GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: stealthwolf on 07 October 2008, 20:04
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I just bought some new Xenon HIDs off the net and......
..... just winding you all up. Esp TT. Bought the philips powervision bulbs for dipped, main and silvered indicators, with the free sidelights. Wasn't too bad fitting the dipped beams. Only I noticed the bulbs I pulled out were Philips H7 55W 12V bulbs, same spec as the ones I put in. :shocked: At least the old ones had a black tip on the bulb whereas the new ones have silver tips.
Indicators and dipped were easy.
How easy is it to change the main beams? I took off the rubber cover but there was no handy er handle to pull/twist. How to I take out the main beams?
And the sidelights? I know they're supposed to be skin-scrapingly sinister but how to they unclip? Do I twist like with the others or just yank hard? Was going to investigate futher but it threatened to rain so I abandoned that and stuck on the golf gti tax disc holder that Phil/Steve gave me.
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The main beams are the same as the dipped beams - ie H7s - so after pulling off the big rubber cap, just pull off the electrical connector, then unclip the retaining spring wire (looks a bit like a paper clip, with the release "tang" at the lowest part), and the bulb will just rattle, waiting to be pulled.
Not sure on the sides for the halogens, but generally, the bulb holders just pull out of the headlamp, and then the bulb itself just pulls out of the holder. The knuckle-skinners are just on the Xenon headlamps, I think.
And using HBOL language, installation is the reversal of dis-assembly! :tongue: :grin:
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Use a very small pair of pliers for the side light bulbs. Do not pull nor crimp the wires as you do.
Took me seconds to change both sides with a 9 led lamp.
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Yep you just need to have a firm grip and pull hard to get the sideys out. And as mrlapou said, dont pinch the wires. I'm afraid that you will more than likely scrape your fingers! But it's worth it in the end! :cool:
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I take it it's just a straight pull out rather than any twist-motion required?
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i got some free sides with mine, but they are blue??!! :huh: will they shine blue or not? never bothered fitting them, but if they are white, il do it when i get home :smiley:
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Mine were blue too. Gonna fit them today and see what they're like.
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i have blue side lights on mine and love them :evil:
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d122/mat138l/blackpoollightstrip2noplate.jpg)
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No they are not blue Joe, I have the same on mine.
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i got some free sides with mine, but they are blue??!! :huh: will they shine blue or not? never bothered fitting them, but if they are white, il do it when i get home :smiley:
If they are the ones from PowerBulbs.com, then they actually shine a nice "ice white" colour, and not at all blue. They really compliment HIDs. Get em in. Interestingly, VW now sell official "blue" bulbs, including W5W sides and H7 halogens. Part numbers and prices available if anyones interested.
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Interestingly, VW now sell official "blue" bulbs, including W5W sides and H7 halogens. Part numbers and prices available if anyones interested.
Dammit and I've already ordered and fitted the powerbulbs just now.
Can't believe the mainbeams and sidelights aren't as easy to swap as the dipped and indicators. Mainbeam bulbs were difficult to seperate from the connector. Sidelights were frikkin horrendous. I could reach them with my fingers and pull on them but they wouldn't come off! Had to use a bit of jiggly motion (side-side, up-down) to loosen them enough to come away from the sockets. Cut one knuckle and scraped three others (two on each hand). Couldn't grip with pliers.
As stated, sidelights have a blue glass but the light they give off are white. In fact, when I swapped one of the sidelights for the powerbulb one, the original sidelight looked amber (like you get on roads) in comparison! Noticed the difference with the mainbeams too but not so much with the dipped beams. Anyone know why?
Now the lights look clearer, the fogs look too yellow!
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Interestingly, VW now sell official "blue" bulbs, including W5W sides and H7 halogens. Part numbers and prices available if anyones interested.
Dammit and I've already ordered and fitted the powerbulbs just now.
Can't believe the mainbeams and sidelights aren't as easy to swap as the dipped and indicators. Mainbeam bulbs were difficult to seperate from the connector. Sidelights were frikkin horrendous. I could reach them with my fingers and pull on them but they wouldn't come off! Had to use a bit of jiggly motion (side-side, up-down) to loosen them enough to come away from the sockets. Cut one knuckle and scraped three others (two on each hand). Couldn't grip with pliers.
As stated, sidelights have a blue glass but the light they give off are white. In fact, when I swapped one of the sidelights for the powerbulb one, the original sidelight looked amber (like you get on roads) in comparison! Noticed the difference with the mainbeams too but not so much with the dipped beams. Anyone know why?
Now the lights look clearer, the fogs look too yellow!
time for some of robins DRL's then :wink:
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Interestingly, VW now sell official "blue" bulbs, including W5W sides and H7 halogens. Part numbers and prices available if anyones interested.
