How bad !!!

[Jabba]

Can headlights be, I can't believe how bad the lights on our 'replacement' Passat are - (a late 2008 estate).

I put in some Osram Silverstars but even with those I'd do better with a decent torch ...

Our old B5.5 Passat is better and my LandCruiser eats them both for breakfast light wise.

Anyone here experience with HID upgrades, I have zero intention of taking a knife or similar butchering tool to the car but I can't live with the lights as they are, I only plan to do the dipped headlights, I will upgrade the bulbs in the main beam side.

I don't need lectures about what is and isn't legal, I know all about the supposed rules about self leveling and headlamp wash, I know all the nanny state BS, the wash and leveling aren't testable MOT items so IDGAF (work it out) ... besides I have a wheel inside the car and know how to use a sponge so I could be regarded as an automatic system after all I do have a CPU (brain) of sorts.

So experiences of fitting HID please and which HID kit to buy.

[zilspeed]

They aren't the best. are they ?
I've only had mine a week and can't quite get over how patchy the coverage is on dipped beam. Lots of dead zones rather than consistent coverage over the area of the beam.

[Jabba]

They aren't the best. are they ?

You aren't joking, in areas with street lighting I can't even tell if they are on or not, on unlit motorway they are frankly bordering on dangerous and far below the standard I expected - but alas these aren't things that you think to assess on a test drive - how many test drive at night !!!

[zilspeed]

My last vehicle was a 2001 Citroen Synergie with not a straight panel on it and a wrecked interior. It had a burst boost hose that I had bodged together with a poultice of tying wire, gaffa tape and cable ties.
I can forgive the Passat the headlights in return for being like a chauffeur driven Maybach 62 in comparison with the Synergie.

[Teflon]

I've never noticed much of a problem with the lights, 'cos the terms of my ASBO prevent me from going out after dark.