Headlight

[zzdiesel]

I had a rough ride off the road dodging a semi. One of the already cloudy lens headlight broke both the mounts and internal adjustments.

I am wondering if there are better options than the stock Hella lights.

 

[LoneLIPumpeDuse]

Depends how much work you want to do. The stock E55 reflectors easily take a HID H7 retro fit kit. They have a good cut off, little to no glare and much more light than incandescent. That is the quickest and essayist. Not sure about LED drop in's?

 

[Mozambiquer]

You can put w8 Passat lights in, they're xenon.

 

[zzdiesel]

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Zambee500]

The Depo ones are no worse than stock, and cheaper.

True. But I would add about the Depo that the clips that secure the bulb in the housing are different than the Hellas/OE. I don't know that the Depo clips are proprietary, but after dropping it into the ether inside the engine bay, I could not find replacements anywhere and had no way to secure a replacement bulb in place. Depo doesn't offer any support. The Hella headlamp assemblies on FCP Euro weren't too spendy, at the time anyway.

 

[zzdiesel]

So I polished up a headlight that I had on hand and installed it. While adjusting, trying to raise the beam, there was a pop and the beam fell down. Has the adjuster ran out of adjustment or likely broke? Is it done or can the adjuster somehow be reconnected?

 

[Mozambiquer]

So I polished up a headlight that I had on hand and installed it. While adjusting, trying to raise the beam, there was a pop and the beam fell down. Has the adjuster ran out of adjustment or likely broke? Is it done or can the adjuster somehow be reconnected?

The adjusters had problems with getting old and breaking. Actually, it's not the adjuster, but the piece that holds the reflector inside the light. There's a ball and socket type joint and the socket breaks. I had that happen on my Passat, I used some silicone and glued it back in.

 

[DeliveryValve]

... The Hella headlamp assemblies on FCP Euro weren't too spendy, at the time anyway.

I bought my replacement Hellas from FCP Euro in 2015. One of them, somehow broke inside too (maybe the adjuster) after a few years. I got a no questions asked lifetime warranty replacement (less shipping) and all is still well today. I would consider buying from FCP because of the warranty policy.

 

[zzdiesel]

It is a broken adjuster. However, 2 1/16 In. holes and some wire and it is tied up in place. A hay wire fix by an old Saskatchewan farmer.

It will do for now, but a new pair of lights will be in the cars future.

 

[LoneLIPumpeDuse]

I just upgraded my old DDM 35w HID's with 55W DDM ultra's. Very happy with the results, much better than the 35w! Now I have to see what I can do about LED's in the high beams.

 

[zzdiesel]

Let me know how the LEDs turn out. I too was wondering about them.

 

[johnboy00]

I've got a set of Depo's if you're interested. Used them for about 2 years and the cars been sitting in the garage, until recently, for almost 3 years. Soon to be disposed off. $75 plus shipping for the set. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004I11UAQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I can take a few pics if you're interested. They basically look new.

 

[tikal]

I just upgraded my old DDM 35w HID's with 55W DDM ultra's. Very happy with the results, much better than the 35w! Now I have to see what I can do about LED's in the high beams.

I would appreciate sharing your exact HID configuration that is working in your Passat and the link to get it. Recently I tried a set from XENONHIDS.com and during a mockup set up it would trip the fuse.

 

[tikal]

If interested take a look here for my initial experience with the DDM Tuning SaberLED OE Fit 50W H7 LED Bulbs for low beam lights.