Hi Guys.

Had my Octy vRS since Tuesday and just clocked over 1000 miles. (Company car).

Whilst the car has performed well and I will enjoy driving it for the next 2 years, I find the main beam to relatively poor.

I have xenons fitted, which are good as you would expect but the main beams seem to be powered by candles! They are certainly the weakest I have had on any car I can remember.

Would different bulbs help the situation and can anyone make a suggestion as to which ones I should go for?

i think you will find the xenons are that good they make the main beam look bad:rofl:

i think you will find the xenons are that good they make the main beam look bad:rofl:

I think you are right, to a degree.

The xenons are definately brighter than those I had on my previous car (Saab95) but the main beam is certainly not as good.

Hi Guys.

Had my Octy vRS since Tuesday and just clocked over 1000 miles. (Company car).

Whilst the car has performed well and I will enjoy driving it for the next 2 years, I find the main beam to relatively poor.

I have xenons fitted, which are good as you would expect but the main beams seem to be powered by candles! They are certainly the weakest I have had on any car I can remember.

Would different bulbs help the situation and can anyone make a suggestion as to which ones I should go for?

I felt the same and fitted PIAA Extreme White bulbs to the main beam; an improvement but you still see the difference between the two.

A popular switch with Fabia vRS drivers is to use Phillips 100w Rally bulbs in the main beam. Seems like a good idea but not sure if the more sophisticated electrics of the Octavia would then show a 'fault'.

get to halfords and get a pair of 100% brighter or whatever they are called (not standard brightness) this will cure it, i noticed the same and was told it was cos i was use to thr extra bright bulbs on my last car. However with the ones i bought at halfords it made a noticeable difference.

I felt the same and fitted PIAA Extreme White bulbs to the main beam; an improvement but you still see the difference between the two.

A popular switch with Fabia vRS drivers is to use Phillips 100w Rally bulbs in the main beam. Seems like a good idea but not sure if the more sophisticated electrics of the Octavia would then show a 'fault'.

OK. Thanks for that.

I don't mind seing the difference between the xenon and the main beam. Just as long as I can improve on the current set up.

I'm not into electrics at all, so I wouldn't know about the Phillips 100w. Perhaps with future responses we may get the answer.

can can also adjust the full beam so you can direct it further up what is maybe happening is your mainbeam (xennons) are over powering the high beam that is directed at the same place making it look like they arent very good uprate the bulbs and adjust the beam on the high beam adjuster this will improve it dramaticly!

can can also adjust the full beam so you can direct it further up what is maybe happening is your mainbeam (xennons) are over powering the high beam that is directed at the same place making it look like they arent very good uprate the bulbs and adjust the beam on the high beam adjuster this will improve it dramaticly!

Thanks for that.

I shall give a go and see if things improve.

I find with the Xenons, I dont need to use Main beam at all.

As you've found, all you notice is the spread increases, but not enough to warrant use IMO.

The higher rated bulbs don't cause any issues with the Octavia II. I was previously running (IIRC) 85w rally bulbs and there were no problems.

Simple ohms law dictates as the wattage is increasing but the voltage remains constant the bulb will draw more amps to work. This puts more strain on the wiring, relays and fuses but my argument is the main beam is usually only on for seconds at a time - 2 or 3 minutes tops so the wiring doesn't have time to heat up that much. I wouldn't recommend uprated dipped bulbs as they can be on for hours at a time - crispy fried wiring loom anyone??

I find it isn't the bulb itself more the distribution pattern of the light. There are 2 areas of light dead ahead above the xenon beam cutoff but that's about it.

It's a pity you cant instruct the auto levelling to shift to it's highest level when pushing the indicator stalk for main beam, a kind of poor man's Bi-Xenon if you like

On a different note:

How exactly do you raise the main beam level?

I know you can adjust the dipped beam with the plastic kn0bs on the light fittings but I don't know how to tweak the main beams.

I agree with muppet, the main beams don't coordinate very well with the xenon cut off, don't seem very bright (but then your eyes are used to seeing the xenon beams), and the yellowness is a bit offputting but normal for basic halogens.

I've bought some Osram Nightbreaker (H1) bulbs, which sound the business. Osram Silverstars used to be one of the best upgrade bulbs, and Osram's marketing blurb says these are better. They are the same wattage and also have a subtle blue filter (only over part of the bulb). I don't fancy high wattage bulbs, as they will invalidate the warrenty.

Details @ OSRAM|Professionals|Automotive Lighting|Products|Headlights|NIGHT BREAKER|index

Note there is a graphic on the packaging for the H1s that suggests they last half as long as standard bulbs. OK for mains I think.

I'll report back once fitted and tested...

On a different note:

How exactly do you raise the main beam level?

I know you can adjust the dipped beam with the plastic nobs on the light fittings but I don't know how to tweak the main beams.

With xenons, the dip beam is only adjustable with dealer diagnostic kit (or perhaps a VAG COM).

Main beam is adjustable up-down with the black plastic nobs on the inner corner of the light unit that takes a Hex key; 6mm I think, perhaps larger.

Having got my dip(xenon) beam correctly adjusted by my dealer about six weeks ago, I then did the main beam myself so that the beam pattern now sits just above the cut-off of the dip.

I agree with muppet, the main beams don't coordinate very well with the xenon cut off, don't seem very bright (but then your eyes are used to seeing the xenon beams), and the yellowness is a bit offputting but normal for basic halogens.

