Xenon lights or not?

**nicky900** · 31-10-2007,02:20 AM

Hello,

I am new to this forum and to VW's my last 4 cars have been Volvos. I have just bought a Passat TDI 170 SEL which was a demonstrator. I was so taken by the engine and DSG gearbox I did not really focus on anything else. My question is do I have xenon lights? From looking at pictures it would appear not. The main beam has a normal halogen bulb and the dipped beam so kind of domed front section. The brightness from the dipped beam does appear brighter than a normal halogen but I am not convinced. Did contact the dealer got through to sales. 20 mins of being messed around with 'well sir we are not sure' wasn't convincing. If it does not have xenons can it be converted using genuine VW parts or is the cost prohibative? I have ran a search but can only find posts relating to fitting HID kits and in the first instance I am not sure what I actually have!

Regards

Nick Jones

**simfin** · 31-10-2007,09:18 AM

there are two ways to tell.

1 - Does it have a headlight wash function - There will be a cutout below each light, which will 'jet-spray' the headlight lense when you use the wash wipe - If you have this then you have Xenons

2 - On the Dash board in the car, do you have a manual headlight adjustment dial? This adjusts the beam manually so as not to dazzle other road users if the boot is loaded. If you do not have this manual adjustment. then you have Xenons, as they adjust automatically.

Have I read it correctly that the dealer can't work this out? If so, I find that shocking - but then again my 10 year old son knows more about cars than many VW 'experts' I have come across.

sathound · 31-10-2007,12:09 PM

I have HIDs on my 170PS SEL 6 speed Estate. Basically the outer lamp looks like a projector lens and is housed in a reflector assembly which is marked with adjustment graticules. The "whiteness" of the light is in stark contrast to the inner sidelight lamp. The outer lamp is responsible for both dipped and full beam. there is also a separate QI lamp mounted at 45 degrees outwards which illuminates a wider view of the road when turning corners etc.

When the car is started the levelling routine is quite a performance as the lights move outwards and then inwards and down and then up until they find their centre datum point. It seems like the car is going cross-eyed!!

http://www.supercarnews.net/volkswag...at-b6-50-3095/

**JontraK** · 19-12-2007,12:55 AM

Originally Posted by simfin

there are two ways to tell.

1 - Does it have a headlight wash function - There will be a cutout below each light, which will 'jet-spray' the headlight lense when you use the wash wipe - If you have this then you have Xenons

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if there are aftermarket headlight washers available?

**domestos** · 19-12-2007,01:40 AM

Originally Posted by JontraK

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if there are aftermarket headlight washers available?

Not sure if you can get them or not...

How about a sponge and bucket - £2.99 from Tesco ... lol

sorry !!!

not very helpful but I coundn't resist...

**gazza007** · 19-12-2007,08:40 AM

While we are on lighting, has anybody upgraded the standard bulbs & is it an easy job?. Not sure what the standard H7's are but I've had better. I have always upgraded my bulbs on other vehicles with much better results. The Philips X-treme Power +80% seem to be the best out there at the moment.

**claranet** · 20-12-2007,12:48 AM

I fitted a new set of the 30% brighter bulbs from Halfords to my B5. This was a very fiddly job but worth it ? I did the same to my wife's 04 Focus Estate - now that REALLY was a pain in Harris I can tell you ! The Ford Guys say it is quicker to take the Headlamp out which in turn means removing the front wheels and remove the front wheel arch liner screws to get access to the outer Headlamp fixing screws...and to think that it is a requirement in France to carry a bulb kit !.........If I was you, and there ain't anything wrong with the Headlights that you've got, to forget about upgrading the Headlights and enjoy driving the car !!!
claranet

**gazza007** · 20-12-2007,12:15 PM

Cheers I'll have a look how it can be done first then go from there.

**steve46** · 20-12-2007,02:08 PM

Hi there. Well i am a newcomer to this forum & my passat 2006 tdi sport estste 140. I have already ordered 2 sets of xenon lights & choke units from e-bay. Not that the lights are poor now, in fact the projector lens does give a good sharp beam. I guess it will be a while before i get round to fitting them as i have a few warranty issues to try & sort out first. Will post the results when finished.

**gstewar1** · 20-12-2007,02:14 PM

I changed the bulbs on my 1.9tdi when we got it and what a job it was.

I dont no if with yours being the 2.0 if there would be space to move but i did lose a fair wee bit of skin off my knuckles.

There is a Rubber cap that goes over the lighting unit, remove this and then feel for the cable on the bulb and remove that. It just clips off.

Now here is the trick, get and old CD and use it as a mirror and you can look right inside the headlamp and see how everything goes in etc.

The total time it took me to do this was about 25-30 mins i think if i remeber correctly.

And i didnt have to remove any panels or anyting.

hope this helps