I've just recently bought a 2001 VW Passat 1.8T Sport.
On Saturday night I was heading south down the M74 from Glasgow in driving rain and was appalled at the lack of light coming from the dipped headlights.
Main beam are OK, but dipped are as good as no use.
Have I got a wiring/bulb issue or are all Passats like this?
I used to have a Mondeo and the headlights on it were excellent.
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Painfully poor headlights seem to be the norm on these Passats & Audi A4s.A friend has a similar model with the same problem- we upgraded to Philips extra vision bulbs with a slight improvement ,howevever he now uses his Ford Transit for night driving!!!
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Agree Passat headlights are poor. Styling probably taken precedence over performance. Try Osram Silver Star bulbs - might help a little.
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Agree Passat headlights are poor. Styling probably taken precedence over performance. Try Osram Silver Star bulbs - might help a little.
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I bought 4 Osram SS bulbs for my Passat.
I started to fit them this morning, the farside dipped was not too difficult, once I had taken off the air cleaner so I could get my hand behind. The farside main beam was a different matter, you need to stand on your head to get to the bulb. It was terrible, it took me about 1.5 hours, temper not so good, wondering what it is like to change a Mondeo bulb,to get the ****** thing in.
The nearside dipped was not too bad, but I daren't try the mainbeam bulb, because it looks as if you have to take off the fuel injection system to get at it.
Does anyone know if there is a better way of changing these bulbs? There is not much point in taking a spare bulb kit to France.
I have been out tonight to try my 3 new bulbs! To be honest I didn't notice much difference.
I wish I hadn't bothered.
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"To be honest I didn't notice much difference."
If they are H7's quizman I'm not the least bit surprised!
JS
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Oddly, I have heard it said german cars often have poor dip beam lights. Do you know what bulbs it uses? I ask because if has H7 bulbs, don't bother with the various '50%' brighter upgrades. Changed the H7s for Philips 'high bightness' on an 2002 Astra, and thought I couldn't see much difference. Following one failure, I now have one original and one upgraded bulb. I was right - it makes no difference at all!
Now, H4 and H1, then I have seen benefits, mostly on the H4, and a bit less on the H1.
JS
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Oh dear , out of step again. I am happy with the dip beam but not with the main beam.
The main beam bulbs on my diesel Passat are easily accessible but the dip beams are a real pain with dismantling needed both sides.
Think the Passat has the H1.
How much for four bulbs Wally?
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Hello G.W.S. my name is Quizman, please don't call me a Wally.
The 2001 Passat uses four H7 bulbs, these cost £49.90 inc carriage from www.powerbulbs.co.uk This firm seem very good, with prompt delivery.
I found that the dipped beams were much easier than the main ones ( the two nearest the middle ). As I said it took me about 2.5 hours just to do 3 bulbs, at main dealer costs it will be £200 sir + VAT of course!
I spent so long bent under the bonnet that I have now got a bad back, it serves me right, I am absolutely hopeless with these newer complicated cars, and I swore never to attempt this sort of thing again.
I have just ordered one of those Pelo oil extracters, oh dear more trouble is looming, I don't know how to change these new sort of filters. Does anyone know please?
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Sounds like it might be easier to remove the complete headlight assy and then change the bulb....
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The 2001 Passat uses four H7 bulbs, these cost £49.90 inc carriage from www.powerbulbs.co.uk This firm seem very good, with prompt delivery.
I found Powerbulbs were very good.
I ordered two headlight bulbs and by return got in addition a pair of 5W5 bulb wedge type bulbs free. They show white and bright. I do not know if this free bulbs deal is still going.
IIRC it was 10% of the next order for my dip beams plus a pair of 5W5 type bulbs for free.
I now have a pair of spare bulbs value about £10 so am well pleased. All for waiting a few days.
My Mondeo is also a silly arrangement re bulb access.
I can now quickly remove the grill and the headlamp units to get to the bulbs. Crazy engineering.
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Sorry Quizman,
Thought it was Wally who had bought the new bulbs when I replied.
A bit cautious about buying the expensive brighter bulbs as I know some Backroomers found they had a shorter life.
Am trying an Osram SS H4 in my BMW bike. Rarely ride at nighttime though.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Ordered four Osram SS H7 from Consumabulbs for £33.
Easily cajoled.
Will let you know how I get on with the fitting.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Overnight delivery by Royal Mail.Remarkable.
A big saving- lets hope they work as well as promised.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Fitted four Osram SS bulbs to my diesel Passat.
3 1/2 hours total this time.I knew what to dismantle to access the dip beams,but additional work was needed to get hold of the main beam holders.i.e. removal of the mounting chassis for a wiring loom. Eventually I found a 20mm socket on a bent drive bar enabled me to re-engage them.No way could I do it with fingers although I removed the old ones OK.Also NS buld was getting tangled with wiring for headlamp levelling motor.
A painful and frustrating experience and obviously MUCH easier with the headlights out.
Worthwhile I think a big improvement in brightness.
I note the blurb DOES claim comparable life to standard bulbs, so fingers crossed.
PS dropped the socket on to the under tray.Another 20 mins getting that out!
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Interesting. Shows how car specific the results are. I'm currently running a 2002 Astra with one high brightness (Philips) and one standard bulb. Absolutely no noticeable difference. Maybe it's those completely clear lamps on the Asta. Oh, and the high brightness failed within 20k miles - first bulb I've had fail for ages.
JS
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As I said before, it took me 2.5 hours to fit 3 bulbs.
Today my tractor mechanic, who is brilliant at anything mechanical, came to fix my tractor. After he had finished, I mentioned that the nearside main beam headlight bulb was impossible to change. This was like a red rag to a bull, he changed it in 10 minutes!
Moral of story, if you are useless at mechanics, get the experts to do it.
My Pela extractor has arrived, oh dear more trouble and swearing.
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I have had Osram SS in one of my cars for about three years (used with lights on most nights). Definitely seems to be an improvement and not blown yet....
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Well, yes, someone with the correct size of hands makes the world of difference.Lucky Quizman.
I have to work with my large ones so the socket was the only way forward.
Will report on the long term reliability of new bulbs.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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