MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Oli on August 04, 2009, 09:42:59 pm

Title: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Oli on August 04, 2009, 09:42:59 pm
Having had xenons on my last 4 or 5 cars, I have been spolit!  However I couldn't find a ED30, with xenons, in the timescale, and had to buy what was available.  I actually havent driven the car at night to see how poor the lights are compared to my previous cars (especially the RS - spoilt with adaptive xenons!).

Anyway, I want to change the bulbs for something brighter and also whiter, and the same with the sidelights - anyone point me in the right direction. - I have done a search......

I am driving down to the south of france overnight in mid september and i would like to make sure I can see properly!

Cheers in advance
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: matty_jetta on August 04, 2009, 09:49:34 pm
I was in the same position as you, coming from my lupo Gti which had xenons fitted as standard  :drool:

I just got some cheapo ones from ebay, they are 100w bright white ones but they have a touch blue in them, i was expecting these to just be a stepping stone until i get better ones but they are actually pretty good, very bright, illegal, but it passed an MOT at the stealers so cant be that bad!  :happy2:
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: icenutter on August 04, 2009, 10:04:19 pm
I can vouch for Philips X-treme Power, or Halfords Super Brilliance.  For me the Halfords ones have a slight edge in terms of visibility, but the Philips ones give a whiter coloured light (if that alone bothers you).

Avoid any bulbs that have tinted glass as they reduce the overall light intensity.

I've never tried PIAA bulbs.
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: QD MBE on August 04, 2009, 10:21:07 pm
I used this website, and I think one of the forums has a 10% code.  Not sure which one though.

The headlight bulbs I bought were the phillips x-treme  bulbs, with the 10% it came to £50 for 4 x H7 bulbs delevered.  They are pretty good too.

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=81 (http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=81)

Hope that helps
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Oli on August 04, 2009, 10:25:37 pm
I can vouch for Philips X-treme Power, or Halfords Super Brilliance.  For me the Halfords ones have a slight edge in terms of visibility, but the Philips ones give a whiter coloured light (if that alone bothers you).

Avoid any bulbs that have tinted glass as they reduce the overall light intensity.

I've never tried PIAA bulbs.

Cheers, I am not after illegal, as these distort the beam pattern, but the ones you have suggested seem viable.  Ref the whiter lighter, I am after the brightest, and usually whitest bulbs, to give me the best light for the money
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: rskardon on August 04, 2009, 10:36:45 pm
Osram Nightbreaker's are a massive improvement on the headlights, see a basic review here... http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2139371 For the sidelights the Phillips x-treme are very good, dont waste cash on the sh*tty halfrauds equivalents,

Cheers,

R
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Pyrocam on August 05, 2009, 04:44:23 pm
Osram Nightbreaker's are a massive improvement on the headlights,

I can vouch for there too..... 1st thing I did to mine was change the std headlight bulbs for these.

Had a set in my Civic Type R and thought the clarity of light and the lack of beam pattern distortion were A1 so purchased a set for the Golf
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: stealthwolf on August 05, 2009, 07:41:13 pm
I bought the philips X-treme ones from powerbulbs too. Got free sidelights and used the code to get a 10% discount.

Another member had problems with Osrams. Think they failed within a year. No one else I know has had problems.
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Oli on August 05, 2009, 08:03:29 pm
Thanks everyone.I fitted the nighbreakers today, and even during the day, you can see how much brighter they are. 

What about sidelights and main beam lights - Anyone changed these?  As they look rather yellow in comparison
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: rskardon on August 05, 2009, 08:11:58 pm
These Phillips are very good, give a nice white light, not blue (despite the name) http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=31
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Boothy on August 05, 2009, 08:51:33 pm
Which bulbs do the Xenon lights use for the dipped beam? D2R, D2S, D1R and D1S and has anyone swapped between 4100k & 6000K who can say what the difference is?
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Oli on August 05, 2009, 09:49:23 pm
Just been out to test them and really impressed. 

But more impressed with the power my car is putting out after the map and carbon speed intake(312BHP), it is going to be ferocious when I get my TBE Milltek........
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: RobMKV on August 05, 2009, 10:49:32 pm
I had nightbreakers on old GTi and a worth the upgrade, heres some pictures Standard bulb in right light.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Frobintegra%2FSilver_Golf_GTI%2F4-3.jpg&hash=7e5c6cabb0b3ae7288d2ba6f107361ca854b16d5)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Frobintegra%2FSilver_Golf_GTI%2F3-6.jpg&hash=3930865e9ccb79957fc10f712c11b2379e1ff39f)
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: RobMKV on August 05, 2009, 10:51:22 pm
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Frobintegra%2FSilver_Golf_GTI%2F2-7.jpg&hash=69fc351801b1e27dd77127e100c25789b386184f)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Frobintegra%2FSilver_Golf_GTI%2F1-9.jpg&hash=671981752392b0d672be84b30771307f9d5066d0)
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Oli on August 06, 2009, 06:57:13 pm
I have now added the same bulbs to the main beam, so its white alround.  My white sidelight bulbs turn up tomorrow.
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on August 06, 2009, 08:46:58 pm
I have now added the same bulbs to the main beam, so its white alround.  My white sidelight bulbs turn up tomorrow.

Which sidelight bulbs you gone for??

*** Edit ***

My PIAA Led sidelights vs oem yellow candles...

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showpost.php?p=2532635&postcount=21
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: Oli on August 06, 2009, 09:42:30 pm
The Osram blue sidelights, which are actually white!
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: monte on September 30, 2009, 07:30:07 pm
Sorry to dig this up from the past, but has anyone got any tips on getting these little sidelight buggers out please :drinking:
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: stealthwolf on September 30, 2009, 09:03:28 pm
Sidelights are a pain in the backside to remove. I've just persisted and suceeded but also ended up with skin scraps and blood. Others have tried pliers.
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: SteveP on September 30, 2009, 09:05:30 pm
Just pull hard  :laugh:

Or use some lose nose pliers  :happy2:
Title: Re: Headlight bulbs
Post by: monte on September 30, 2009, 09:29:56 pm
Thanks guys! i didn't want to just yank em out in case i broke. :scared: Wasn't sure if they needed to be turned 45 degrees etc etc.
Now all i need are Ladies Hands! :grin:  Thought the germans would've known better! fiddly bloody sidelights
Anyway i'll give it a go with the long nosed pliers :happy2: