Passat B6 headlights

[hal752]

Hello all.

I've had my b6 Passat for over 6 months now. Had a few issues over the time but managed fix the majority of them.

One of the issues I'm having now is that the headlights are so dim. I have had them aimed and even tried HIDS and LED bulbs.

Reading into it I've noticed that I am not the only one. I was thinking of replacing the actual headlights as me thinking it being 10 years old the reflectors might have warn away.

Would it be a safe bet buying valo replacements or should I consider aftermarket ones as well? I don't want to buy a new set and still have them dim

Thank you

[RichardSEL]

I'm surprised you didn't get a noticeable increase in light performance with your dipped beams. They are projectors and should've shone better with either uprated Halogen bulbs such as Osram Nightbreakers, Philips ExtraVision. With LEDs such as Philips, or even a 35W 4300k Xenon system but that would have to be a set that's CANbus friendly otherwise you risk them going out and switching off the headlight supply volts

Your main beam headlinghts are reflector, not projector, and should not have either LEDs or Xenons in them as they're not designed for that beam pattern

It may be that a previous owner has tried an abrasive cutting compound on the car's body and also used it on the headlight lenses so making them more opaque. There are some polishes that can return the finish to plastic without cutting, but I don't know what they are.

You can get replacement headlight units from Depo in Tiawan. I don't have their URL just their catalogue from 2013. You'd have to match yours with one of theirs and if you've got the height adjust motor in yours. Front glasses can't be changed without heating the whole unit in an oven to soften the glue used -- might as well get second hand ones complete from a breakers if you can't cure any lens scratches

[hal752]

Before this car I had a Vauxhall Astra which used reflectors. I used Osram night breakers on them. There was a huge improvement over what bulbs were in there preciously. Though they started to fade after 18 months.

When I first picked up my Passat I thought the lights were "ok" which the bulbs that were in there ( they turned out to be some halford bulbs) though with me doing alot of driving in the early hours down dark lanes I though it would be best to upgrade.

I went straight back to Osram where I picked up some Osram Nightbreaker lazers. I didn't get off to a great start as the first bulbs blew within 5 seconds.. went back to the store and got another set. These lasted a little longer but blew after a few hours leaving me driving with one bulb in the middle of the night. I returned the bulbs and got a refund.

I ended up purchasing some h7 LED bulbs off Amazon. I got two different sets which cost between 40 and 60 per bulbs. Overall brightness is alot better though they still don't sit right with me.

I've double checked and then checked again to ensure that the bulbs are fitted right and from what I can see they are.

Would the bulbs blowing damage the inside of the projector?

Thank you



I'm surprised you didn't get a noticeable increase in light performance with your dipped beams. They are projectors and should've shone better with either uprated Halogen bulbs such as Osram Nightbreakers, Philips ExtraVision. With LEDs such as Philips, or even a 35W 4300k Xenon system but that would have to be a set that's CANbus friendly otherwise you risk them going out and switching off the headlight supply volts

Your main beam headlinghts are reflector, not projector, and should not have either LEDs or Xenons in them as they're not designed for that beam pattern

It may be that a previous owner has tried an abrasive cutting compound on the car's body and also used it on the headlight lenses so making them more opaque. There are some polishes that can return the finish to plastic without cutting, but I don't know what they are.

You can get replacement headlight units from Depo in Tiawan. I don't have their URL just their catalogue from 2013. You'd have to match yours with one of theirs and if you've got the height adjust motor in yours. Front glasses can't be changed without heating the whole unit in an oven to soften the glue used -- might as well get second hand ones complete from a breakers if you can't cure any lens scratches

[Gazwould]

Osram Night Breaker Laser aren't any good and a backwards step from Unlimited .

[RichardSEL]

My Osram Nightbreakers were noticeably much better than the sad Van Helsing horse carriage lamp bulbs that came OEM. But one blew after 10 months -- the replacement Philips Extravision have been in for three years now and are on as DRL's too in these seasons' gloom

Check you've not got hazed headlamp glasses though -- I don't think we'll ever get to the performance of a SUV coz of their height.

The latest "digital" ballast Xenon kits could be better than the uprated H7s but still wouldn't want to go anymore than 5000k with 50W
That'd mean either the newest Morimoto stuff from the US (The Retrofit Source) or Auz. Checkout what HiDs Direct are offering. I assume you've got Hella fittings? If Valeo you may need their adapter ring

[Gazwould]

Xtreme Vision , Ricardo .

