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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: bgbazz on 15 December 2017, 17:41

Title: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 15 December 2017, 17:41
I rarely whinge about anything to do with my car...except the headlights. Compared with the lights on the 66 or so vehicles I've owned in the past, this one is almost the worst...beaten only by my '58 Beetle!!

The clear covers are kept very clean and have no damage (cracks, scatches etc) and the reflectors are bright, clean and very shiny.

All the connections have been cleaned with contact cleaner and tested with a multimeter...all good. Did my own alignment testing (on the garage door), then took it to my local MOT chap to be tested on his headlight gizmo...all as it should be, but the lights are still mediocre at best! I've spent a lot of time searching on here, but apart from folk spending heaps of money changing to over to different systems...HID etc., there isn't much for me to go on.
Has anyone else come across this problem ...and how did you cure it?

I want/need to have a brighter (whiter) light and some more range. Better quality bulbs (globes) may be the answer, but which ones?

Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: itavaltalainen on 15 December 2017, 20:40
Get factory xenon headlights (with auto level control and headlight washers) and you'll see significant improvement.

HID kits in Halogen headlights, well. All you'll do is blind everyone coming onto you but you won't get any better lighting yourself.
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: barrym381 on 15 December 2017, 21:52
Get factory xenon headlights (with auto level control and headlight washers) and you'll see significant improvement.

HID kits in Halogen headlights, well. All you'll do is blind everyone coming onto you but you won't get any better lighting yourself.
I just sold a set too  :smiley:
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 16 December 2017, 06:34
Thanks guys.   :smiley:
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: Ajamesc on 16 December 2017, 11:11
My head lights wear crap lol I checked the aim and there was no pattern at all on the drivers side. It would adjust at all just left a blob on the beam setter fitted a new head light and it’s like a different car lol
Also testing 12v signals with a multimeter is not the best you could get 12v out of one strand of wire but under load that wouldn’t light a bulb correctly. Load test it with the bulb. Try wiring the bulb straight to the battery see if it’s brighter like that if you don’t have a powerprob. If it is noticeabley brighter wired directly to the battery you know your 12v headlight supply or earth could have an issue
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 16 December 2017, 16:33
Well, I spent some time mucking around with these lights today...and then a few hours on the net, searching for some replacements. Nothing positive was achieved.

Tried the globe test, with all four of them...no noticable difference at all....battery reading was 13.8v at the terminals...and 13.1v on each socket. Seems OK to my untrained eye.

Much searching on Ebay and a couple of other places, produced some interesting results...very scarce offerings of the new variety and just a few used ones from breakers etc. Prices ranged from about 325 quid (each), up to and sometimes above 400 pounds! Very, very few of them were suitable for a LHD car. Sort of works out to be about the same price as the whole car, once I've paid for the delivery costs.

TBH, I think I'll give up driving at night.

Having said all that, I appreciate the suggestions and comments given by you all.

 :smiley:

 
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: Ajamesc on 17 December 2017, 11:53
Load test the wiring to the head lights 13v with a multimeter dose not mean your have 13v under load! Iver back prob the plugs and test with a multimeter while the bulbs are working. Or test the wiring with the headlight bulb out the lamp so you can physically see it in hand
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 17 December 2017, 15:05
That's how I did it yesterday. I'm going to buy a set of decent globes tomorrow and start again...something like the Osram Nightbreaker (I think that's what they are called). Been raining like a mad thing here all day and now it's pitch dark, so I just have to wait...

I'll keep you all in the loop, regardless of the result.  It may help some else if I find a solution.

 :smiley:
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 20 December 2017, 19:52
Due to the crappy weather, I've not been able to do much to cure my light problem, but I did manage to pay a visit to an auto electrician who specialises in lighting. He tested the system and confirmed that everything was delivering exactly as it should...except for the globes!! The 55w high beam jobbies, when tested on his gizmo returned only 35w on one and 32w on the other!! Obviously cheap rubbish, fitted by the original owner. He ordered me a complete new set of the Osram globes and they should be here in early Feb...he is going to test each new one and fit them for me. No night driving planned until that's all sorted.

