MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: absolute on August 07, 2013, 09:26:34 pm

Title: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: absolute on August 07, 2013, 09:26:34 pm
I've never owned a nice car before my Ed30.

I have a daft question. Why do people think Xenons are a good option? Are they literally just cosmetically nice to look at and a bit brighter?

My lights on my ED30 seems pretty bright white.
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: ROH ECHT on August 07, 2013, 09:59:14 pm
...uh...I think because they are an upgrade option in a few of EA's games "Need For Speed"  :driver:

Or maybe even mentioned in the "Fast and Furious" series ;p

Honestly, The bi-xenon are standard here in the states on MK5 GTI's. I know that the oem ballast's are spendy.
The US cars went back to Halogen on the MK6 ;| And, back to xenon plus LED for the MK7.
I believe they are popular because they were the next "It Thing" added to performance models at one point. So perhaps for that reason they must be one step above the rest.
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: Scottymon on August 07, 2013, 10:01:54 pm
Bi-Xenons are waaay better than the fish bowl lights on the standard unit... especially so in the winter months when you really NEED the output... so I've found anyway. :happy2:
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: trs888 on August 07, 2013, 10:02:21 pm
have you ever had them before? most people would want them if theyve had them on a previous car.

the light output is notably better than halogens, and typically is a white light as opposed to (OEM) halogen yellow. you can get aftermarket bulbs (which sounds like you have) that provide a whiter light than standard but in terms of sheer light output you cant beat Xenon. (havent been able to compare to LED headlights as seen on the new Seat Leon for example so cant comment on that yet)

basically i would look for a car with them fitted from factory, and if i did buy a car with non xenons, i would retrofit without hesitation.



some info for you there!
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: Dave J on August 07, 2013, 10:04:57 pm
I didn't set out looking for an ED30 with Xenons, but after the first drive of mine at night - wow, I am never going back to a car without.
I echo TRS888's comments - the brightness is just so much better than Halogen, they just don't compare.
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: absolute on August 07, 2013, 10:20:21 pm
Cheers.. love the cheesey marketing video! haha. I have never had a car with them on or driven one either :)

Will look to see how easy it is to retro fit them, maybe after the RNS510 ;)

Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: MC71 on August 07, 2013, 10:40:03 pm
^^^^ Retrofit is straight forward.  :happy2:

You can pick up everything that's needed for around £500 second hand on here or ebay. Look out for broken lugs (although VW do make a fix kit for these at £20 ish), make sure the xenons come with bulbs, ballasts, igniters and kufatec wiring loom.

Have a look through this. There's a few links in the thread with "how to's" in.....

~~ Clicky here ~~ (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=37356.0)
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: ROH ECHT on August 08, 2013, 12:53:48 am
Beautiful vid...on mute ;p
I love mine...but now, I can't stand driving our other car at night.
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: sanj on August 08, 2013, 07:43:33 am
Sold my Xenon's last week and I must say I miss them so much,the standard halogen's are shocking!  :surprised:
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: Bernhard30 on August 08, 2013, 01:33:44 pm
I was told/read that Xenons burn 4x as bright as Halogen.
And so in headlights are effectively run at half the power for twice the output.
That could of course be marketing blurb.

But Xenons was the first option I ticked when spec'ing my Ed30 in 2007.
Wouldn't be without them.
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: Leebo310 on August 08, 2013, 01:37:20 pm
I didn't set out looking for an ED30 with Xenons, but after the first drive of mine at night - wow, I am never going back to a car without.
I echo TRS888's comments - the brightness is just so much better than Halogen, they just don't compare.

+1 would def agree with this
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on August 08, 2013, 02:00:29 pm
Definitely agree with the increased light output.

I retrofitted some xenon look headlights with a HID kit...it looks just like the OEM xenon's...the light output and colour is much better then the standard halogens :happy2:

Cost me £280 inc the HID kit.
Title: Re: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: RetroRaz on August 08, 2013, 02:28:54 pm
Kalps I been looking at your xenons.  They look good. But do they come without it being black inside?

Sent From My Samsung S3
Title: Re: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on August 08, 2013, 02:33:55 pm
Kalps I been looking at your xenons.  They look good. But do they come without it being black inside?

Sent From My Samsung S3

They are silver inside not black (just like OEM i'm sure).
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: graeme on August 08, 2013, 02:48:54 pm
I fitted mine purely looks, mates the car look alot fresher in my opinion.  :happy2:
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: Type_R on August 08, 2013, 09:56:42 pm
Check my sig for all the options I ordered when I purchased my car brand new back in 2005.

Without a doubt the bi-xenons would be top of my list if I ordered again. They make driving easier at night and safer. And if some 'Audi' or 'BMW' driver decides to take matters in their own hands a simple pull on the left stalk burns their retinas, and they are seeing stars for the next 20 seconds  :signLOL:

Every car I have ordered since my GTi has had xenons and the later ones intelligent adaptive lighting, which is also awesome!
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: itismebigd on August 10, 2013, 08:29:13 am
Best retro fit you can do,imho but as martin has stated look for genuine vw if your budget stretches,you cant beat genuine oem ballast and bulbs igniters by far the best mod iv ever done,you wont look back

Dougie :happy2:
Title: Re: A daft Xenon quuestion
Post by: john87 on August 10, 2013, 09:53:15 am
I thought the halogens in my GTI were really good as halogens go (with philips x-treme bulbs fitted) and never had a problem with a lack of light...

..until I recently got a mk6 with bi-xenons. As others have said, it would be difficult to go back to the old candles  :happy2: