MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Rado16v on December 04, 2017, 01:04:12 pm

Title: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: Rado16v on December 04, 2017, 01:04:12 pm

My car has factory fitted xenon lights.

The nearside xenon bulb had stopped working, when I removed it, the glass on the bulb was broken which I wasn't expecting.

I replaced the bulb with a new one and all seemed well, however its dazzling oncoming traffic now and I am getting flashed constantly. Is something broken inside the headlight or do I need to adjust it with vcds?

Appreciate all comments.

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: pudding on December 04, 2017, 01:19:12 pm

Strange.  Did the bulb sit squarely in the housing?  It's a bit vague and fiddly installing bulbs in those.

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: Rado16v on December 04, 2017, 02:18:18 pm

I'll be taking it out for another look but I assume I wouldn't have been able to get the igniter on if the bulb wasn't seated correctly?

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: MIJ_JAGGER on December 04, 2017, 07:05:31 pm

The igniter should turn and click easily, if it didn't then it hasn't seated properly. It will still ignite but might've caused the bulb to be angled slightly hence the dazzling.
Access is a bitch on these things

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: Rado16v on December 05, 2017, 06:36:35 am

Thanks,  I hope it's as simple as that.

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: Rado16v on December 07, 2017, 09:07:52 am

So I took the bulb out yesterday and reassembled and it all seems to be sitting correctly as far as I can see but the bulb still shines too high.

I have a friend with vcds so will see if I can adjust it through that.

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: pudding on December 07, 2017, 09:32:05 am

Sounds more like a mechanical fault.  The bulb blowing it's glass capsule doesn't bode well.  Maybe something plastic got hot and warped?

I've not looked at mine in any detail, but is there not a pair of manual height adjusters on the housings?  IIRC, the xenon ranging motor auto levels, but the initial alignment is still a manual process?

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: 99hagued on December 07, 2017, 08:38:21 pm

I would take it to a mot station and ask if they would check it on the beam tester.
They should be able to check and adjust the height and check for correct beam image.

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: MIJ_JAGGER on December 07, 2017, 10:14:41 pm

Yes, manual adjustment is done via the plastic white screw thingy on the headlight.
I agree with 99hagued, get it tested and that way it'll be 100% aligned.

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: Rado16v on December 08, 2017, 12:28:37 am

Good idea. I shall.

I spotted the manual aduster and tweaked it but it still sits higher than the other  side.

Given the broken bulb I suspect something else has broken inside the headlight as suggested. It may require a new headlight. Also fragments of the bulb will still be in there.

I looked at taking out the headlight on YouTube and it requires the bumper off pretty much. I don't fancy that job.

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: pudding on December 08, 2017, 09:14:42 am

Taking the bumper off is actually really easy, and so is the headlight once it's off....... but in this weather, I would be reluctant as well  :grin:

Title: Re: Dazzling Xenon lights
Post by: Rado16v on December 20, 2017, 05:39:25 pm

Thanks to @Usual Suspect (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1800) my issue has been resolved.

There was a fragment of glass from the broken bulb stuck in the flap of the projector keeping it from closing.

He's a whizz with retro fit kit, I saw some of the things he's done to his mk5. I highly recommend his services and he's a gent to boot.