Dammit and I've already ordered and fitted the powerbulbs just now.
I think ordering a job lot from PB, and getting the freebies would work out cheaper than getting them all individually from the stealer. I only mentioned it for those who had already upgraded some of their bulbs already. And PowerBulbs only sell quality stuff from Philips or Osram, so will be as good, if not better than those from the stealer (which also happen to be from either Philips, Osram, or GE).
Can't believe the mainbeams and sidelights aren't as easy to swap as the dipped and indicators. Mainbeam bulbs were difficult to seperate from the connector.
So the mains are released from the reflector with the connector still on? I have come across that before, on Vauxhalls (whoops, that dreaded "V" word again! :wink: :grin:). You just need to tease the bulb away with a flat-blade screwdriver.
Sidelights were frikkin horrendous. I could reach them with my fingers and pull on them but they wouldn't come off! Had to use a bit of jiggly motion (side-side, up-down) to loosen them enough to come away from the sockets. Cut one knuckle and scraped three others (two on each hand). Couldn't grip with pliers.
Just think yourself lucky you didn't have to master these on the Xenons - they are real utter barstwards. Not as bad as a Megane though! :smug:
As stated, sidelights have a blue glass but the light they give off are white. In fact, when I swapped one of the sidelights for the powerbulb one, the original sidelight looked amber (like you get on roads) in comparison!
Yup, they are deceptively cool arnt they? :cool:
Noticed the difference with the mainbeams too but not so much with the dipped beams. Anyone know why?
Maybe because the dipped beams have the top half of the beam chopped off - so you are only getting half of the extra gain.? :nerd:
Now the lights look clearer, the fogs look too yellow!
Be carefull with fogs. If you genuinely do use them in the fog, then upgrading the standard bulbs to these "ice white" or blue types of bulbs - and they will be considerably less effective. You will get much more glare, and "bounce back" from the fog. The best bulbs for fog lamps (front ones! :tongue:) are "all seasons" type bulbs, which actually have a yellow type of coating, and don't look to dis-similar to the old skool "piss-filled" yellow frenchy headlamps.
If however, you just use them for posing, then go for it.
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Interestingly, VW now sell official "blue" bulbs, including W5W sides and H7 halogens. Part numbers and prices available if anyones interested.
Dammit and I've already ordered and fitted the powerbulbs just now.
Can't believe the mainbeams and sidelights aren't as easy to swap as the dipped and indicators. Mainbeam bulbs were difficult to seperate from the connector. Sidelights were frikkin horrendous. I could reach them with my fingers and pull on them but they wouldn't come off! Had to use a bit of jiggly motion (side-side, up-down) to loosen them enough to come away from the sockets. Cut one knuckle and scraped three others (two on each hand). Couldn't grip with pliers.
As stated, sidelights have a blue glass but the light they give off are white. In fact, when I swapped one of the sidelights for the powerbulb one, the original sidelight looked amber (like you get on roads) in comparison! Noticed the difference with the mainbeams too but not so much with the dipped beams. Anyone know why?
Now the lights look clearer, the fogs look too yellow!
time for some of robins DRL's then :wink:
But they will be useless for genuine foggy conditions. :wink:
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I went for the philips X-treme stuff.
So the mains are released from the reflector with the connector still on? I have come across that before, on Vauxhalls (whoops, that dreaded "V" word again! :wink: :grin:). You just need to tease the bulb away with a flat-blade screwdriver.
Nope, used my fingers and pushed the circular base from the connector.
Noticed the difference with the mainbeams too but not so much with the dipped beams. Anyone know why?
Maybe because the dipped beams have the top half of the beam chopped off - so you are only getting half of the extra gain.? :nerd:
Really? Then again, the dipped have the VW logo on them too.
Be carefull with fogs. If you genuinely do use them in the fog, then upgrading the standard bulbs to these "ice white" or blue types of bulbs - and they will be considerably less effective.
Yeah I kinda figured that when I stood there admiring the view. It just looks odd but then again, I plan on using the foglights only when there's a fog! Not a fan of DRLs.
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i got some free sides with mine, but they are blue??!! :huh: will they shine blue or not? never bothered fitting them, but if they are white, il do it when i get home :smiley:
Joe,
They shine a lovely bright white, I know I have one fitted (yes I could only get one of them little feckers changed).
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just got my new bulbs from powerbulb.com and just found out why the give you the side lights w5w free.
:undecided:
they are a pain in the arse to fit!!!!!
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Yeah, I used a pair of pliers to get mine out.
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Used my fingers. The side lights are nice and white though. :smiley:
I fitted the Phillips bulbs to the Mrs's car.
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Used my fingers.
Your a real man then ;)