Customer's VW Golf 7 fitted with xenon using a Pilot Digital Line

A customer who only wants the best quality. Because Dennis wanted only the best quality for his new Golf 7, he chose the Pilot Digital Line with H7 fitting. That gets him a product that works perfectly, without faults and with no risk of upsetting the on-board computer.

New: the Hilox Evolution xenon kit

Want a better xenon kit that is easier to install and 100 cheaper too? Go for the H7 Hilox Evolution xenon kit. It is not only simpler to fit, it also gives 1,000 lumens more light than the Pilot xenon kits. In the world of aftermarket xenon, this was the breakthrough of 2016.

Xenon VW Golf 7: which xenon kit was installed?

The Digital Line H7 was installed in the VW Golf 7 together with a set of adapters.

Fitting without losing the Golf 7's warranty

Agreed with the dealer, fitting an aftermarket xenon kit in the Golf 7 was no problem at all. The Pilot Digital Line is a familiar product at almost every brand dealer. We also guarantee our customers that this xenon kit always works fault-free and does not cause damage or defects to the car.

With that guarantee, the xenon kit was fitted by us, by our installer in Heeze, near Eindhoven.

Dennis's verdict

"I'm really happy with my new lights. I was used to driving with xenon in my old car, so the light output of the halogen bulbs in my Golf 7 struck me as lamentable. In my previous car (a Golf 5) I already had a Pilot xenon kit and was very happy with it. This time I went for a Digital Line set, because it was the best choice for my new Golf.

I can see a clear improvement in light output compared with the xenon kit in my Golf 5. The kit works perfectly, with no faults!

I had it fitted too. The friendly fitter Iwan had the xenon kit in within an hour. So I did not have to wait long."

Read more about xenon in Volkswagens.

What you need to know about an H7 xenon kit

H7 is one of the most widely used fittings for low beam. An H7 xenon kit swaps the halogen bulb for a xenon bulb with its own control unit, the ballast. The ballast creates the high voltage needed to ignite the bulb and then keeps the current stable.

The current H7 kit in the range is the H7 Xenon Kit, Hilox Evolution II Black, Duo. According to the product details, you get:

• 2 x H7 xenon bulb, in 4300K, 5500K or 6500K
• 2 x Hilox Evolution II ballast with IC chip and CAN-bus II module
• 2-year warranty on the bulbs and the ballasts

The matching H7 xenon bulb is 35W, gives 4,200 lumens per bulb, runs on 11 to 30 volts and has a rated lifespan of 3,600 hours. According to the specifications, the bulb suits low beam, high beam and fog light use.

Important to know: the product information states that these kits have no ECE approval or E-mark and are therefore not intended for public roads, but for the track and private grounds.

Why adapters and CAN-bus matter on newer cars

On many newer cars, the low beam bulb sits in a make-specific holder or retaining spring. A xenon bulb has a different base from a halogen bulb. An adapter makes sure the xenon bulb sits firmly and in exactly the right spot in the reflector. If the bulb is not straight, the beam pattern is wrong and you can dazzle oncoming drivers.

On top of that, most modern cars have an on-board computer that monitors the lighting. This system, CAN-bus, measures whether current is flowing through the bulbs. A xenon kit draws current differently from a halogen bulb, so a basic kit can trigger a dashboard warning or start flickering. That is why a kit for a modern car needs a CAN-bus module. On the Hilox Evolution II Black that is the CAN-bus II module in the ballast, intended for vehicles with CAN-bus or lighting monitoring.

Not sure whether your car has CAN-bus? Then also read why you want to keep xenon from upsetting your on-board computer.

Fit it yourself or have it installed?

With a bit of handiness, fitting a xenon kit yourself is perfectly doable. The broad strokes:

1. Switch off the ignition and lights, and open the back of the headlight.
2. Take out the halogen bulb and fit the xenon bulb, with an adapter if needed. Do not touch the glass of the bulb.
3. Connect the original bulb plug to the ballast and test the kit before you tidy everything away.
4. Mount the ballast in a fixed spot away from hot engine parts, and route the wiring neatly.
5. Seal the headlight watertight again.

Short of space behind the headlight, or want to be certain? Have the kit fitted. Always check the beam after fitting. After fitting, have the beam aligned and check that your car still meets the APK (the Dutch roadworthiness test) requirements; if in doubt, ask the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) or your inspector.

You will find more on choosing the right kit in xenon in your car: how to go about it.