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Difference between Xenon and Halogen Headlight Buckets

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Vee_DoubleYou:
    Hi Guys, I've owned my 2009 MK5 GTI for about a month or so now, and after 112k miles everything is pretty tip-top...besides my headlights... Like all early 2000's cars, they have started to fade pretty badly. Rather than go through with all the trouble of chemicals, hacks, and tips. I've decided to just go and buy some new headlights altogether(just the housing, not new bulbs). However, when shopping for them, most of all the listings say "NOT COMPATIBLE WITH FACTORY XENON/HID HEADLIGHTS", mine being a 2009, and judging by the light omitted, I am pretty sure I have Xenons. My question is, what is the difference, and why can't I use Halogen headlight buckets if my car has Xenons?

OldGTI:
Gti xenons do not normally go cloudy like the standard lights. As far as I know xenons were not standard on GTI's.

Do your lights look like these? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226014620675?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338353466&toolid=20006%26customid%3Ds%253AGS%253Bgc%253ACjwKCAjwkuqvBhAQEiwA65XxQK3b5QBgNyQXEUEG3fHomo_gZ5S23nO4WAEjqlO5WGzsWioDM9xD8RoCrV8QAvD_BwE%253Bpt%253A1%253Bchoc%253A2&customid=s%3AGS%3Bgc%3ACjwKCAjwkuqvBhAQEiwA65XxQK3b5QBgNyQXEUEG3fHomo_gZ5S23nO4WAEjqlO5WGzsWioDM9xD8RoCrV8QAvD_BwE%3Bpt%3A1%3Bchoc%3A1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkuqvBhAQEiwA65XxQK3b5QBgNyQXEUEG3fHomo_gZ5S23nO4WAEjqlO5WGzsWioDM9xD8RoCrV8QAvD_BwE

HughOR:
You could have aftermarket projector style headlights fitted. Xenons are rare from factory on a GTI. They may also have been retrofitted, but to do it right is a lot of work as you need to install level sensors and headlight washers too. Have you headlight washers on your car? Get some photos up of the units and bulbs/ballasts and it will be easy to tell.

Vee_DoubleYou:

--- Quote from: HughOR on March 20, 2024, 09:10:15 am ---You could have aftermarket projector style headlights fitted. Xenons are rare from factory on a GTI. They may also have been retrofitted, but to do it right is a lot of work as you need to install level sensors and headlight washers too. Have you headlight washers on your car? Get some photos up of the units and bulbs/ballasts and it will be easy to tell.

--- End quote ---

Here ya go

GreigC:
This is my 2009 GTI with factory fitted Xenon’s - your car does not have headlight washer jets so the lights fitted are not factory…

Personally I would put it back to standard with some nice clear halogen clusters. My mate has the ED30 with halogen lights… although not as bright as my xenon’s they are absolutely fine on the road at night.

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