R36 Xenon Bulb Wattage???

**snerlo** · 16-08-2014, 10:29 PM

I've tried doing some searching but couldn't see any questions or answers, hence my post. Having just come back from the snow and driving at night, I've come to the realisation that the xenon lights in my R36 aren't really doing it for me. Apart from pointing down into the ground to close to the front of the car, the light output is quite crap when you compare them to mercs, audi's, beemers etc. I was driving through Sydney and was quite amazed at how much brighter these cars were. I was having serious issues when driving along the highways and couldn't wait to get high beam up so that i could safely see where i was going! Now, the adjusting of the beams up is relatively simple i hope by adjusting the white dials on the headlights and hoping that the new levels are adhered to when the lights next do their start up dance, but the light output issue is a little more complicated. I have read that they are D1S 35W. Does anyone know if the other european cars use a higher wattage bulb? If so, has anyone put some in their car with xenons?
Sorry if this doesn't make sense!

**shane_in_oz** · 17-08-2014, 12:13 AM

they are 35w. there are 50w hids but you would need the correct ballast. A lot of new mercs and audis have LED headlight so they are a bit brighter and also a lot whiter. I find my hids are great I have up graded the globe to 5000k so a little whiter than the stock 4300k

**Passat R36** · 17-08-2014, 11:51 AM

changing the globe in R36 is really hard right? have to remove the bumper etc right?

**snerlo** · 17-08-2014, 12:10 PM

I haven't looked into how hard it is to change the actual globe but I would be doubtful that you need to pull the bumper off to change a simple bulb. You would surely be able to access from the back of the headlight assembly.