r5gtt

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2017, 10:12:36 pm »
Led for dipped or just the main?
I'm going to be using them for both  :happy2: waiting on the second set to arrive and then get some for the fog lights  too  :signLOL:

willni

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2017, 10:18:54 pm »
Led for dipped or just the main?
I'm going to be using them for both  :happy2: waiting on the second set to arrive and then get some for the fog lights  too  :signLOL:

Thought on the fogs if it's too bright or too white you don't get vision you end up blinding yourself, hence why they're sort of dim and more yellow than headlights

Offline r5gtt

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2017, 10:57:02 pm »
Led for dipped or just the main?
I'm going to be using them for both  :happy2: waiting on the second set to arrive and then get some for the fog lights  too  :signLOL:

Thought on the fogs if it's too bright or too white you don't get vision you end up blinding yourself, hence why they're sort of dim and more yellow than headlights
never heard of blinding oneself lol but great for dark roads  :grin:

willni

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2017, 07:44:17 am »
Led for dipped or just the main?
I'm going to be using them for both  :happy2: waiting on the second set to arrive and then get some for the fog lights  too  :signLOL:

Thought on the fogs if it's too bright or too white you don't get vision you end up blinding yourself, hence why they're sort of dim and more yellow than headlights
never heard of blinding oneself lol but great for dark roads  :grin:

Only happens in fog  :happy2:

Offline r5gtt

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2017, 10:27:17 am »
Led for dipped or just the main?
I'm going to be using them for both  :happy2: waiting on the second set to arrive and then get some for the fog lights  too  :signLOL:

Thought on the fogs if it's too bright or too white you don't get vision you end up blinding yourself, hence why they're sort of dim and more yellow than headlights
never heard of blinding oneself lol but great for dark roads  :grin:

Only happens in fog  :happy2:
I have hid in the atm and they seem fine  :confused: lol

Offline spicypixel

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #8 on: October 16, 2017, 11:30:21 am »
Got links for proper depos and LED lights to match that work? Obviously assuming they don't canbus error then?

Wondering about the MOT legality though...

@r5gtt got any photos of them in various conditions? Beam pattern would be nice too.
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Offline r5gtt

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2017, 06:00:01 pm »
@spicypixel haven't had the chance but I'm working on it  :smiley:

Offline spicypixel

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2017, 06:09:13 pm »
That's fine, just worried LEDs in the depos will look very bright and light up the road as well as a candle as has been the issue in the past with LED retrofits.

That and it'd be really lovely to be MOT legal but the rules on that are very grey...

http://greyhead.co.uk/are-aftermarket-hid-lights-legal-in-the-uk#h.mgncps5vewv0

Handy I have the headlight washer part of the winter pack but not auto levelling lights... though I'd really like warmer white (4000-4300K) and all these LEDs seem to aim for 6000k which seems like a quicker way to getting frowned on. Some as high as 10-12k and basically blue have been spotted but I suspect you must really want to run a risk if you want to run around with blue headlights.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2017, 06:11:48 pm by spicypixel »
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Offline r5gtt

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2017, 06:43:49 pm »
Tbh I've not been flashed once by other road users who might think my headlights are too dazzling so cannot pass judgement on how bright they are although they are super bright. Anything over 6000k are blue but mine are super white and been complimented on them by two people so far.

This >>>

Therefore, as long as you have a manually-operated light levelling system - e.g. a little adjuster wheel on the dashboard - this also seems to be acceptable according to the wording above, unless of course somebody goes to the trouble of having your lights' output measured to test whether they put out more than 2,000 lumens.

Offline spicypixel

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2017, 07:49:02 pm »
Yeah seems the consensus and asked a garage that do MOTs and the gist is most don't even do a proper beam pattern check let alone light temperature or intensity check above 2000 lumens etc. Guess it's down to any bored old bill who want to be frustrating but I guess if the lights are between 4000k and 6000k it's going to come across as similar to daylight anyway.

Be nice to see some photos if you have LEDs fitted in projector Depos... how much did it cost all in?

I'm going to see if I can't find some dark GTI halogen headlights as plan B though...
I would go for a xenon R32 set but I suspect it's way out of my price range.
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Offline r5gtt

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2017, 12:35:27 am »
Yeah seems the consensus and asked a garage that do MOTs and the gist is most don't even do a proper beam pattern check let alone light temperature or intensity check above 2000 lumens etc. Guess it's down to any bored old bill who want to be frustrating but I guess if the lights are between 4000k and 6000k it's going to come across as similar to daylight anyway.

Be nice to see some photos if you have LEDs fitted in projector Depos... how much did it cost all in?

I'm going to see if I can't find some dark GTI halogen headlights as plan B though...
I would go for a xenon R32 set but I suspect it's way out of my price range.
The plods don't give any trouble but fitted in oem halogen lenses might be an issue tbh as I get blinded by many who have hids in halogen headlamps  :sick:

I think I paid £190 for the depo lights and £12 for the led bulbs

I remembered to take a picture whilst doing a three point turn last night


Offline spicypixel

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Re: Headlight upgrade roundup for late 2017
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2017, 05:10:00 pm »
Wouldn't happen to want to share the supplier for both?
Mk5 GT TDI 170 - MY2007