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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: glesgagolf on 23 February 2009, 23:54

Title: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: glesgagolf on 23 February 2009, 23:54
I have a standard MK5 golf and want those fancy bright blue road legal xenon bulbs fitted.

Know how hard it is ?

How to do it ?

How much it should cost ?

Time it would take ?

Cheers  :shocked: !
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: bertmort8 on 27 February 2009, 23:21
this is gunna be my first on the list to do aswell mort

Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Jimp on 28 February 2009, 00:42
This has been a popular topic in the mk5 section and the consensus is that it's a no go. You're talking serious expense for a dealer to fit road legal ones. Some dealers won't do it either. Apparently it's very difficult to fit to the finished car.
If you don't have factory xenons a good alternative are uprated bulbs like Phillips Xtreme Power or Osram Nightbreakers. Lots of people here have them, myself included.
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 28 February 2009, 10:57
This has been a popular topic in the mk5 section

Yup, and the forum search function works a treat too!  :lipsrsealed:

and the consensus is that it's a no go.

You're talking serious expense for a dealer to fit road legal ones.

Agreed.  It just simply isnt the case of swapping the headlamp assemblies.  You will need level sensors on both the front and rear suspensions, a dedicated HID ECU (and I don't mean the balasts), complicated wiring.  Then you will need new bumper trims, headlamp washers, a larger screen wash resevoir, an additional washer pump, all the hoses for the headlamp washers.

And after all the aboue, you will then need some complex re-coding of various ECUs on the car.

Some dealers won't do it either. Apparently it's very difficult to fit to the finished car.

I honestly doubt any VW dealer would do such a mod.  This is a very contentious area - as any incorectly fitted HID install would be illegal.  How would this then tie in with VOSA - because all VW dealers are also MoT test stations.  A severe conflict of interest.

If you don't have factory xenons a good alternative are uprated bulbs like Phillips Xtreme Power or Osram Nightbreakers. Lots of people here have them, myself included.

Yup, by far the safest and easiest way is to upgrade the standard LongLife H7 candles bulbs with some high quality H7s as listed above.  Don't forget the 10% discount for forum members at PowerBulbs.com.  :wink:
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: bertmort8 on 28 February 2009, 23:05
these look really good
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=81

if i knew all what was said about after market xenons i would never had considered it, but the xtreme power loo
ks good
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: topher on 28 February 2009, 23:58
yep really is the best option, and if you use our discount code as TT says, you get 10% off, free delivery and free sidelight bulbs too!

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=7198.0
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 01 March 2009, 10:01
yep really is the best option, and if you use our discount code as TT says, you get 10% off, free delivery and free sidelight bulbs too!

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=7198.0

Even without the forum discount, you still get the free Philips blue W5W sidelight bulbs if your total order value is over £15.  :wink:  (I think it used to be over a tenner for the freebies).

But yep, support all the hard work of this excellent forum by claiming your discount too!  :smiley:
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Egbutt Wash on 05 March 2009, 08:55
The Philips bulbs work well.  They have a nice colour tone and brightness.
You never get the full beam treatment from oncoming traffic that happens when you have the xenons fitted.
Xenon blue = executive barge in many peoples mind.
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: jv on 06 March 2009, 13:20
But yep, support all the hard work of this excellent forum by claiming your discount too!  :smiley:
Not sure how that supports the forum but hey, discounts it is :)
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 07 March 2009, 19:59
But yep, support all the hard work of this excellent forum by claiming your discount too!  :smiley:
Not sure how that supports the forum but hey, discounts it is :)

I mean, we just 'appreciate' all your hard work you put into the site - more as just a 'thank you'.  And there is nothing wrong with showing your appreciation. :afro:
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Liver on 10 September 2009, 09:23
is it not possible to fit HID's to the mrk 5 gti lights???

asin the lights that are powered by ballasts??i had these on my corsa and had no problems with them at all

they passed an MOT etc and the garage where fine when the car went in

just wondering thats all

cheers
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 10 September 2009, 09:54
is it not possible to fit HID's to the mrk 5 gti lights???

asin the lights that are powered by ballasts??i had these on my corsa and had no problems with them at all

they passed an MOT etc and the garage where fine when the car went in

just wondering thats all

cheers

Like I said in your other thread - it is illegal, and they are seriously dangerous too.  Use the search function.
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 10 September 2009, 17:00
Read this: :smug:

(http://dsl.torque.net/images/techdocs/Hella_No_Retrofit.jpg)
Title: Re: How hard isit it to change from standard bulbs to xenon road legals?
Post by: mortygt140 on 08 October 2009, 14:39
ive just fitted the R32 xenon headlights and will be getting the level system that Kufetec.de do which is basically every thing you need to fit auto levelling for about £370 including instruction.  The washer system will be changed but again the loom will be bought from Kufatec for £40 and then the jets and pump will be bought from the dealer.

I will be doing it with instruction from a user on VW-Vortex he has a blog that is very intuative.

But I have the r32 xenons in at the moment and have not been flashed since fitting them,  they are properly alligned but obviously at the moment dont have the levelling.

Never fit xenons into your standard headlights,  listen to the sound advice from TT

Darren