[Stu Sheridan]

Anyone tried the Racing vision version? 8 quid more.
Racing Vision Car Headlight Bulb 150% Extra Light H7 Twin Pack Philips 12972RVS2 | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291902414165)

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[Gazwould]

200 hr working life , no thanks .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01LWPJF1J/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486930789&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=philips+racing+vision+h7&dpPl=1&dpID=51FpxM4-JTL&ref=plSrch

[Stu Sheridan]

Ah, wasn't aware of that, bit of a deal breaker eh?

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[Gazwould]

Next best is Ring Xenon 130 .

[hal752]

My Osram Nightbreakers were noticeably much better than the sad Van Helsing horse carriage lamp bulbs that came OEM. But one blew after 10 months -- the replacement Philips Extravision have been in for three years now and are on as DRL's too in these seasons' gloom

Check you've not got hazed headlamp glasses though -- I don't think we'll ever get to the performance of a SUV coz of their height.

The latest "digital" ballast Xenon kits could be better than the uprated H7s but still wouldn't want to go anymore than 5000k with 50W
That'd mean either the newest Morimoto stuff from the US (The Retrofit Source) or Auz. Checkout what HiDs Direct are offering. I assume you've got Hella fittings? If Valeo you may need their adapter ring

I don't think it's a issue with the bulbs. More the headlights them self-selfs. They are the factor stock Valeo headlights. The previous owner must have done some messing with them as the height adjustment on the left hand side had being bored out. Had to remove the one on the right to adjust the left hand side.

I've spent hours adjusting refitting and trying different bulbs for not much luck. I really think that either the previous owner might have either ran some high power bulbs or when my night breaker laser blew it took something with it.

At the moment I'm looking at replacing the lights themselves. I've got ideally I would like to find a pair of bi xenon's but haven't had much look and the ones I have found are stupidly priced.

I would prefer new to avoid any issues. I've being looking at Euro car parts. The ones that came with the car are Valeo. Am I able to swap them for Hella lights or do I have to replace like for like?

I've also seen these on energised customs. I can't find a single review online about them though. What do you guys think?

https://www.energizedcustoms.co.uk/shop/vw-passat-3c-b6-2005-2010-chrome-drl-devil-eye-r8-headlights-headlamps-pair.html

[RichardSEL]

Those look like the Depo Tiawan ones I mentioned. I've got their catalogue of 2013. You should have the motorised ones, these are not.
I assume you've got the two small wheel adjusters on your dashboard -- one for dashboard lighting brightness, the other for up/down of heads?

If the fittings have been tampered with by previous keeper then the distance between bulb holder and bulb will be wrong so your beam will not be at maximum from correct focal points. This may have happened in an attempt to fit Xenon HiDs into Valeo fitting as the earlier kits were only made for Hella -- The Retrofit Source were the first to produce a fitting ring for Veleo. Then Hids Direct did it.

There's more info in my help .doc including clear instructions on how to remove by dropping front bumper etc. PM me an email address for return attaach

[niall campbell]

can you park the car facing a wall, switch lights on in dipped beam , then adjust lights in car to go up and down


do both beams of headlights raise & lower ?


if the head light adjustor was missing on the near side, it could indicate the previous owner(s) has had problems as you suggest


Please be aware when adjusting headlights from inside the car, the motor can move the beam; even if its not hooked in correctly. Its very tight for space and the back of the headlights can be touching the ball of the motor arm ..................................... looking as if it is working. Both sides should rise and lower roughly the same amount

Can you feel any pitting on the headlight on the outside ? Can you see if there is any pitting in the inside of the headlight glass ?

Some folk hate the A6 2006 lights , but I think they are good enough, slightly yellow compared to white bulb ones around .......................... its sometimes a personal preference


Audi state in my manual not to put a lot of pressure on my headlight glass when cleaning, just a quick clean incase you damage the lens


you could park your car beside another Passat and compare the lens

[neloo]

I have the same problem with my passat 08...the dipped beam is very bad. I switched to a hid kit, at a specialist,
and it's the same, just white. Does anyone knows what to do?

[RichardSEL]

There's no quick fix. You'll have to tell us what this "specialist" did.
What kit was fitted? Was it fitted into Hella or Valeo headlights?

If the fitting ring wasn't used (that gives a correct position for the bulb)
in a Valeo then no amount of tampering will give you the fix you're looking
for

I've got Valeo projector heads so didn't go for HiDs. Besides which, the
up-rated Osram or Philips Halogen bulbs are good enough even in the
wilds of Norfolk countryside on a deep, dark, winters night where the witches are
cackling, er... :scared:

[neloo]

I don't know mate. I don't know much about car headlights or cars in general. Thanks for the reply tho :D

[RichardSEL]

Then it's new, or aftermarket new from Depo, or something from the scrappy then.
Changeout involves dropping the front bumper. All details in my help .doc. PM me
an email address for return attach