Headlight bulb replacement

[Buglover]

I know this has been asked a thousand times........What is the best replacment bulb for our stock bulbs? I need something brighter.

[13Beetlejuice13]

I've been looking at Sylvania Silverstars, but i'm interested in some opinions myself. Outside of upgrading to HID's that is.

[SilverSportNOLA]

Well ... the cheapy $7-9 eBay Higher Power bulbs work great for highbeam and fog ... but I got about a whole 2 weeks out of them for driving lights. I use the Sylvania SilverStars, not a whole lot briter, they last 6-9 months ... I started getting 9 when I disabled DRL. The OEM style $5 bulb seems to last the longest, I don't know how long becuase I bought the car at 23 months and changed the working bulbs about 6 months later.

[Lugnutx5]

My OEM lamps are original and still burning after 5 years. I would like to go with something brighter tho'>

[N41EF]

I've used the Sylvania Silverstars, and have had them burnout too quickly for the price. Mine burn out about every four to six months, and in my opinion aren't any brighter. I use the regular Sylvania H1 bulbs at $5 each, and my driver side has been in there a year, I've had two passenger side's burn out (Silverstar).

[Basher]

I have Philips Bluevision bulbs. I installed them when I got the car three years ago at 35,000 miles and they are still working today at 80,000. I have DRL so they are always on.

[Basher]

U N B E L I E V A B L E - I wrote the message above two days ago (after driving 45k miles without changing a bulb) and today my drivers side bulb broke. Well, let's just say I should have knocked on wood. LOL

[mgwerks]

The most reliable way to get better lifetime bulb use and brighter lighting is to use isolation relays in-circuit with the headlight switch. Use the wiring from the headlight switch that normally feeds the high and low beams to instead trigger relays that switch heavier wiring supplying the headlights straight from the batteries. The grounds from the lights should go straight to bare-metal grounding screws.

This should result in brighter headlights, longer bulb life, prevention of the headlight switch leads from melting, better breath, a more positive outlook, the accumulation of great wealth, and a positive mental outlook.

Well, some of those, anyway.

[Lmhansen]

There should also be something called XtraVision (XV), which are brighter than regular, but not as bright as the SilverStars. Not as expensive either. I upgraded to those on my Pontiac, and can't say for sure if they are available for the Beetle, though...

[SilverSportNOLA]

Originally Posted by Lmhansen

There should also be something called XtraVision (XV), which are brighter than regular, but not as bright as the SilverStars. Not as expensive either. I upgraded to those on my Pontiac, and can't say for sure if they are available for the Beetle, though...

I think I saw those on Philips site .... can't find pricing on the philips lights ... course I only checked online at wallymart, and the only thing that comes up for headlights is some bands CD's.

Chef .... that's too bad .. better get two more, my experience with the SilverStars is one goes the other within 2 weeks.

[Lmhansen]

I was scratching my head getting lightbulbs as well. When shopping at AdvanceAuto Parts, I found 4 different bulbs for my car, from the same manufacturer (Sylvania, I think). The "regular" bulb, the XV bulb (which is 20% brighter?), the CB bulb (CoolBlue), and the SilverStar. The XV bulb is a few $$ more than the regular, but I've been very happy with it. Only had it in for a couple of weeks, but it feels like I got a more even spread of light in front of the car, as well as being somewhat brighter.

[N41EF]

So my wife comes home and says a headlight is out again in the bug. Passenger's side a silverstar. I had a sylvania H1 bulb in the drawer, and thankfully had bought both new cathes for the headlights. My '01 has the pus button and lift the latch that forces the headlight forward so you can remove it. One of my latches broke, and the other was so stiff it took a screwdriver to get it to pop. I bought both side headlight popper things, if you search on any vw parts site for right catch, it'll give you the part number, about $10 each. Three screws to replace each one once the headlight is out. Adjust the catch all the way forward, and install the headlight. Check the gap and remove the headlight, slide the catch back and tighten down, the try again, will take a few times to get you nose to headlight gap. Best 20 bucks i've ever spent on the bug. Make sure you order one right and one left, and spray them with some sort of lube. Of course now, knock on wood, I won't have a bulb burn out for another 5 years.

[SilverSportNOLA]

Like I have said in another post ... at least the silverstars have kept me from having to change the lock rings again .... they burn out too fast before the rings cease up.

[13Beetlejuice13]

How about upgrading to HID's? Anyone done it? Hard to do, worth the $$. I saw a kit online somewhere for like $260 that is supposedly plug and play more or less, came with the ballasts, ignitors and the bulbs.

[13Beetlejuice13]

I searched ebay and came up with conversion kits starting at $103 and up. Hmmm, christmas gift perhaps!

[SilverSportNOLA]

Originally Posted by 13Beetlejuice13

I searched ebay and came up with conversion kits starting at $103 and up. Hmmm, christmas gift perhaps!

Sure that would make a great gift ... I'll PM you where to send them!

[13Beetlejuice13]

My pops got me my led tails for my birthday, maybe i'll ask for the HID upgrade kit for x-mas. He loves buying me car stuff, he's into the old school hot rods. I wish we still lived closer, i would have had him help me put the tails in, not that it really required two people but it would have been nice.