I'll let you know how it goes.
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: sharki786 on 22 December 2017, 19:35
I had the same issue. At night driving it was like driving without lights on. I had a set of depo projectors fitted them and still no improvement until i got some led lights. the difference was day and night. No blinding anyone and also had them tested at my mot station and they was bang on. These are them bulbs https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Super-Bright-110W-H7-20000LM-CREE-COB-LED-Headlight-12V-Car-Conversion-Bulbs-Kit/112184821859?_mwBanner=1&epid=881525492
I have had them for over 6 months
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 22 December 2017, 21:11
Thanks for the input mate... if the ones I mentioned earlier don't cure the problem, I'll give yours a go.

Have a great Xmas.      :smiley:
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: CitizenKane on 01 February 2018, 16:28
Get factory xenon headlights (with auto level control and headlight washers) and you'll see significant improvement.

How much would you be looking at for a set of factory xenons?

Did they offer xenons as an option on GTi's or just the R32?
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 01 February 2018, 20:39
Sorry to get back to my problem and not being able to help anyone else, but I checked in with my auto electrician today and my new Osram globes will be here in the next couple of days. It will be very interesting to see if they make a difference. I actually needed to drive in the dark this evening (first time in a couple of months) and it reminded me of how crappy my headlights really are...!!
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: barrym381 on 01 February 2018, 20:42
Sorry to get back to my problem and not being able to help anyone else, but I checked in with my auto electrician today and my new Osram globes will be here in the next couple of days. It will be very interesting to see if they make a difference.
Osram night breakers made a huge difference to my Audi TT  :smiley:
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: barrym381 on 01 February 2018, 20:46
Get factory xenon headlights (with auto level control and headlight washers) and you'll see significant improvement.

How much would you be looking at for a set of factory xenons?

Did they offer xenons as an option on GTi's or just the R32?
The offered them as an option on the mk4 I've had gti and 4 motions fitted with them and checking the spec list they had been fitted from new anything from 250-400 for a second hand set  :smiley:
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 01 February 2018, 21:24
I think that you would really have to be in love with your Mk4 to pay that sort of money for a set of second hand lights. Some time back, I was told by a learned member of this forum that a Mk4 was worth about the same as a night out! He is either a great guy to go out with, or.............?

Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: barrym381 on 01 February 2018, 22:28
I think that you would really have to be in love with your Mk4 to pay that sort of money for a set of second hand lights. Some time back, I was told by a learned member of this forum that a Mk4 was worth about the same as a night out! He is either a great guy to go out with, or.............?

Well I just picked another one up for 300 with re-trimmed recaro leather r32 wheels really clean bodywork less than average miles  :smiley:
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: bgbazz on 02 February 2018, 06:46
300 pounds? That equates to almost two weeks income for me....and more than the average person earns in a month over this way. If it was a LHD, you could probably sell it for around 2 grand here.

Makes it a bit silly to spend more than the car is worth...for a pair of second hand lights.
Title: Re: MK4 Headlights.
Post by: CitizenKane on 02 February 2018, 08:29
I tried to sell my GTi recently and I couldn't get rid of it. I initially put it up for around €1,000. After having zero interest for a couple of months I started to reduce the asking price incrementally until eventually after around 18 months I had it advertised for €350. Still no takers, so I eventually gave up and took the ads down. Also nobody would take it as a trade in for a new car.

In retrospect I'm glad, because I am now coming back to the GTi and I'm really excited about it, but it is interesting. The car is a 2002 AUM and doesn't have insanely high mileage or anything (around 130,000), but I still found it impossible to sell.

I wonder whether Mk4's will ever start to go the way of Mk1's and Mk2's in terms of value, or is the Mk4 just too common for that?

EDIT: sorry for derailing the thread, but it's an interesting point. I too think spending 300-500 on headlights for a Mk4 might be hard to justify... but that's not to say I wouldn't do it! That's the thing about being an enthusiast I guess - it's more about the joy that modding a car brings you rather than the value. Sure most decent aftermarket wheels (or even a decent set of tyres) will cost more than most Mk4's are worth (unless you start talking about R models of course).