HID Xenon? Who's done this?

[Beetlebro]

Hi all.

I'm looking into installing HID Xenon headlights in my '08 Beetle. Has anyone done this? I have no idea where to start, where to look...help.

You guys are amazing!

[Beetlebro]

Does anyone know of kits or sites to look at?

[dnyed]

Simplified OEM Bi Xenon


Try this.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

FYI, HIDs are always Xenon. It is the gas in the bulbs. Are you wanting to DO IT ALL? Self-levelers? Washers?

[Beetlebro]

I honestly don't know. Would you mind explaining the differences between them?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

I'm sorry, I was probably being somewhat facetious. I'm all for better headlights, but for usefullness and not for bling and show. European standards require HIDs to be fitted with self levelers and washers to wash the outer covers so as to keep glare out of the eyes of oncoming cars and out of the mirrors of leading vehicles. All cars marketed in this country with factory HIDs come equipped with these features. Even the Bugs that offered these once as an option had those features. I understand it was not even available as an option in the last years, but I could be wrong.

Color is also an issue. US Standards do not permit any color but white for headlights. Blues and purples, are, by law, not legal. Levelers and washers have not been addressed.

While there are many on here who will argue the point, the existing Halogen headlight assemblies in the NB are not designed with the proper lens and reflectors for HIDs.

I really don't want to debate the issue on here, and won't be back to this thread. We have beat this to death over the last couple months. You can do a little thread searching and find all the debate, good aftermarket kit referrals, bad experiences, etc, etc. There are a lot of misinformed people who think these HIDs are hotter bulbs and need and draw more current, requiring heavier duty wiring.

The only way to add self-levelers and washers is with factory parts, and a real fat wallet stuck in a real deep pocket.

Best of luck to you on this my friend! Research, read, read some more, learn, and make you own decisions.

Besides, LED headlights, as standard fare, are within a couple years of reality, and HIDs will be passé!

MORAV

[Beetlebro]

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it!

I may just forget it, seems like a huge hassle with mixed results. Thanks again.

[kcfoxie]

It all depends on your point of view. 50,000 hours = 2083 days or 5.7 YEARS of use (24/7) before I need to replace them. You've probably never replaced a bulb in your car yet (it's so new!), where as I have replaced more bulbs than I care to think about in New Beetles over the years.

For me, it's about never needing to open the headlamp assembly up except every 4-5 years for inspection and replacement of a bulb. I've managed up to 2 bulbs per year using standard bulbs in older Beetles (the 98-01's have their reputation for burning out bulbs frequently).

For me, this was not a looks issue. It was a drivability one. That said, I'm putting normal lights in for the high beams... stashing the inverter for the HIDs is really a PITA and I just can't justify the money to do HIDs for the high beams (I've not had high beams in over 7 months now and I'm not missing them really).

Now that said, the kit was $30 on ebay. I had to modify the back cap of the projector assembly to make it all work, but it cost LESS than the last pair of silverstars and so far have held up longer. Color me happy with my $35 shipped purchase.

I understand that the projector in my car isn't designed for HIDs but it does a great job with them. I need a driver side headlampassembly as my lens is busted and won't hold up right but the new one on the passenger side is perfect and does not blind people when passing with how I have it angled, yet gives me lots of visibility (and I'm taller than most so visibility of aimed lights is usually an issue for me).

If you're a DIY type, it won't take you but an hour per side to do the conversion and you never need to worry with it till a bulb finally dies on you... some 50k hours later...

[Beetlebro]

Great info! Really appreciate it.

I see a lot of "kits" at online stores, anyone recommend any?

[Beetle1.8turbo]

i got Xentec brand on ebay for $42.00 free shipping