Headlights

[Vw80]

Hi all, dipped headlight blew. What’s a good replacement that will upgrade the original poor lights?

[Carbon VW]

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.

[Finglonga]

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.

[rowlers]

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

[Dobbs]

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

[Dobbs]

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 

[2007GTI]

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/

[2007GTI]

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 

[Dobbs]

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 

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/

[2007GTI]

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.