Hi guys

I looking to fit Xenon headlights to my superb Must I change the headlamps or is it just the blubs ?

Thanks

Since i dont know the law in Ireland, i would suggest headlamps. Of course it's much easier/cheaper going with after market Xenons and retrofit them, but it might get you in trouble.

Since i dont know the law in Ireland, i would suggest headlamps. Of course it's much easier/cheaper going with after market Xenons and retrofit them, but it might get you in trouble.

What does "retrofit" mean? I presume after market just means non original?

Thanks

Syanide

Retrofit means you modify and install the Xenon yourself with non original.

would these do http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKODA-SUPERB-02-XENON-HEADLIGHT-BULBS-HID-UPGRADE-SET-/350232723897?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item518b7f41b9 ?

They are not 'proper' xenon's (as you get in a factory fit) but normal H7 bulbs that are filled with xenon gas, they should be better and whiter than your current std H7's but nowhere near as good as a proper xenon kit (which will include bulbs and ballasts).

Dont know if you can swap them like for like as i think they use different technology ??? in comparison with a 'Normal' Halogen you'd get a 'cooler' brighter colour, more white than the yellow you get with a traditional bulb. But how would that translate to better beam range / spread i'm not sure

Standard bulbs use a filament, but true HID Xenons use an arc discharge with all sorts of weird goings on in the electrical department, similar to the Orange Sodium street lights that we all love, especially at switch on, plus i think there are regs in the UK / EU surrounding the fitment of HID units such as beam levelling, optics, lens cleaning, glare etc. in ECE regulation 48

there is a good article here if you are interested, the bit about HID Xenons is towards the end if you can stay awake that long

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp

John

Edited 19 October, 201015 yr by cavdad

Sorry if this is an obvious question, but how do I know if I have xenon set up or a normal one? I have the 1.9 tdi 130 comfort mk 1 (52 plate). Its the ones with the fog light built into the unit. Are all xenons self levelling?

Syanide

All OE xenon's are self levelling - do you have the levelling 'thumb wheel' adjuster next to your headlight switch? if so then they are either factory halogens or retro fit xenon's.

Xenon's was an option on the Comfort spec, but if you were to spec them you may as well of ordered an Elegance.

Ok, definitely got the the thumb wheel next to the headlight switch. So that rules out self levelling. So either I've got normal halogens or someone has put xenons in themselves. Ok, got it....thanks

....but, if its the latter, how do I tell? I mean, if I need to replace a bulb our something?

Syanide

It's pretty easy to tell TBH, if the bulbs throw out a 'normal' warm yellowish light (think household light bulb colour) then they are halogen.

If however they are a cold bright white they are xenon (think of a fluorescent tube) if they have a chavvy blue - purple tint in them, then the person has bought something higher than a 4,300K kit. (4,300K is what is fitted as OE as it's the brightest most usable colour)

Xenon's also take a few seconds to fully warm up and produce their optimum light, they will start up quite dim and gradually get brighter.

Cheers.

If you get a "flash of blue light" as you turn them on (check against a garage door) then they are proper HID/xenon units. If no flash, then they are just halogens. Yes there are xenon gas filled halogen bulbs available, and these are much better than standard halogens, but last about 5 times less (60 hours of burn in my experience instead of 300-400 - I timed it - trust me!). This is my experience with Osram Super Whites. Other brands may be better, but there will be many which are a lot worse. Run away from blue coloured halogen bulbs rated at 100W like you run from plague, they last 5 minutes, are illegal, and dim. Will also damage a plastic headlight housing because of the heat they generate.

Proper HID/xenon is cool running (only using 35 watts per bulb). But these require ballasts too, which are separate electronic units to be wired it. They will come as part of a HID kit you can pick up from Ebay for about £70 these days in H7 fit. You will have to velcro/tie-wrap these somehow ideally under or behind the headlight assembly. They will have to come out, which is a bumper off job - 5 minutes really, not too bad.

Then you would have to make sure you use your manual levelling properly, otherwise you will be annoying many other people.

Technically, to have HID legally you MUST have both self levelling and headlight washers. In Germany a car will fail MOT if not fitted with these two devices when operating HID. But in this country you can get away with it because we are so far behind lots of EU laws and directives. Ireland, I don't know mate.

I hope this clarifies.

Very helpful to me, cheers. Will live with my halogens for the time being! But useful info....

Syanide