Anyone switched the headlights of a T5 to something better?

[Lambeth Cali]

I was just wondering if anyone has upgraded their T5 headlights?

I tend not to drive much at night but last year driving to the Alps it was a nightmare in pouring rain at night on French motorways that had no lighting or cats eyes. I could barely see a thing. I think I ahd to use my fog lights just to see the white lines.

 

[colintfcolintf]

can just the bulbs be upgraded?

 

[Lambeth Cali]

can just the bulbs be upgraded?

Tried that but didn't make much difference. The glass on the headlights isn't great after having EU lens deflectors on and off over many years.

 

[Huk7]

I guess the 'cheap and easy' option is to have the headlights polished back up to new condition (any decent detailer should be able to do this for you), other than that there are places like Transporter HQ (and I am sure many others) that sell entire unit upgrades.

Just my two penneth

Howard

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I guess the 'cheap and easy' option is to have the headlights polished back up to new condition (any decent detailer should be able to do this for you), other than that there are places like Transporter HQ (and I am sure many others) that sell entire unit upgrades.

Just my two penneth

Howard

Yes I looked at Transporter HQ.

Just wondered if anyone had done it.

 

[Azteccamper]

I feel your pain.
I upgraded my H7 bulbs to 200% super bright bulbs with little impact tbh. I never put EU deflectors on (but carry a set in the glovebox) but don’t travel at night as much as I can. To upgrade seems extremely pricey for the return in general.
And it’s not a EU thing - the headlights are s#it€ in the UK!

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Had Transporter HQ ones the Beach and they were excellent.

In the Joker we have fitted Phillips LED bulbs, also great.

 

[Azteccamper]

Won’t fitting led bulbs bring up a warning light? (MOT failure)?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Won’t fitting led bulbs bring up a warning light? (MOT failure)?

No bulb failure light with Philips LED bulbs.


For H4:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CHX6TQV3?tag=vwcalifornia-21

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4QC8HQC?tag=vwcalifornia-21

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CHX6TQV3?tag=vwcalifornia-21

 

[Azteccamper]

No bulb failure light with Philips LED bulbs.

(MOT is different matter. Transporter HQ passed MOT beam test at our local garage - bulbs are concealed in bulb casing, have not had MOT with Phillips LED bulbs - if it fails will switch the bulbs back to normal for the retest)

Ah ok. When I fitted led bulbs to a caddy the dash icon came on and couldn’t be reset via Carista.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Just wondering about this and then some of the Philips LED bulbs…
Quite positive reviews with pictures.

 

[marchugo]

On my T5 (2009) two years ago the dealer changed the original VW front bulbs to H7-LED Night Breaker from Osram. They were at that moment the only LEDs that are street legal in Europe for T5 (and for some T6, see the list on the website of Osram).

Certainly better vision in the dark, but don't expect too much. The light is just much "whiter" (6000 Kelvin) and shines farther than the irritating vague original yello-ish beams.

I only changed the low beam lights, not the high beams. Not cheap though, more than 140 euro/pair, excluding technician hours. The dealer has to put two official Osram approvement stickers under the bonnet above the headlamp housings, in case of a police control.

For me it was not a thing I would do myself, a much too fiddly job. And Osram only gives the 4 year guarantee on the bulbs if the work is done by an official car dealer.

Enlightened regards from Amsterdam,

Marc.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

No bulb failure light with Philips LED bulbs.


For H4:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CHX6TQV3?tag=vwcalifornia-21

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4QC8HQC?tag=vwcalifornia-21

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CHX6TQV3?tag=vwcalifornia-21

Oh no just realised these don’t fit my T5. I’ll have to give them to my neighbour

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Oh no just realised these don’t fit my T5. I’ll have to give them to my neighbour

Just send them back if purchased on Amazon.