Hi All,
I have just taken delivery of a new 2007 Passat. I could not get the xenon option without waiting 4-6 months. So I took a chance on the regular headlights and they are very dim. has anyone replaced the standard bulbs with something better, or taken any other option.
Thanks
Tuan
There are any number of after-market lamps you might use. Be sure that they are DOT-approved (if not in the US, approved by whatever local authorities apply to you) and that they do not overload the electrics.
Peter Wieck Wyncote, PA
gary
how old are you?
I would first make sure that the headlamps are properly operating and aimed.
Assuming that they are OK, maybe it is not the car. As we age we tend to have reduced night vision. Adding more light can only overcome some of the effect of our limitations, but it also causes more problems for other drivers.
Personally I much prefer e-code lights. They don't produce more light, but rather they put the available light where it does the most good, without blinding other drivers.
Indeed. I can't speak for the current PQ46 generation, but I've got a B5.5 Passat and the headlights are the best of any car I've ever owned.
-- Mike Smith
Stock Passat headlights are already projectors, either halogen or HID.
You could HID retrofit, yes, but while that's more light, it's also putting a light source in a lamp that wasn't designed for it and the optics are not optimized for HID anyway. Could possibly cause a glare-to-other-drivers as a result. If you go HID, get "real" full HID Passat lamp assemblies. (Just trying to make the distinction between a HID-into-halogen kit vs. the lamps intended to accomodate them.)
Higher-wattage halogen bulbs are probably not the best idea in a projector lamp (small size + more heat = might melt something if the lens or relfector is plastic).
If I were you, start with getting the aim checked and go from there.
don't think the swap would be that easy since 99% of the Passat lighting is controlled by the J519 electronics module.
Thanks all for your help. There might just be something about getting older - just turned 40...
I have Xenons on my BMW 330ci and whilst I don't expect the same, I was very surprised by the difference. Yes I have checked the range control.
Tuan
Yeah we have Xenons in our BMW X3 and when you're used to them, halogens seem "blah". Doesn't mean they're bad or dangerous...just not as good of courses and you forget you had to do a little more work on the part of your eyes to see whereas the Xenons give your eyes a break.
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