VW Polo LED Low Beam Headlight Upgrade: Hilox XTR Black H7

Plenty of light for very little power: that is why Ruud upgraded the halogen headlights on his 2014 Volkswagen Polo to LED. The standard halogen bulbs disappointed so badly on light output that Ruud decided his fine machine deserved LED. We have summarised the review from a very satisfied Ruud below.

Why did you choose an LED kit?

After our experiences with LED at home and xenon in the car, this time we went for the new technology and quality of Hilox LED in the car. Plenty of light, little power and a quality package all round make this a good choice.

How did the installation go?

It wasn't all that easy for a clumsy DIYer like me, but with support from Hilox it ended in a perfect result. My advice: watch plenty of YouTube videos and read the manual properly.

VW Polo LED: what was installed?

• Low beam: H7 XTR Black kit, Hilox Evolution
• LED bulb adapter, Volkswagen
• Parking light: T10/W5W 3-SMD Power LED, Hilox Evolution

Plenty of light, little power: how the H7 XTR Black works

Ruud went for LED because of the combination of plenty of light and low power. According to the product information, the H7 XTR Black LED kit delivers 3,600 lumens per LED, 3.5 times more light than halogen and as powerful as xenon. Power consumption is low and the colour temperature is 5700K, an elegant white light.

The light comes from Luxeon Z ES LED chips by Lumileds (Philips), developed specially for the automotive market. They last up to 50,000 hours, 50 times longer than halogen and 12 times longer than xenon. A Smart Cool IC chip and a Maglev fan keep the chips from overheating, and the LED is IP68 waterproof.

LED, halogen or xenon?

Ruud previously had xenon in the car. The difference with LED is mostly in the technology: a xenon bulb needs a ballast and a short warm-up before it burns at full strength, whereas an LED is at full strength straight away. Halogen works with a filament, gives yellowish light and has the shortest lifespan. Want the differences side by side in detail? Read xenon vs LED: the real differences.

Why does a Volkswagen need an adapter?

On a number of car brands, including Volkswagen, the H7 bulb sits in a bulb holder that an LED bulb doesn't simply click into. An adapter then holds the LED in the right place in the headlight. That matters, because the LED chips have to sit exactly where the filament sits on a halogen bulb. Only then do you get a proper beam pattern.

Not sure whether your car needs an adapter? Have a look at the bulb holder of your current bulb first, or get in touch before you order.

Fitting tips if you are not a seasoned DIYer

Ruud did not find the fitting all that easy. With good preparation you get a long way:

1. Read the manual all the way through before you start and watch a fitting video for your car model.
2. Switch off the car and the lights and let the halogen bulbs cool down.
3. Remove the dust cover at the back of the headlight and unplug the connector and the halogen bulb.
4. Fit the adapter if your car needs one, and then the H7 LED.
5. Connect the driver to the original connector. If you get a warning on the dashboard, connect the supplied CAN-bus II module as well.
6. Tuck away the driver and module and close the dust cover again.
7. Test the low beam and check that the dashboard shows no warnings.

The kit contains 2 H7 XTR Black LED bulbs of 36.2 mm, 2 drivers and 2 CAN-bus II modules of 12 V. You can rotate the LED through 360 degrees to fine-tune the beam pattern.

Beam pattern and inspection

After fitting, have the beam aligned and check that your car still meets the APK requirements (the Dutch roadworthiness test); if in doubt, ask the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) or your inspector. According to the product information, LED bulbs with an H fitting designation cannot receive ECE or E-mark approval and are intended for racing circuits and private land. You can find all versions at the XTR Black LED kits.