Xenon Disappointment

[Gizmo]

Got the first opporunity to try my xenons in proper darkness at the weekend but they left me unimpressed. The spread was good but the light hit the road 5m or so in front of the car with not too much beyond and I found myself constantly needing to use main beam, something I try to avoid and haven't needed to do in the normal headlight cars I've driven.

I'm going to get it booked in to get the light height checked but the salesman seemed to think that they aim xenons low now to prevent dazzling.

A big disappointment for the additional car and insurance costs, hopefully they are a few degrees low and the garage can sort them out.

[Andy vRS]

I have to say they look brighter when you see them than when you are using them if you know what i mean. My mums range rover has them and they look great if you see them but to use they are ok no better than their older range rover lights which were standard.

[EddyH]

I retrofitted OEM xenons to my Mk4 Golf and their was a big improvement over the standard lights which were running philips vision plus lamps.

I would hope yours are just incorrectly adjusted.

[walkie]

Originally Posted by Gizmo

Got the first opporunity to try my xenons in proper darkness at the weekend but they left me unimpressed. The spread was good but the light hit the road 5m or so in front of the car with not too much beyond and I found myself constantly needing to use main beam, something I try to avoid and haven't needed to do in the normal headlight cars I've driven.

I'm going to get it booked in to get the light height checked but the salesman seemed to think that they aim xenons low now to prevent dazzling.

A big disappointment for the additional car and insurance costs, hopefully they are a few degrees low and the garage can sort them out.

I'll swap with you

[bryand]

My Furby was delivered with the Xenons about 30 ft in front of the car. The dealer re-aimed them so the top of the beam is essentially flat, with the result that they give a good spread and are better than halogens.
I reckon they are worth about an extra 10 mph on unlit roads at night.

If you can find somebody with a Vag-Com, you can re-aim them yourself. The drill (which is explained on the Vag-Com website) is essentially:
Tell the headlamp leveller to adopt its mid position
Wait for the motors to set the lamps at mid-position
Manually adjust the lamps to point where you want
Tell the self-leveller you have finished.

If you forget the last step, the lights won't have been adjusted.

[ventmore]

Mine were like this when I got my vRS...a quick trip to the dealer, and they had them sorted......however, when they are setup properly, prepare to get plenty of flashes from people.

[skodaw]

I think there will be an adjustment issue - I've never heard anyone be dissappointed with Gas Discharge lights.

[tfboy]

I was well happy with them on my first fabia. I'll do a swap with you too

[JUT]

Originally Posted by skodaw

I think there will be an adjustment issue - I've never heard anyone be dissappointed with Gas Discharge lights.

have driven a loan furby without xenons and missed them badly

[steve]

Had them on me Superb and they were 5 times better than my Octy's lights,
one of the things i wish the RS had.

Steve

[django]

Can't comment on the Fabia but I have to say I've never been too impressed by Xenons on other cars. They give a very white light but not a particularly good spread

[Wardy]

Originally Posted by Volvo T5

...My mums range rover has them and they look great if you see them

No. They don't. I think the current Range Rover and the Porsche Cayenne are the worst offenders for trying to blind you, either coming towards you or when they're tailing. Big from me...

Whether they're correctly aligned or not, I think they're too bright. Can't comment on the Furby's setup though.

Steve

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by Wardy

No. They don't. I think the current Range Rover and the Porsche Cayenne are the worst offenders for trying to blind you, either coming towards you or when they're tailing. Big from me...

Whether they're correctly aligned or not, I think they're too bright. Can't comment on the Furby's setup though.

Steve

They're only more blinding because they're higher up than normal car lights and it doesn't matter whether they use xenons or halogens, they will still blind you. It's the same with vans and lorries...

Chris

[Wardy]

Nope, don't have a problem with other 4x4s, or any other type of larger vehicle with normal headlights.

Steve

[KentStu]

Originally Posted by Wardy

No. They don't. I think the current Range Rover and the Porsche Cayenne are the worst offenders for trying to blind you, either coming towards you or when they're tailing. Big from me...

Whether they're correctly aligned or not, I think they're too bright. Can't comment on the Furby's setup though.

Steve

I've really experienced bad blinding from Range Rovers particularly ... and I can't believe that they are all badly aligned Personally, I find them very dangerous and they seem worse than having a normal car on full undipped beam behind you.

[CupraR-Rog]

Range Rover with Xenons isn't as bad as those new Nissan Micra's with normal headlights when they're behind you though!! Even with my tints I have to move the rear view mirror as they seem to be at a height that shines straight through the car!!

As for the Xenons not being too good on the furby - probably just headlight alignment - if you're not happy after your stealers have had a look, get your local friendly MOT centre to take a look! On my Leon (standard Halogens), what the dealer said was "ok" was what position 3 on the adjuster was after my local MOT guy had adjusted them to the legal height!

[Scoobystuff]

I pick up my new 05 Fabia vRS tomorrow and I was after Xenons when I ordered it. The dealer actually talked me out of ordering them though. He said he finds they are aimed too low and are self leveling so can't be adjusted?
In his opinion the normal lights are much better. It's a shame because I think Xenons look fantastic and also look make the car look more up market IMHO.

Don't know if he was telling the whole truth or just couldn't get hold of one with Xenon's but, decided no to take the chance for £500.00!

Roll on tomorrow!

[Mil]

White light halogens are kick-***

[ScoobyChris]

Originally Posted by Scoobystuff

I pick up my new 05 Fabia vRS tomorrow and I was after Xenons when I ordered it. The dealer actually talked me out of ordering them though. He said he finds they are aimed too low and are self leveling so can't be adjusted?

They can be adjusted - all you need is a copy of VAG-COM and a screwdriver They are self-levelling, but you can adjust the mid-point so they level around a different point.

Chris

[The Jimmy]

[quote=Gizmo]Got the first opporunity to try my xenons in proper darkness at the weekend but they left me unimpressed. The spread was good but the light hit the road 5m or so in front of the car with not too much beyond and I found myself constantly needing to use main beam

Have found the same thing as Gizmo which was a shame as I got them to enhance late night travels through dark countryside but I frequently find myself going slower if main beam was not appropriate due to other traffic. Suspected that the auto leveller could be adjusted but good to read from others that this is the case before approaching the dealer. Munching carrots until I get it sorted!!

[Josh_PoloGTi]

I've not got time to read all the replies at the moment, but I felt the same after coming from my Polo GTi with properly adjusted Xenons into a box-fresh vRS...

But 5 minutes with a screwdriver sorted mine, and now I'm really pleased with them.

Xenons are the future

[carefree]

Hmmmmm BUT they are only lights

[walkie]

Originally Posted by carefree

Hmmmmm BUT they are only lights

Have you driven a car with them?

[Gizmo]

My cars now been back into the dealer and the lights were a little low and have been adjusted accordingly they're better but they still end quite close to the car. I think this is exaggerated on back roads as the short wheelbase causes the nose to nod. I also haven't driven a Fabia with standard lights at night to compare against so my Xenons may be an improvement and I'm just expecting too much.

This leaves me with three options:
1. Leave the lights as is and see how I get on when I have to do a lot of night driving next winter and get VAG-COM if necessary
2. Try another dealer, not sure how helpful they'll be and whether Skoda will let them carry out the same work under warranty again
3. Contact Skoda customer services and see what they've got to say on the matter

Does anybody know what the law/MOT criteria for light height is?

[WW_VRS]

Simple answer is to go to an MOT centre, they can tell you