I think a few people asked in this thread if the manual adjustments actually make a difference, and I can confirm what other's have stated...using tape measures today, the manual adjustments change the center height of the self-leveling/adaptive system. It makes logical sense because even under the best of manufacturing conditions, both the headlight units and chasis will vary slightly, requiring the ability for manual adjustments to ensure proper, legal, alignment. About 1.5 turns for my setup seems to keep it within the guidelines for adjusting headlamps. For sure, VW went conservative and had them a bit lower.
I loved riding the BMW. I don't know what they did or how they did it, but the handling was sublime, using nearly the same suspension components as the SV. I just felt so confident riding it. It had all the power I needed, brakes that saved my arse more than once and was an absolute joy to ride - whether it was to work or to the Netherlands. It sipped fuel (70mpg @ 70mph!), never needed faffing about with the chain and had a bloody decent headlight.
I found the headlights to be nice and bright and cutoff at distance down the road seemed pretty good.
For the exterior my money goes to headlights with accent lights started by BMW and Audi and then copied by every manufacturer out there.
I am not at stock height, but I have changed the headlight aiming. What I look for is that the cutoff point is about at the trunkline of cars in front of me and that seems to work well.
I have driven my GTI S at night and never once thought to myself that I wished I had paid more money for a Sport GTI so I could have the Xenons. Nor have I once thought I need my headlights to turn for me as I turn a corner. I see just fine when cornering at night with my halogens.
I tried/am trying to fit a set of E36 lights into my jetta. They are a bit wider, and shorter than the stock headlights. You would need a hood spoiler to fill the gap above the headlight, you would need to make a custom spacer to fill the gap between the headlight and the fender, you would have to cut up the headlight, the radiator support, and part of the inside of the fender. I got one light to \"fit\" and it looks pretty dope, but it doesn't fit the contour (sp) of the car, they are more square and flat than the stock lights. Oh and you would have to make the brackets to mount the lights to the car. Quite a PITA for something that looks kind of cool, but doesn't quite fit right...
There should be a lower category specifically for the Passat. worst. headlights. ever. The shame is that a big part of the problem is that they are simply aimed at the ground about 100' in front of the car.
Man, i hate those type of headlights. They fog up, they leak, they break and they look cheap.
About 3 weeks ago, my right headlight (HID with AFS swivel motors) goes out and I get the message in the MFD - \"AFS Inoperative\" followed by \"Lower Right Dipped Beam out\" (or something to that effect).
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