GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: -(GIT)- on 13 September 2004, 20:52
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I am looking for some effective driving lamps for the M3 GTI. I can get the VR6 ones which look pretty cool.. but seem to be costly. Does anyone know of any other aftermarket driving lamps that work well in the M3 space.
Thanks,
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headlights / fog lights?
are you looking for a quad light / Mk4 face-lift or still the Mk3 look?
do you currently have the earlier single light solution or the later dual lights?
Later model Mk3 2.0 8v:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v148/LostBok/Car-400x300/Img_3155.jpg)
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Hiya, good site this, the people on here are pretty friendly bunch but will take the pi$$ if the chance pops up, which is a good thing? :)
Anyway, driving lamps, how come?? All the MK3 gti's are fitted with the twin light set up as shown in the picture above, even the very earliest J reg model right through to the run out models at R reg.
Are you having problems with the lighting at night?? If so, I am guessing you have the earlier Mk 3's about a J or K reg???
If so, they do have crap lights, there is a drop of about 2 volts at the light intself after the wiggly amps have passed through all the electric string and switches on the way to the bulbs.
Two options, which can be mixed together.? Years ago a Co. in Northampton(?) who were a GTi specialist & merged with BBR (someone help me out here) made a loom that used the supply to the lamps as the switching voltage for a set up than ran the main and dip beams directly from the battery.? This could be made for a few quid, dead easy job.
Secondly, try www.powerbulbs.co.uk for a set of Philips vision(?) bulbs.? These are std rate but kick out 50% more light.? You CANNOT put 100w bulbs in, the reflectors are made of plastic therefore no heat dissipation and the bulbs will blow, even less light than you have now :o.
I would think a mix of the above should fix the poor lighting problem.
The Golf didn't come with driving lamps as std, some came with fog lamps as an option but the light from these is designed to project low level to the sides of the roads for use in foggy conditions.? This would be a few quid to fit, you not only need the fogs (aftermarket sets available through ECP I would guess) but also a new rotary light switch.
I know I rattle on a bit but its my job, but hopefully there is something in there that helps, if your still awake that is ;)
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Hey, thanks for the messages. Sorry, I am not from around these parts and need to clarify my meaning of driving lamps.
I mean fog lights or spot lights.
I actually think the orignal headlights in the M3 are fairly grunty and provide great light on the open road. I was just wanting something to assist with this mainly throughout winter. Like you said mowgli,... mainly low road light. (will also look into the bulbs for the headlights)
I was looking for something that fitted well in the space next to the front indicators. I have seen the VR6 ones with the round light which look pretty smart, but was just wondering if there are any other sorts that work well.
Thanks for your assistance so far, great resource.
(http://www.tripmeup.net/images/vw_gti/GIT.jpg)
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Us? extract the urine? Never! ;) :D
By the look of it you have already got the standard foglights. To switch then on you have to pull out the headlight switch twice. Once lights up rear fogs the second notch lights up the front fogs as well !! ;D
So what else do ya want?
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it's illegal to drive with your fog lights on if its not foggy.
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Nah, there just blanks. ? :(
The rear fogs work by pulling out once. But the only thing that is working in the front set is the indicators.
Do some headlight switches take two clicks? This may be very cool when I do actually get some lights, as it would save me a flip switch on the dash.
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it's illegal to drive with your fog lights on if its not foggy.
Good to know.... is that VR6 fog lamps on your 16V? ...or were they std lamps?
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Quite right Overseer - its also illegal to use rear fogs at night at any time!
Fogs are standard on my 16V
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depends what pic you're looking at.. ?they were there as standard, i've now updated them to smoked ones.. in vw speak thats either 'dimmed' or 'dipped' (confusing eh? )
the front fogs are also on the thing i pull out to get the rears.. it clicks out twice, the first click is the front, the second click is the rear as well as the front.
so i think u need to replace that switch... or wire it in so all come on at once.
i believe for your car you also need some kind of loom to wire them in, but i also think that on later cars some of the wires may already be there.
i'd buy vw authentic ones (prob best part of 160 quid). and one important tip.. do not mess with the torex screw that keeps it water tight.. i've had THREE break on me.
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good advice thanks Overseer.. cheers for that.
Will have to look into all that... ?160 though....geez, thats a bit steep I reckon.
Cheers for your assistance
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if you look back in this section there are some posts about all this somewhere
i say vw coz i had probs with some ones i bought from somewhere else.
you gonna go for all smoked? :)
the blanking plates and indicators arent that expensive as they're plastic.. the fog light lenses is glass
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Yeah, sounds like a good idea. The rest of the car was smoked from the factory, ..well all but the headlights. So it would be good to tie in with that.
Just found some aftermarket units at Awsome GTI. They are all glass including the blanks and also have a wee blue bulb in them that ties in and comes on with the side lights. about ?70 the pair, so not too bad in that respect. Only thing is, I think I will now have to get the wiring loom and a new switch assembly to do this properly, failing that... bang a flip switch in the dash and do it that way.
So am I right in thinking that you are not allowed any front lights besides the main headlights on, unless it is foggy?
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This blue bulb, does it glow blue or white???
If it glows blue you might find yourself giving the local police a good listening to. AFAIK you can only show white bulbs at the front, one of the reasons they were pulling people for having neon washers.
You will definately have to replace the switch, I think Euro Car APrts might be able to help you out if you do decide to go with the fogs. Some other companies do the non std kits also.
I thought I might of gone off at a tangent with the lights, it was early ;D
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The set that I was talking about is only ?60. ...even better than I thought.
Seems that the unit is two bits, but fills in all of the gap. There is the fog lamp, a clear glass reflector in the mid, and then the indicator as well.
I think that the wee blue bulb is hooked up with the side lights for use as a parking light.
Still not sure if it is blue or white light that is reflected, anyhow, will pick up the VW ones if these are no good.
Thanks for the info on the switch assembly mowgli, cheers guys