OK - I'm ready.

Potentially silly question of the year time.

So I have my 2006 vRS.

It has no options so the front lights will be "standard" for the car of this time.

So this will not be Xenon, it won't be HID...

What options do I actually have with regards replacement bulbs and the like?

I want something 100% road legal of course however gives me the brightest and cleanest possible light.

I won't say what is already in there is particularly bad, but if I've got other options open to me (cheap or expensive).

Ta

You'll have halogen lights as standard. Xenon and HID are effectively a different name for the same thing. Best bet is powerbulbs and have a look at your options there for uprated halogen bulbs.

Retro fitting Xenons is now pretty much illegal.

SKODA OCTAVIA (04 onwards) Upgrade xenon car bulbs from Power Bulbs

The nightbreakers are pretty much the best you can get (legally) IMO, do a search for them on here.

Also, HIDS are illegal in the eyes of the Dept of transport, mainly cos the headlamps are type approved for use with a halogen fillament whereas HIDS are a different make up. So best not be tempted by them.

Steve

Halfords do some high performance bulbs that are usually on BOGOF, which have a small Xenon content. They're about £15 IIRC.

Nightbreakers are, however very good. Only went halfrauds, as could blag on the company Mondy. Octy has factory fit Xenons, and boy do I miss them in the Mondeo!

I rate Philips X-treme as the best halogen globes in the standard wattage (ie no need for upgraded wiring), with Osram Nightbreakers a close second. Philips don't make a H1 X-treme yet, but are supposedly bringing one out soon.

OK - I'm ready.

Potentially silly question of the year time.

So I have my 2006 vRS.

It has no options so the front lights will be "standard" for the car of this time.

So this will not be Xenon, it won't be HID...

You stupid boy Pike! Fancy not knowing that!

Glad someone else asked. Mines is second hand too - didnt ask really about what options were on it and think it has only a couple or none. I get a funny little rainbow line above the light beam when i'mpulling up to the garage but does that mean anything? I am quite close to a complete know nothing when it comes to these things.

If that is just the light casing causing that, is there a way i can tell by looking what lights are in there? The lights seem pretty spectacular compared to my old car which in itself put the company mondeo to shame.

I dont suppose it matters much but since someone else asked i thought it would be safe to.

I rate Philips X-treme as the best halogen globes in the standard wattage (ie no need for upgraded wiring), with Osram Nightbreakers a close second. Philips don't make a H1 X-treme yet, but are supposedly bringing one out soon.

Same opinion from me; Philips X-treme are presently the best, at a reasonable cost; £25 - £30 a pair.

I have in the past use PIAA Extreme White Plus that give as good a light and have a blue tip (for styling) but at around £65 a pair I feel they are not cost effective.

Thanks for the replies.

I won't consider the Xenon/HID route - I've seen "Retro Fit" options which I believed to be legal, but some nice people here told me they aren't so I won't even get tempted.

I'm assuming that if money was no object then Xenon retro-fitting which is legal would be possible - or not really?

I think I'll take a look at the bulb options.

I was a little worried about the lens - upgrading bulbs can cause more heat, didn't fancy melted lights!

I haven't really looked at the front clusters - is changing the bulbs relativey easy on the Octi?

Oh - another quick one.

There are Philips X-Treme Power & Philips Blue Vision.

I'm assuming the X-Treme gives the very best results, the Blue Vision would be a "cheap" attempt to look like you have Xenon's?

Do they really "look" like Xenon's or do they look rather poor?

So what do you buy for the main beam if you already have Zenons???

The main beam is really naff.

So what do you buy for the main beam if you already have Zenons???

The main beam is really naff.

I'm using PIAA Extreme White Plus

I'm assuming that if money was no object then Xenon retro-fitting which is legal would be possible - or not really?

OE Xenons cannot be retro fitted; there are too many differences in the wiring loom, wash system and sensors to make it practicable.

Get them as an OE option when new OR use aftermarket uprated halogen bulbs.

I get a funny little rainbow line above the light beam when i'mpulling up to the garage but does that mean anything?

I get that with factory-fit halogens.

Glad someone else asked. Mines is second hand too - didnt ask really about what options were on it and think it has only a couple or none. I get a funny little rainbow line above the light beam when i'mpulling up to the garage but does that mean anything? I am quite close to a complete know nothing when it comes to these things.

If that is just the light casing causing that, is there a way i can tell by looking what lights are in there? The lights seem pretty spectacular compared to my old car which in itself put the company mondeo to shame.

I dont suppose it matters much but since someone else asked i thought it would be safe to.

Mondeo lights are pants.

Can you manually adjust headlight height

and if not

do the lights lift up/down when you start the car with the lights on?

Can you manually adjust headlight height

and if not

do the lights lift up/down when you start the car with the lights on?

Standard Halogen lights have a small adjustment wheel by the light switch, to manually adjust the dip beam down/up according to vehicle load.

Xenon lights have auto self levelling that sets the level (according to load) on starting the car, whether you have the lights on or not, and then auto adjusts the beam, e.g. beam up under heavy braking when the nose of the car goes down and then back to level after - to keep the amount of road lit up constant. It doesn't compensate for bumps though.

Just another quick question.

I see from a couple of guides here they show people actually removing the front light cluster from the vehicle (vRS, non Xenon) to replace bulbs.

Is that the only way of doing it or if you've got the patience and somebody with smaller hands can you replace the bulbs without that much hassle?

Just considering replacing the standard bulbs with something uprated ready for those winter months!

Just another quick question.

I see from a couple of guides here they show people actually removing the front light cluster from the vehicle (vRS, non Xenon) to replace bulbs.

Is that the only way of doing it or if you've got the patience and somebody with smaller hands can you replace the bulbs without that much hassle?

Just considering replacing the standard bulbs with something uprated ready for those winter months!

I have Xenons on my vRS; but found that Main beam and Indicator bulbs can be changed with the Headlamp unit in situ (with the odd skinned knuckle). Sidelights are impossible in situ.

Not sure about Dip beam on halogen units - check this;- Octavia-vRS.com - Changing Front Lamps - Octavia II

Just got back from a weeks holiday - so time to reinvestigate bulb upgrades.

I'm not going to look at after-market Xenon fitting - the grey legal area puts me off more than anything.

I also seem to have to make a choice - go for the best "light projection" or lose some performance and go for something that "looks Xenon".

On reading around there seems to be some mention of the:

PIAA Extreme White Plus Bulbs

I know they aren't cheap, however they seem to offer a good combination of very white light - as HID looking as possible and also good overall performance.

Last question before purchase.

If I want to replace all bulbs with above I'd simply need:

H7 Fitting Set

H1 Fitting Set

W5W Fitting Set

I'm assuming it is a 3 bulb affair in each of the front clusters?

I know that the low beams are H7 (those behind the projector), not sure about the mains etc.

The guides you have seen on how to remove the headlamp unit are the ones to follow. You will probably get away without removing the loom plug from the lamp unit if your carefull or have a helper to hold it.

While you are there, get some WD40 or grease on the mechanism that releases the unit, you never know where you will be when you need to do a bulb change and over time they can get stiff so grease it now.

I use nightbreakers as mentioned before but other bulbs will be similar and a huge improvement over the standard globes.

Also, performance bulbs alledgedly dont last as long as others, so maybe keep the old bulbs in the packaging and store them in the well of the spare tyre or somewhere, remembering not to touch the glass of the new or old bulbs with your fingers.

Steve