Headlight recommendation needed

[shail]

Hi.  I need new headlights.  Mine are cloudy.  Everytime I polish them they look ok for a month or so, but then turn cloudy.   I've read I should clear coat them, but Ive decided to just replace them.

So, any recommendations for some decent quality ones?

[ROH ECHT]

They can be expensive. I replaced one with another OE last year. Not for being cloudy, as mine is always garaged, but for a crack it developed after a minor bump.
Are yours Halogen or Bi-Xenon?
I see some Halogen on Amazon for about 25% the coast of genuine OE. Bi-Xenons appear to be another $100 more.
These are a Halogen replacement on the US Amazon site, and there are some with black backgrounds as well;
https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-247007361-Volkswagen-Passenger-Headlight/dp/B002MOGKF6
https://www.amazon.com/Jetta-Rabbit-Halogen-Headlight-Assembly/dp/B07D988H5G

I recommend applying a UV protective product to your next set or applying a film with UV protection;
https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Extra-Wide-Headlight-Protective-Scratch-Proof/dp/B0728HQ3J7

[shail]

Mine are halogens.  Thanks for the link to the UV film.
There are so many non OE ones out there, I don't want to get stuck with a poorly made pair.

[coolhandluke]

Live with them till you find a set of Xenons. They are plug and play with a little bit of coding required and totally transform the look of the car and always a good selling point if you ever decide to sell

[Jons1001]

Does anyone know how easy it is to change the covers (lenses?) on the Xenons?

[ROH ECHT]

Mine are halogens.  Thanks for the link to the UV film.
There are so many non OE ones out there, I don't want to get stuck with a poorly made pair.

Not a problem....yes, there are many clones/replicas available, some to trust and some not, and why I went OE for my replacement. I believe Magneti Marelli are OE suppliers and cost a bit less than from VW, but not 100% sure. Magneti make both Halogen and Projector assemblies.

[ROH ECHT]

Does anyone know how easy it is to change the covers (lenses?) on the Xenons?

Not sure how easy it is....there are no tube videos on it. Here, US, there are custom headlight/lighting shops who may do it....if they have access to replacement lenses. But I believe they mostly take them apart and put them back together after having customized them on the inside.

[Octoparrot]

Mine are halogens.  Thanks for the link to the UV film.
There are so many non OE ones out there, I don't want to get stuck with a poorly made pair.

I replaced mine with Hella units which weren't too expensive from ECP with one of there usual sales discounts. If I remember correctly Hella make the OE units.

[Cosmos]

I also bought a set of new hella headlights from ecp as my originals were looking a bit cloudy and old. The new ones weren't too expensive and still look like new after 3 years.

[shail]

I hadn't even thought of ECP.  Just looked and the Hella are £321 with a discount code.  Does that sound about right?

[imprezzaworks]

Looks so much nicer. Pain to fit?

[shail]

I also bought a set of new hella headlights from ecp as my originals were looking a bit cloudy and old. The new ones weren't too expensive and still look like new after 3 years.

Don't suppose you have a part number?

[Lewo]

There was a thread on here about replacing Halogens and someone put an Ebay link for some.
Around £150 I think, thought I'd bookmarked it but I didn't 
Doa search for it mate.

[Lewo]

Not sure if this was the actual thread I was on about but I've been searching for ages lol.
https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,106984.15.html

Gone up somewhat but sure that was the place selling the ones I was on about.

[shail]

Thanks all. I've gone for some Hella ones from carpartsforless.  Came in at £231, which was about £90 cheaper than at ECP.