Gemmzl Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 Hi all, Just a question regarding Xenons. Are they worth it? The situation i'm is i cant find a 2nd hand Edt 30 with Xenons and DSG. Loads for sale without Xenons though. So i can either buy brand new and loose a far chunk when i drive away from the showroom....... or not worry about Xenons and get a low mileage Edt 30 without? I currently own a MKiv with xenons which are superb, but just wondering what the standard headlights are like on the MkV? Thanks again all, you've been a great help with all my other questions. Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 'Standard' lights are good but Xenons are better, especially in UK dark Winters (soon!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 the bulbs of standard headlights can be upgraded to give a better output thought no-where as white as the oem xenon ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmzl Posted September 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 Though you might say that. Looks like a 12 week wait then. It's certainly going to be the longest 12 weeks of my life. Just seems really odd that there isn't many for sale with Xenons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyGTi Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 Linky to previous threads : http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1127769/page/0/fpart/all/vc/1 http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/show...c=1&fpart=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmzl Posted September 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 Defo Xenons then...... Cheers Jonny for the links. That's decided it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gloryhornet Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 Darren, From my experience all the 2nd dealer demos were still being sold at list price. If your desperate for a car have you checked nationwide on the VW used car web site. I'm sure I saw a few with xenons. Down side is that they are probably loaded by the dealers. I normally upgrade the halogen bulbs. It made a huge difference to my Imprezza. I'd rather spend the money on performance upgrade, eg remap etc. Good luck, there are good deals to be found on UK & import models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 I personally don't doubt that Xenons give a better light than standard halogens. However, my father in law has an ed30 with xenons and lives out in the sticks - hence covering several miles on country lanes. He's never previosuly had xenons before and surprisingly he's not overly impressed. He had a Fiat Coupe Turbo previosuly and reckons the xenons are no better than 'normal' lights other than a more whiter light. Personally, if it was a £300 option then I would have gone for them but I struggle justify more than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyGTi Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Defo Xenons then...... Cheers Jonny for the links. That's decided it. [/ QUOTE ] I know this may sound daft but some VW dealers may not even state Xenons in their advert, even though they are actually on the car ! When I bought my last VW (Passat), from a main VW dealer, the advert did not state a number of the optional extras that were actually on the car - I got a pleasant surprise when I went to view it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowie Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 What about retro fit ? Pair of headlights and ballast units and wash aliens. Anyone done it ? Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I personally don't doubt that Xenons give a better light than standard halogens. However, my father in law has an ed30 with xenons and lives out in the sticks - hence covering several miles on country lanes. He's never previosuly had xenons before and surprisingly he's not overly impressed. He had a Fiat Coupe Turbo previosuly and reckons the xenons are no better than 'normal' lights other than a more whiter light. Personally, if it was a £300 option then I would have gone for them but I struggle justify more than that. [/ QUOTE ] TT, when i bought my mk4 R32 (new) i couldn't wait to check out the xenons as i'd not had them on a car before. I was really disapointed with them, as as your father in law states they're just a bit whiter. I lived with them for a while and then one day while passing a VW dealer i thought I'd pop in and get them checked. Spoke to the service manager who said that alot of cars xenons lights are set to low when they come from the factory. They checked them out and they were pointing way to low, so adjusted them up. Wow what a difference it made, it was unbelievable. Now at night you could see so much further down the road and the light was crisp and sharp. I'd get your FIL's checked out and any other owners xenons that are not more than impressed with how they perform They are fantastic when set up right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] What about retro fit ? Pair of headlights and ballast units and wash aliens. Anyone done it ? Chris. [/ QUOTE ] you also need headlight auto level motors and levelers for both front and rear of the car. additionally the electrical socket connector is different for the xenon's vs the normal headlights. IMO the cost for retro fit is really not worth it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I personally don't doubt that Xenons give a better light than standard halogens. However, my father in law has an ed30 with xenons and lives out in the sticks - hence covering several miles on country lanes. He's never previosuly had xenons before and surprisingly he's not overly impressed. He had a Fiat Coupe Turbo previosuly and reckons the xenons are no better than 'normal' lights other than a more whiter light. Personally, if it was a £300 option then I would have gone for them but I struggle justify more than that. [/ QUOTE ] TT, when i bought my mk4 R32 (new) i couldn't wait to check out the xenons as i'd not had them on a car before. I was really disapointed with them, as as your father in law states they're just a bit whiter. I lived with them for a while and then one day while passing a VW dealer i thought I'd pop in and get them checked. Spoke to the service manager who said that alot of cars xenons lights are set to low when they come from the factory. They checked them out and they were pointing way to low, so adjusted them up. Wow what a difference it made, it was unbelievable. Now at night you could see so much further down the road and the light was crisp and sharp. I'd get your FIL's checked out and any other owners xenons that are not more than impressed with how they perform They are fantastic when set up right. [/ QUOTE ] Cheers luke - I'll mention it to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luck1ng Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I had the s3 before my ed 30 and there is little or no performance differnce between then Xenons on my old s3 and the std lights on my ed 30 - Deff not worth 800 quid!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spot Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 The Xenons on your old S3 must have been poorly adjusted/defective then? Were they Bi-Xenons? I wouldn't want a car with out them now - of course if you don't go out in the dark...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I hate digital cameras. I had both the GTIs last night and since it was pitch black i took them to our private industrial estate (no street lighting) and parked them side by side to show the difference's and took photos. Non have come out. IMHO the standard bulbs are rubbish change them to the ones recomended by autoexpress its what i did. If the xenons are adjusted correctly for correct light pattern beam and 99% are not in the mk5 golf unless it was done during PDI and most garages seem to miss it because there too lazy so you end up with great distance view due to them been set too high from the factory but blind everyone else on the road. Theres not alot of difference. The xenons are whiter but do not reach further away, there a smidgen better to the left and right and lighter about halfway up there beam pattern but theres not alot in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gloryhornet Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I found the Philips link I was looking for. Autoexpress recommended the blue vision bulbs. I've previously used Osram, but found they only lasted a year or so. On my Imprezza the improvement was massive so I didn't mind spending 1/2 hr changing the bulbs out. http://www.lighting.philips.com/automotive/eur/html/products_bluevision.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemod Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I took this picture showing the difference between Philips Blue Vision and the OEM Xenons. The Philips still look pretty yellow. I am always on A and B roads so in the winter months I am very glad of the Xenons especially as they are Bi-Xenons and on full beam make the road light up like daylight. They also light up road signs and reflective jackets like they were self powered. They give the car a classy look at night which is important after you have spent £20k, probably should have been standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 [ QUOTE ] probably should have been standard. [/ QUOTE ] they are on the US version cars... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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