I have some factory xenon headlights which have a terrible light output. They flicker sometimes, not on/off, but low brightness/normal when your going over bumps or uneven road. They are uneven and manually adjusting them doesn't seem to change their position, also when the high beam is on it's a lot brighter on the right side. I heard that you have to adjust them with VCDS? The adjusting motors make a noise sometimes when you put ignition on and leave it. Basically, I want to make these lights bright again and restore them, can anyone help? What should I do?

Factory Xenons are terrible, however it does sound like your left side high beam solenoid is not working.

 

In another thread recently a guy simply replaced the crappy xenon headlamps for standard halogen units, he had to upgrade the fuses as well but it was an easy conversion otherwise.

This has been covered before but there isn't really definitive solution.

As these cars are now circa 20years old there's every chance the xenon projectors will be burnt out & tarnished but dirty lenses on the inside or faded/UV outer lenses can also detract from output.

Genuine Replacement
Obviously the easiest option is to replace, but genuine or even any other aftermarket standard looking RHD projectors can be hard to find.

The part numbers are

Left
6Y2941015AB
6Y2941015S

Right
6Y2941016AB
6Y2941016S

When I was looking I couldn't find out what the difference was between AB &S & no one could tell me. I actually ended up getting hold of one which wasn't listed for my car (I can't recall which way round it was) but it worked fine.

Convert LHD units
Having previously stripped my lights I realised the metal plate in front of the projector bowl is what gives it the kick up to the left on a RHD car. Logically I assumed this is likely to be the only difference between RHD & LHD.

I ended up sourcing a genuine RHD N/S head light & took a punt on a LHD O/S unit from Autodoc (or similar).

I took the LHD headlight apart and swapped the metal plate over from my original projector to convert from LHD to RHD. It was a perfect fit.

Lights reinstalled (plus some PPF applied) & aligned using VCDS. Two MOTs later & all seems good.

This also solved the need to clean the inner lens or restore the outer.

The light output is certainly very acceptable with new bulbs & correctly aligned. May be no match for a new design of projectors.

 

(On my other VAG ar which came with bi-xenons, I have recently upgraded them to a set of hella G5 & they are amazing. The original projector was probably designed about 20+yrs ago & was well tarnished over time).

Other cars
From the research I've done, it seems the early 2000s Vauxhall Omega with xenons uses the same projectors & so does Audi A3 8L pre-facelift. Obviously sourcing a second-hand unit will be a gamble on condition.

Refinish projector bowls
There is the option to strip headlights & send the bowls to be refinished by someone such as...

https://dual-metallising.co.uk/

No experience of this but it wasn't going to be cheap & the lights would be off the car for a while while it was done.

Upgrade to bi-xenon
I didn't come across/consider the next two options until after I sorted mine.

There are these two companies who will sell a kit to replace the projectors. These include an adapter bracket & will give bi-xenons, so the shutter will open when the high beam is on so you'll end up with a xenon high beam & the halogen bulb on with high beam which can also he used as a flasher when no lights are on.

Please note that the first option means using different bulbs & a converter from the std D2S plug.

https://retrofitlab.com/collections/skoda-fabia-6y/products/skoda-fabia-6y-1999-2007-bi-xenon-xenon-headlights

https://www.facebook.com/TooDamnBright/
https://youtu.be/ntssBdaAIOg

You could also try to get hold of a decent set of projectors such as Morimoto & a universal fitting kit plus some spacers & have a go yourself.

Universal fitting kit
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Head-light-Retrofit-Tools-Adapter-Frame-Kit-For-Projector-Lens-Connecting-Plates-/384459784800?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

In my opinion i think the upgrade to bi-xenons combined with refurbishing the lenses would be the best way to go. I'd be keen to keep the D2S bulbs though so the option from Too Damn Bright.

With any option new bulbs & alignment would be necessary.
 

You could always swap for std halogen lights as already suggested.

 

Hope this helps

For comparison here are a couple of before pics from my other cars Bi-Xenons before I changed them to the new projectors & bulbs

And after

 

 

On inspection afterwards the projectors were shot

Edited 10 March, 20224 yr by delroy
More info

7 hours ago, Marek149 said:

manually adjusting them doesn't seem to change their position

Because the adjustment is automatic. That's the "dance" they do when you turn them on.