headlights - current aftermarket improvement options

[xcentric]

What is the currently accepted view of good aftermarket upgrades to the headlights?  Have 2xH7's in there, which are useless.

Considering led replacements (I know it's an MOT failure, and I know you have to be careful with positioning not to blind others) - wondering if the projector beams are worthwhile or whether people are happy with leds in the standard units?

Or do I try to find some xenons in the used market and retrofit? (can manage without levelling)

[JoshB]

I went through this.

https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,132239.0.html

Ended up with Osram Nightbreak 200 H7 bulbs. I recommend them.

[xcentric]

thanks.  Generally find the Osram/philips +xxx% a bit disappointing, but may given them a go.  Have some decent led's with same location of led's as halogen filament, and just fitted them with the appropriate adaptors (had to remove one headlight to do it in the else).  Will check beam pattern later.  Was considering xenons but it seems they are not so great either, so I'll try the Osrams if these led's are no better/more trouble to others than they are worth.....

[JoshB]

Depends what you’re coming from. I was on the original Osram long life bulbs, it was like driving with a couple of kids torches strapped to the front…

I was following a Mk7 GTi a couple of months ago and it lit up the whole road. I don’t think it matters what bulbs you put in, the Mk5 headlights are just rubbish.

[xcentric]

going from a range of different things - am currently building carbon headlight bowls for my Caterham to take new led headlight units, as the originals were poor. Aston headlights are good, VW T6 were awful but led's solve that and they are excellent now.  1958 2CV is the worst 

[pudding]

Are the headlight covers polycarbonate on the halogens, or glass?  Yellowing/crazing/stone chips really dulls the Xenons down.  Not sure if the same applies to the Halogens, but as already mentioned, neither flavour of headlight were particularly good in the first place!

[xcentric]

halogens originally, cleaned up the lenses anyway and they are clear.....