Headlights - Discussion and Questions

[Dutch77]

I would suspect a vehicle designed for European speeds has more than adequate headlights. Not sure VW would ever be able to make all the fringe owners satisfied. However, it is possible that the setup for right-hand drive vehicles is not optimized.

You would suspect wrong. The Mk7 halogens are bordering on a disgrace. Having said that, unless you regularly drive on unlit roads at night then the xenons were an overpriced styling option only.. which for us here in Australia has been taken away from us by VWA on base GTIs in any case.

[REGS12]

You would suspect wrong. The Mk7 halogens are bordering on a disgrace. Having said that, unless you regularly drive on unlit roads at night then the xenons were an overpriced styling option only.. which for us here in Australia has been taken away from us by VWA on base GTIs in any case.

Having started this thread, It has been interesting to see that the problem is widespread across the whole range of Mk 7's.
I think the scariest downfall is the darkness to the right side. Driving through the hills with blind right hand bends is downright dangerous. I too have complained to the dealer, only to be spun the old line of "no-one else has complained"

I seriously believe the headlights are inadequate. So poor that they are dangerous and unroadworthy. I love my GTI , just as I have the previous two Golfs we've had. VW build good stuff, but ****house, disgraceful headlights. The Aussie car guys could show the Germans a thing or two about how to design decent lighting!

Does anyone from VW that cares read this stuff, or are we just whinging among ourselves?

[BFPO40]

I would suspect a vehicle designed for European speeds has more than adequate headlights. Not sure VW would ever be able to make all the fringe owners satisfied. However, it is possible that the setup for right-hand drive vehicles is not optimized.

Probably more accurate that VW ran out of budget when it came to the mk7 halogen headlights, the MK7 is clearly designed for the U-LED Xenons right down to the red / silver strip running through the headlight. All the concept drawings I have seen show the U shaped DRL.

The Halogens are an after thought and very little thought went into them, they look cheap, nasty and out of place on the mk7. They are the most disappointing part of the Golf Mk7 and make the car look dated in the current hatch market.

And to boot the performance of the halogens is crap. Even the polo halogens look better.

To add to VW's penny pinching ways the GTI and Highline models have been downgraded to these sub-standard halogens outside of the German market - tight as.

[kamold]

Yeah reflector halogens do offer a very budget look to the front end of any car. At least use some cheap projectors to give the impression you care VW.... Not a good look for what in this market is a premium brand.

[Dutch77]

The chrome strip on TSI and the R looks ok, but the red strip is a no-no for me (and judging by a lot of comments in the USA forums they feel the same). I'll admit over time I've gone from hating it to simply disliking it; I might even think it's ok by the time I'm ready to move on from the Mk7.

But like I say with the Santiagos on the PP - each to their own.

[Brendan_A]

So glad I've got xenons and I love my red stripes

[Dutch77]

I knew I'd get a bite.

Audi do a premium front light; VW xenon or halogen is no match.. but I don't think it cheapens the car, it's still the most premium in its class.

[Jimi]

So glad I've got xenons and I love my red stripes

Yep, even more so reading the debacle that is the win power lamps thread

I was 50/50 when I added bixenons, which were my only option. I haven't regretted it for a second. The red line has grown on me too - it's only a single line and looks clean, not naff at all I reckon. No worse than some non oem wheels anyway!

[Dutch77]

Touche.

[Mountainman]

I am happy with the focus of the headlights on my Mk7 both low and high beam, it's just their poor output. They simply are not bright enough, though strangely they seem better now after a year than when new. Maybe the low beam bulb upgrade has been more effective than I thought. I regularly (every day) swap between my Forester XT with its standard low beam xenons and do heaps of night time driving and strangely it is not the difference between the two cars low beams that I notice - it's the incredibly much better effect the Forester's halogen high beams have when they come on compared with the Golf. Like others have said, there are some very effective halogen set ups out there. Not on the Mk7 golf though.