GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Vw80 on 07 January 2026, 18:32
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Hi all, dipped headlight blew. What’s a good replacement that will upgrade the original poor lights?
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Hi all, dipped headlight blew. What’s a good replacement that will upgrade the original poor lights?
Hi there dipped and main are the same bulb. It’s just a shutter that goes up and down to shield a portion of the light. The xenon replacement is just a D3S (replace both). The painful bit is having to remove the headlight to fit them. You can go down the road up upgrading to LED’s which you can find more info on in here by using the search function. Good luck.
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Replaced my D3S bulbs with LED's and they are a vast improvement. As said Headlights need to be removed bit of a faf but doable without removing the bumper. Lots of DIY vids on YouTube.
Beam pattern is exactly the same, passes the MOT's.
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Replaced my D3S bulbs with LED's and they are a vast improvement. As said Headlights need to be removed bit of a faf but doable without removing the bumper. Lots of DIY vids on YouTube.
Beam pattern is exactly the same, passes the MOT's.
Which LEDs did you use? Is it a "friendly" MOT, I assumed the look for LEDs now fail cars based on simply having LEDs when they shouldn't
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Hey, I'd be very interested in upgrading to LEDs - can anyone recommend a supplier, there does seem to be some variation in price (do you get what you pay for)?:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/wideep-D3S-LED-Headlight-Replacement/dp/B0BWYM48CL?th=1
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Hey, I'd be very interested in upgrading to LEDs - can anyone recommend a supplier, or are any of these good:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/wideep-D3S-LED-Headlight-Replacement/dp/B0BWYM48CL?th=1 Amazon £40/pair
https://www.xenonsonline.com/products/d3s-led-bulbs-pair £50/pair
https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/d-lumina-d3s-led-headlight-bulbs-6500k-20000lm-120w-canbus-replaces-hid-xenon-d3s/ £50/pair
Thanks in advance :smiley:
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Lots of people run these, but its a minefield as far as I know and most LED upgrades aren't road legal, good explanation here:
https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/blog/are-led-headlights-legal-in-the-uk/
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I messaged HIDS direct about the legality of D Lumina LED bulbs and below their reply:
“The D-Lumina D3S LED headlight bulbs are not road legal for use on UK public roads when fitted as a retrofit replacement in original factory headlights on a 2014 Golf GTI.
In the UK, headlight bulbs must be ECE approved for the specific light source and headlamp type. At present, LED retrofit bulbs (including D3S LED replacements for factory xenon systems) do not carry UK/ECE approval for road use, even when fitted to projector headlights.
Because of this, they are classed as off-road, show, or track use only. As they are not type approved for UK road use, there is a possibility they could fail an MOT if identified during inspection. (although i have never heard of this happen)
In practice, MOT testers generally focus on beam pattern and alignment, rather than the light source itself. Having the headlights professionally aligned and checked for glare can help ensure they perform correctly and minimise dazzle to other road users. Most garages offer this service, and I think Halfords can check this for you .
That said, many customers do choose to use them for their improved brightness and colour, but we can’t describe or guarantee them as road legal for UK use.
If you’d like a fully road legal option, the correct route would be
Genuine or OEM spec D3S xenon bulbs”
Hey, I'd be very interested in upgrading to LEDs - can anyone recommend a supplier, or are any of these good:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/wideep-D3S-LED-Headlight-Replacement/dp/B0BWYM48CL?th=1 Amazon £40/pair
https://www.xenonsonline.com/products/d3s-led-bulbs-pair £50/pair
https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/d-lumina-d3s-led-headlight-bulbs-6500k-20000lm-120w-canbus-replaces-hid-xenon-d3s/ £50/pair
Thanks in advance :smiley:
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Hi, that's very interesting, thanks for all your input.
Probably worth taking the risk as I doubt that it;ll be a problem with an MOT, as you say they are more interested in the pattern and alignment.
Now, how to get to the bulbs... Thanks VW for making them nice and accessible :rolleyes:
Anyone used this method, seems a bit 'easier' than removing the headlight:
https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/diy-bi-xenon-bulb-replacement-w-o-removing-headlights-mk7-mkvii-gti.332972/
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My concern would be, in the unlikely event you write your car off, an insurance assessor may spot the non road legal bulbs, and they might use it as a reason not to pay out, stranger things have happened! Most insurance assessing is done via photos these days I’m told, but if it was a big claim, they might send someone out.
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Xenon bulbs light output fades as the bulbs ages so that could be part of the problem. It might also be worth checking that they are not set too low from the factory. They can be adjusted with an Allan key on the headlight themselves.
My neighbour’s 11 year old Audi has new Xenon bulbs in. They are nice and white and have a good light output. If I was in your situation I would look for quality bulbs from a well known brand.
Just had a look and Philips do a D3S White vision bulb which may be of interest to you.
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Good advice, but £64 for one bulb, not just steep, f-ing vertical! :laugh:
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Do bare in mind Xenon’s last a lot longer than halogen bulbs. You’re not going to be needing to replace them for many many years.
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True, but my factory bulbs are 12 years old this year and are fine!
Do bare in mind Xenon’s last a lot longer than halogen bulbs. You’re not going to be needing to replace them for many many years.
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Which LEDs did you use? Is it a "friendly" MOT, I assumed the look for LEDs now fail cars based on simply having LEDs when they shouldn't
Got them from HID's Direct can't remember the ones though. I will look on the box when I get time as my old HID bulbs are stored in it. They are a great upgrade as brighter and match the DRL's ad Fog lights colour temperature.
As for the MOT, I have had it done at a few places with zero issues. The beam pattern is exactly as the HID's were down to it being a projector design. All the bulbs are LED's (H7 cornering lights and reversing & front indicators BAY9S) and have been for years.
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Which LEDs did you use? Is it a "friendly" MOT, I assumed the look for LEDs now fail cars based on simply having LEDs when they shouldn't
Got them from HID's Direct can't remember the ones though. I will look on the box when I get time as my old HID bulbs are stored in it. They are a great upgrade as brighter and match the DRL's ad Fog lights colour temperature.
As for the MOT, I have had it done at a few places with zero issues. The beam pattern is exactly as the HID's were down to it being a projector design. All the bulbs are LED's (H7 cornering lights and reversing & front indicators BAY9S) and have been for years.
Thanks
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Hey, just a thought about the headlights, if I were to get a pair of LEDs from an mk7.5, will they 'just work' or would the car need to be reprogrammed?
They would be approved for UK road use so get's around any legallity issues??
Cheers :smiley:
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Not certain but the LEDs in my mk7.5 have their own software versions for left and right so would probably need coding to the car.
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For years I had HIDs fitted to my Focus RS. Recently, decided to bin them, because of how difficult, it has become finding a garage to pass it.
Gone for Philips UltraWhite I think they're called.
Bulbs wise, I've typically purchased from LedPerf website.
I got their own D3S bulbs once and was pleased with the bulb brightness and colour.
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If you are using illegal bulbs and you have a collision where the other driver says they were dazzled you will be in proper trouble.
It is a slim chance that it would happen but it is worth thinking about.
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If you are using illegal bulbs and you have a collision where the other driver says they were dazzled you will be in proper trouble.
It is a slim chance that it would happen but it is worth thinking about.
And make a Loss Adjuster’s job very easy.
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Sorry for the Delay, these below are the ones I got .....
https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/d3s-9000lm-6000k-oem-led-12v-car-headlight-bulbs-2-lamps/?gad=1