I've bought some Osram Nightbreaker (H1) bulbs, which sound the business. Osram Silverstars used to be one of the best upgrade bulbs, and Osram's marketing blurb says these are better. They are the same wattage and also have a subtle blue filter (only over part of the bulb). I don't fancy high wattage bulbs, as they will invalidate the warrenty.

Details @ OSRAM|Professionals|Automotive Lighting|Products|Headlights|NIGHT BREAKER|index

Note there is a graphic on the packaging for the H1s that suggests they last half as long as standard bulbs. OK for mains I think.

I'll report back once fitted and tested...

Great. Be interesting to see how they perform.

I will hold fire until you get a chance to report back.

OK - I should be able to let you know after next weekend. Les.

Jumping on the back of this (I have standard projector headlamps) there are two black plastic adjusters. Are these both for the main beam (ie up/down and left/right) or is one for the dipped as I only need to adjust the main beams down a bit to light up the road rather than the trees.

OK - I should be able to let you know after next weekend. Les.

For the very same reasons I did this (Osram nightbreakers) a couple of weeks ago. There is an improvement - the light is much whiter and a little stronger - but it doesn't cure it completely. As stated, the xenons are so good the difference is probably irreconcilable. Shame because my GTI has bi-xenons and they truly are brilliant - in more ways than one!

Can I just plead a little ignorance on this matter......do xenons only operate on "dip" and not "main beam"?

If so, what is the point, I would have thought you wanted lots of good strong light when on main beam!

Can I just plead a little ignorance on this matter......do xenons only operate on "dip" and not "main beam"?

If so, what is the point, I would have thought you wanted lots of good strong light when on main beam!

Xenons are excellent at lighting the way under dipped headlight conditions. Far better / safer the 'normal' halogen.

What I am looking for is covered in your second sentence. I agree with you and I am looking for a similar performance (or at least a near as possible performance) from the main beam.

Can I just plead a little ignorance on this matter......do xenons only operate on "dip" and not "main beam"?

If so, what is the point, I would have thought you wanted lots of good strong light when on main beam!

Dip beam only; unless you have, say, a Golf or Leon with Bi-xenons.

As I rarely use main beam, overhead lighting and too much traffic on my daily driving, I find the quality of the xenons is irreplaceable. In a perfect world I'd like xenon main beam as well.

When I drive my wife's car with normal halogen lights I wonder 'who put the lights out?'

Have just upgraded to Osram Nightbreakers on the main beams. The new H1 bulbs seem good, a bit brighter and a much closer colour match to the xenon dips than the OEM bulbs. I would recommend them so far - although they are expensive at £20+ per pair.

I changed them without removing the headlamp unit (being a woss), and its fairly easy - no skinned knuckles - but the access and clips are fiddley.

But here's a weird thing. My Octavia is 2008MY and new, yet the OEM H1 bulbs were two different makes! One is Osram (I guess standard - see left bulb in pic) and the other GE (right). The bulbs look quite different with the GE capsule being bigger - and generally looking a bit cruder in design.

The Nightbreaker capsules are smaller again than the Osram OEM ones, with blue tint on the tip and base.

Seems strange that the bulbs were mixed in new fittings but then I guess the left and right headlamp units are on separate production lines...

Les.

I felt the same and fitted PIAA Extreme White bulbs to the main beam; an improvement but you still see the difference between the two.

A popular switch with Fabia vRS drivers is to use Phillips 100w Rally bulbs in the main beam. Seems like a good idea but not sure if the more sophisticated electrics of the Octavia would then show a 'fault'.

I ran my vRS for over a year with Phillips 100W in the mains and had Xenon's, vast improvement over the stock mains and no problems at all.

The Slug has no Xenons () but it was a stock car and had all the other bit's I wanted and I got a good price ...... but back on topic, I am running that with Philips Xtreme's on Dip and am Using Halfords own brand 100W on the mains and again, all seems good and the philips xtreme's are working really well in the octy's projector lights, not a million miles off xenon performance.

But here's a weird thing. My Octavia is 2008MY and new, yet the OEM H1 bulbs were two different makes! One is Osram (I guess standard - see left bulb in pic) and the other GE (right). The bulbs look quite different with the GE capsule being bigger - and generally looking a bit cruder in design.

possibly on PDI one of the mains had blown and it was replaced before delivery?

really interesting topic this one, i had an aftermarket set on xenons fitted and the difference to normal is truly staggering. The main beam however is the issue, looks yellow and you cannot seem to get the max on dark roads. Although the xenons are so good and white within a certain distance, at speed on dark lanes you still need main. So i need the perfect solution to improving the main beam. Not botherered about the cost as the xenons cost £245 and that aint bad....?

For comparison, there are some terrific pics of Nightbreaker bulbs @ First Photos of the new Osram Nightbreakers. - Electrical & Lighting - NASIOC. Compare with my pics of the GE and Osram standard ones above.

really interesting topic this one, i had an aftermarket set on xenons fitted and the difference to normal is truly staggering. The main beam however is the issue, looks yellow and you cannot seem to get the max on dark roads. Although the xenons are so good and white within a certain distance, at speed on dark lanes you still need main. So i need the perfect solution to improving the main beam. Not botherered about the cost as the xenons cost £245 and that aint bad....?

Why not fit a Xenon conversion to the main beam lamps also?

Doing that will make a very big difference to the light output.