MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: shail on July 17, 2021, 10:04:12 pm

Title: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 17, 2021, 10:04:12 pm
Hi.  I need new headlights.  Mine are cloudy.  Everytime I polish them they look ok for a month or so, but then turn cloudy.   I've read I should clear coat them, but Ive decided to just replace them.

So, any recommendations for some decent quality ones?
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: ROH ECHT on July 17, 2021, 10:48:02 pm
They can be expensive. I replaced one with another OE last year. Not for being cloudy, as mine is always garaged, but for a crack it developed after a minor bump.
Are yours Halogen or Bi-Xenon?
I see some Halogen on Amazon for about 25% the coast of genuine OE. Bi-Xenons appear to be another $100 more.
These are a Halogen replacement on the US Amazon site, and there are some with black backgrounds as well;
https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-247007361-Volkswagen-Passenger-Headlight/dp/B002MOGKF6
https://www.amazon.com/Jetta-Rabbit-Halogen-Headlight-Assembly/dp/B07D988H5G

I recommend applying a UV protective product to your next set or applying a film with UV protection;
https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Extra-Wide-Headlight-Protective-Scratch-Proof/dp/B0728HQ3J7
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 18, 2021, 04:00:22 am
Mine are halogens.  Thanks for the link to the UV film.
There are so many non OE ones out there, I don't want to get stuck with a poorly made pair.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: coolhandluke on July 18, 2021, 01:43:08 pm
Live with them till you find a set of Xenons. They are plug and play with a little bit of coding required and totally transform the look of the car and always a good selling point if you ever decide to sell
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Jons1001 on July 18, 2021, 03:21:27 pm
Does anyone know how easy it is to change the covers (lenses?) on the Xenons?
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: ROH ECHT on July 18, 2021, 04:12:58 pm
Mine are halogens.  Thanks for the link to the UV film.
There are so many non OE ones out there, I don't want to get stuck with a poorly made pair.
Not a problem....yes, there are many clones/replicas available, some to trust and some not, and why I went OE for my replacement. I believe Magneti Marelli are OE suppliers and cost a bit less than from VW, but not 100% sure. Magneti make both Halogen and Projector assemblies.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: ROH ECHT on July 18, 2021, 04:18:08 pm
Does anyone know how easy it is to change the covers (lenses?) on the Xenons?
Not sure how easy it is....there are no tube videos on it. Here, US, there are custom headlight/lighting shops who may do it....if they have access to replacement lenses. But I believe they mostly take them apart and put them back together after having customized them on the inside.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Octoparrot on July 18, 2021, 09:57:14 pm
Mine are halogens.  Thanks for the link to the UV film.
There are so many non OE ones out there, I don't want to get stuck with a poorly made pair.

I replaced mine with Hella units which weren't too expensive from ECP with one of there usual sales discounts. If I remember correctly Hella make the OE units.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Cosmos on July 18, 2021, 10:59:44 pm
I also bought a set of new hella headlights from ecp as my originals were looking a bit cloudy and old. The new ones weren't too expensive and still look like new after 3 years.

(https://i.postimg.cc/pLmtRCcv/15957-BD2-C2-CC-4123-BB28-EF09-D2540158.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YvBPx6wD)

(https://i.postimg.cc/9QRsvMzF/58-CA411-D-1-D23-4539-8-A3-D-33-A0-DE1-E97-CB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PCH6DdmB)

Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 19, 2021, 08:16:05 am
I hadn't even thought of ECP.  Just looked and the Hella are £321 with a discount code.  Does that sound about right?
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: imprezzaworks on July 19, 2021, 09:09:19 am
Looks so much nicer. Pain to fit?
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 19, 2021, 09:20:14 am
I also bought a set of new hella headlights from ecp as my originals were looking a bit cloudy and old. The new ones weren't too expensive and still look like new after 3 years.

(https://i.postimg.cc/pLmtRCcv/15957-BD2-C2-CC-4123-BB28-EF09-D2540158.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/YvBPx6wD)

(https://i.postimg.cc/9QRsvMzF/58-CA411-D-1-D23-4539-8-A3-D-33-A0-DE1-E97-CB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PCH6DdmB)

Don't suppose you have a part number?
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Lewo on July 19, 2021, 01:33:52 pm
There was a thread on here about replacing Halogens and someone put an Ebay link for some.
Around £150 I think, thought I'd bookmarked it but I didn't  :rolleye:
Doa search for it mate.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Lewo on July 19, 2021, 03:59:06 pm
Not sure if this was the actual thread I was on about but I've been searching for ages lol.
https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,106984.15.html (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,106984.15.html)

Gone up somewhat but sure that was the place selling the ones I was on about.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 19, 2021, 04:03:10 pm
Thanks all. I've gone for some Hella ones from carpartsforless.  Came in at £231, which was about £90 cheaper than at ECP.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Lewo on July 19, 2021, 04:06:25 pm
Nice one. have you got a link to those please?
Just been on Ebay again and seen these, must be different to the other link?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291816201546?hash=item43f199dd4a:g:nHMAAOSwTxhftrqM (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291816201546?hash=item43f199dd4a:g:nHMAAOSwTxhftrqM)
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 19, 2021, 04:17:24 pm
Part numbers on carpartsforless are below

471443290   Hella Headlamp (Left) £144.80
471443300   Hella Headlamp (Right)£144.50
Subtotal   £289.30
Coupon Benefit   -£57.86
Total   £231.44
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Lewo on July 19, 2021, 06:14:09 pm
Cheers.
Going to give mine another sand first and take my time with it and see how that goes.
Quite like the black inners on the ones I linked to though.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 23, 2021, 09:17:30 pm
They have arrived.  Look good.  They haven't got the VW emblem on the main beam, but they've had a good go at doing something similar.

(https://i.ibb.co/kqpyJJx/PXL-20210723-201243381.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h2kMccy)
(https://i.ibb.co/26X3Ry5/PXL-20210723-201318136.jpg) (https://ibb.co/X4mx6bV)
(https://i.ibb.co/MBHXqpg/PXL-20210723-201322366.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3RbJtWT)
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Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: Octoparrot on July 23, 2021, 09:36:39 pm
Don't forget to get them properly aligned, I kept getting flashed by other drivers until my mot garage sorted them out for me.  :driver:
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on July 23, 2021, 11:31:55 pm
Don't forget to get them properly aligned, I kept getting flashed by other drivers until my mot garage sorted them out for me.  :driver:

Good shout - I wouldn't have thought of that, cheers
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: LC5F on July 24, 2021, 12:25:15 pm
Black internals look sweet - half way joey mod!
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: probedb on July 26, 2021, 12:16:14 pm
I got a pair of Depo ones from ebay, not had any real issues so far. They're a single unit so you can't replace broken fittings which is a bit pants. Easy to fit, no need to remove the bumper just the top grill.
Title: Re: Headlight recommendation needed
Post by: shail on August 01, 2021, 07:39:04 pm
One down one to go.  Can't get other headlight out as I previously broke the connector.

New lights don't come with the bulb holder for one of the bulbs, so had to use the old one.

(https://i.ibb.co/MkMTS9z/PXL-20210801-183032125.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qYkGjxH)
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