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.

 

[Deskman]

I changed my head units (2006 Cali) because the reflector was burnt. Because of that, I was looking for LED bulbs that emit less heat. The Osram is the only bulb allowed (check the exact specs; I don’t know about RHD). But you must have good, clear glass to prevent the beam from scattering.
The amount of light is amazing. It passed the APK (Dutch MOT) without a problem.

In this image, the units are not adjusted yet, but you can see there is no flare that will blind oncoming traffic.

 

[happyjames013]

Hi, as I understand it, LED bulbs can not be used in a standard lamp H4 or H7 in the UK.
You can change the whole unit as a total upgrade like at transporter HQ.
The reason being that the units aren’t designed with the same pattern and diffusion as specifically designed units.
Some led bulbs are legal in the eu, but not the UK. They are often advertised as “road legal”, but they aren’t here. They need the BS mark not the eu equivalent.

If you have the H4 set up, it might be worth looking at a halfway house of upgrading to H7 holders and possibly lamp unit. I have H7 on my T5.1 and they much better than H4.

It’s easy to spot illegal “modded” led upgrades they’re usually on a Saxo/Polo/generic yooof car that sounds really loud and blind you.

 

[gatvol]

I have top end halogens in mine.

I also get the MOT guy to optimise the effectiveness of dipped beam by setting it to the upper permissable limit.

This combination has improved them noticeably.

LEDS - you hit legality and wiring compatibility issues. Also, retrofitting LEDs to wiring circuits designed for incandescents can cause problems due to led power surge.

 

[Deskman]

Hi, as I understand it, LED bulbs can not be used in a standard lamp H4 or H7 in the UK.
You can change the whole unit as a total upgrade like at transporter HQ.
The reason being that the units aren’t designed with the same pattern and diffusion as specifically designed units.
Some led bulbs are legal in the eu, but not the UK. They are often advertised as “road legal”, but they aren’t here. They need the BS mark not the eu equivalent.

If you have the H4 set up, it might be worth looking at a halfway house of upgrading to H7 holders and possibly lamp unit. I have H7 on my T5.1 and they much better than H4.

It’s easy to spot illegal “modded” led upgrades they’re usually on a Saxo/Polo/generic yooof car that sounds really loud and blind you.

They were also prohibited in NL because the rule was that H7 must be a halogen bulb. Now, there is some wiggle room, and when installed and adjusted properly, they will pass the APK.
With the additional (Osram build) units, you can prevent CANBus errors

As far as I can find online, UK MOT is much stricter and doesn't allow you to change to, for example, third-party projector units. Then you are stuck with higher-power H7 halogens, but keep in mind that these lights will probably destroy your reflectors sooner or later, and if that happens, you need completely new headlight units.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Ok thanks all for responses. I managed to return the wrong H4 to Amazon.

@happyjames013 I am confused as H7 is the older type on my 2008 T5 yes? And H4 newer??

So how are H7 better?

Looks like LEDS are a no no for me unless I go down Transporter HQ route. I’m afraid that will get added to the £500+ list along with replacing my 2008 batteries and probably a new awning and fitting new bed springs. All of which could be done but aren’t urgent.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I changed my head units (2006 Cali) because the reflector was burnt. Because of that, I was looking for LED bulbs that emit less heat. The Osram is the only bulb allowed (check the exact specs; I don’t know about RHD). But you must have good, clear glass to prevent the beam from scattering.
The amount of light is amazing. It passed the APK (Dutch MOT) without a problem.

In this image, the units are not adjusted yet, but you can see there is no flare that will blind oncoming traffic.

View attachment 131411

So you changed your units but sticking with the same type?
But found H7 Osram LEDS? Can you share what they are?

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I will first polish these with the kit I bought. Seems a good start.

You can see where I scratched them when removing previous Eurolites. I used a kitchen sponge assuming the lenses were glass. I believe it will polish up ok after I chip off Eurolites. And a cheap option. I will stop using Eurolites and risk it I think.


I fitted these a year ago and I guess they are probably the best I can get without LEDs.

 

[Deskman]

Ok thanks all for responses. I managed to return the wrong H4 to Amazon.

@happyjames013 I am confused as H7 is the older type on my 2008 T5 yes? And H4 newer??

So how are H7 better?

Looks like LEDS are a no no for me unless I go down Transporter HQ route. I’m afraid that will get added to the £500+ list along with replacing my 2008 batteries and probably a new awning and fitting new bed springs. All of which could be done but aren’t urgent.

Officially, LEDs are a no-go in the UK.
H4 is a single bulb with two filaments, one shaded for the low and a bare one for the high beams.
H7 is more or less an H4 without the headlight, which is usually in the second reflector with an H1. Both are used on the T5 and T5.1 Multivan/California. So, it's not newer or better. It's more like 'split up'.

 

[happyjames013]

Ok thanks all for responses. I managed to return the wrong H4 to Amazon.

@happyjames013 I am confused as H7 is the older type on my 2008 T5 yes? And H4 newer??

So how are H7 better?

Looks like LEDS are a no no for me unless I go down Transporter HQ route. I’m afraid that will get added to the £500+ list along with replacing my 2008 batteries and probably a new awning and fitting new bed springs. All of which could be done but aren’t urgent.

They used H4 and H7 (H7 for dipped H15 high and side lights) on different models.
On the T5.1 sportline, caravelle and Shuttle (I have the shuttle) they use H7 and H15, I think everything else, certainly commercials, H4 was used.
TBH not sure what version the Cali is based on and from what I’ve seen, spec is different depending on year, model and variation.

If you’ve got H4’s, I think you either go for night breakers or similar as compromise or you get new light units.

From what I can see, THQ leds are a similar price to new units with H7/15 fitment. So if you’ve fancy lashing out £500 odd…….

EBay for used?