N00b needs to know about headlights...

[Juanny]

Hey everyone. My wife and I just bought our 2001 Jetta Wolfsburg last june and love it. It's our first VW, but i've alwasy wanted one. I'd like to start customizing a few things, and the first of all is the headlights. We've noticed that the stock lights are pretty dim and i'd like to get some new ones. Any suggestions on which to get (I know absolutely nothing about buying headlights) and where in Calgary to go (if you're from around here). I wouldn't know the first thing about installing them myself, so that's not an option. I bought the car to drive it, i'll let someone else do the dirty work. Any tips on small things to customize would be great too.

Thanks in advance.

Juanny
(AKA John)

[bart]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

depends, if you want just better bulbs, get sylvania silverstars from canadian tire, they put out a bit more light, otherwise if you want new headlamps, get oem HID, but thats alot, like $1200... but worth every penny.

[stefan]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

If you are going to mod your car, i'd take on the challenge for at least a few projects. It often results in ongoing tweeking (which @ 75+$/hr can cut into the parts budget in a hurry). Also, it sucks to bring your car in to the shop every time you want to order something.
As for lights, at least pick up some silverstar bulbs. They help quite a bit. Please dont put xeon type bulbs in oem housing.. Everyone hates those people. As for upgrading, i've heard its best to stick with OE Hella stuff. There are some nice E-Code options c/w fogs, and HIDs that can be found from various online resellers. HIDs look awsome IMO, but you'll pay around 1500$ for them (maybe a little less now), and thats a little out of my reach for the moment.

[stefan]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

haha, yeah.. so bart got his msg up faster.... like he said

[Khyron]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

Jetta doesn't have very many options. Look at Ryan's hids and nothing else is worthy.

Khyron

[Kor]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

Yes, we do not mean to be snobs, but many of us have replaced the headlights and realized that we should have either stayed with the stock lights (and bought new bulbs) or bought HID which will cost at least $1000. So I recommend either option.

[R_Ethug]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

i'm on my 4th set of headlights now.. well 2 stock, 1 ecode, now OEM hids.. and yea i'll never drive a car without hids again..

[Juanny]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

Thanks guys. But, I really have no idea what HIDs are. Can someone do a quick lingo explanation for me?

[R_Ethug]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

HID headlights are the stock fancy white/blueish lights you see on high end cars like audi,bmw, mercedes..

[Mr. Burns]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

High Intesity Discharge or something like that. They are almost 2x as bright as normal lights.

[Kor]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

Yes, HID is just a type of headlight that does not use conventional bulbs, and really has only made it to north america on expensive cars like BMW etc.

You can get them in europe for almost all cars.

If you seriously want to look at the HID option I am sure we can help you find somewhere to order them from at a reasonable price. By reasonable I mean very expensive but as cheap as possible

[bart]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

here are pics:

[T-Dubbs]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

once you go HID, you will never go back

[Kor]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

Note that HID does not always have a blue colour to it. This is a common misconception. Different companies use different light wavelengths, and so some headlights have a blue-ish or purple-ish tinge. Others are very white or slightly yellowed.

[bart]

Re: N00b needs to know about headlights...

no its just the lens, they all use 4300 HID i think it is...