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Helix LED retrofits from halogen review

Kynetic64

Ready to race!
Location
New York
UPDATE** just installed these 3/27/15

Hey fellas, I'm new to the site. I've learned a lot from all of you. I'd like to share my experience so far with the helix led retros for those with halogen lights. These just arrived Tuesday and I will be installing them this weekend, but figured I'd do the review as I go.

Packaging:
Well packaged, came secured in a box with a tightly wrapped plastic back around it. There was protective clear wrap on the headlight glass itself. Inside the headlight was one huge silica pack, with 2-3 smaller ones.






The quality:
Seems like good quality for the price,it's not real cheap plastic, it has some bend to it. There's a nice seal around the headlight glass, both covers to change the bulbs have a rubber gasket that once scewed down / locked in place, feel like there's a good seal. It comes with 2 h7 bulbs, one in the high beam and one is the middle. The light in the middle is just for looks, which im not too concerned over. The low beam can be either a h7 or ds2. The light socket doesn't exacly fit for the h7 bulb (what I'll be using) it sits on top, and from reading forums, the tab pointing downwards for low beam light. There are 2 adjustments on the back to position your projector low beam.



I did buy the oem lighting package grille so the stripe with the lights will match up with the stripe on grille.



Complaints so far:
The only thing I wish that had been done different is the design of the low beam back plate. It's held on by 5 Phillips head screws and although makes for a tight seal, it's going to be a hassle to replace the bulb.



Okay guys, so I did the install of these lights. For the most part, it went pretty smooth. It took me about 4 hours by myself to do.



The hardest part really was taking the bumper off and on, getting off because those tabs by the fender did not want to pop out! And back on because of trying to do it single handedly. If there's one thing I must stress, it is to take your time when you do this, these headlights have a ton of adjustment capability, and you can get the fit just about perfect. There's many angles to look for, the gap between the bumper and light, gap between the grille and light, and gap between fender and light.



Before:


After:


Adjusting the projector was real easy too, helix puts what knob does what and what way to turn for high/ low side to side. One thing that is really bothering me is fog has formed inside the headlight. I kept the big silica pack in the housing, and from what you guys said, I hope this will take care of this issue. I went from a 65f garage, to 30f outside.
 
Last edited:

2015WhiteGTI

Go Kart Champion
Hey fellas, I'm new to the site. I've learned a lot from all of you. I'd like to share my experience so far with the helix led retros for those with halogen lights. These just arrived Tuesday and I will be installing them this weekend, but figured I'd do the review as I go.

Packaging:
Well packaged, came secured in a box with a tightly wrapped plastic back around it. There was protective clear wrap on the headlight glass itself. Inside the headlight was one huge silica pack, with 2-3 smaller ones.






The quality:
Seems like good quality for the price,it's not real cheap plastic, it has some bend to it. There's a nice seal around the headlight glass, both covers to change the bulbs have a rubber gasket that once scewed down / locked in place, feel like there's a good seal. It comes with 2 h7 bulbs, one in the high beam and one is the middle. The light in the middle is just for looks, which im not too concerned over. The low beam can be either a h7 or ds2. The light socket doesn't exacly fit for the h7 bulb (what I'll be using) it sits on top, and from reading forums, the tab pointing downwards for low beam light. There are 2 adjustments on the back to position your projector low beam.



I did buy the oem lighting package grille so the stripe with the lights will match up with the stripe on grille.



Complaints so far:
The only thing I wish that had been done different is the design of the low beam back plate. It's held on by 5 Phillips head screws and although makes for a tight seal, it's going to be a hassle to replace the bulb.



As I said I will be installing these this Friday / Saturday and will continue this review.

Do yourself a favor and replace the phillips head screws with hex nut screws before you do the install. It'll be MUCH easier to remove them if/when you have to replace the bulb.
 

Kynetic64

Ready to race!
Location
New York
Do yourself a favor and replace the phillips head screws with hex nut screws before you do the install. It'll be MUCH easier to remove them if/when you have to replace the bulb.

I did look for different ways, I searched my local hardware store, lowes and Home Depot, no one has "screws" or course thread in another form but Phillips, flat head or torx. I tried to put 6-32 bolt inserts with knurled ended 6-32 bolts but the the inserts were too weak and just broke, and there really isn't enough plastic surrounding the hole to drill it and bigger. Any other places to try?
 

BxGTI

Go Kart Champion
Location
Bronx,NY
The OEM HID housings have the same type of cover, the Halogens are easier to access.
If you need to change a bulb you will need to partially remove the housing regardless the space is just too tight.
This is what they will look like once installed.
Now if you want my advise on the install, remove the entire bumper cover, I know that you can do it with bumper on but you increase the risk of braking or scratching something
 

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hosrow

New member
Location
bellevue
That is exactly what I am going to do for my MK7 gold. I am interested to find out how difficult is it to install. They look awesome. Is it the bi-xenon? where did you buy it and how much did it cost? I have seen anywhere from $599 to $799. Please keep us in the loop and provide any lessons learned, tips and tricks.
 

Kynetic64

Ready to race!
Location
New York
I know it's tight regardless, I watched a how to video on how to install them, yes, I was going to remove the front bumper for sure, there's no rush, I want to take my time. Bxgti, did you have to mess around with adjusting the low beam? I bought the lights and grille from Black Forest industries, the lights were $559 and the grille was $180. All together with shipping was almost $800. I did not go with the HID Kit, I like my halogen bulbs.
Here is the how-to video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fLKydAgQbOM
 

Miguel1

Ready to race!
Location
Houston
I know it's tight regardless, I watched a how to video on how to install them, yes, I was going to remove the front bumper for sure, there's no rush, I want to take my time. Bxgti, did you have to mess around with adjusting the low beam? I bought the lights and grille from Black Forest industries, the lights were $559 and the grille was $180. All together with shipping was almost $800. I did not go with the HID Kit, I like my halogen bulbs.
Here is the how-to video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fLKydAgQbOM
Should've gone for the HID kit instead of that LP Grill. An HID kit made such a huge difference in terms of how much of the road was lit up.
 

OnePerfectDose1

Ready to race!
Location
SF Bay Area
The OEM HID housings have the same type of cover, the Halogens are easier to access.
If you need to change a bulb you will need to partially remove the housing regardless the space is just too tight.
This is what they will look like once installed.
Now if you want my advise on the install, remove the entire bumper cover, I know that you can do it with bumper on but you increase the risk of braking or scratching something

^^^ 2nd this. The housings are based off of the OEM housing. Trust me it makes a huge difference. I've installed Helix and Ed's so I can speak to both. Leave the large silica pack inside of the light, don't remove those.

Should've gone for the HID kit instead of that LP Grill. An HID kit made such a huge difference in terms of how much of the road was lit up.

HID's make a huge difference for these lights. I'd suggest if your not in a rush adding an HID kit. Since these are based on the OEM style housings you can fit your HID kit internally without drilling holes or having to use rubber grommets.
 

BxGTI

Go Kart Champion
Location
Bronx,NY
I know it's tight regardless, I watched a how to video on how to install them, yes, I was going to remove the front bumper for sure, there's no rush, I want to take my time. Bxgti, did you have to mess around with adjusting the low beam? I bought the lights and grille from Black Forest industries, the lights were $559 and the grille was $180. All together with shipping was almost $800. I did not go with the HID Kit, I like my halogen bulbs.
Here is the how-to video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fLKydAgQbOM

halogens will work it will give you a better pattern than the old housing, if you want to just use those and later add HID's it is a great addition but get a quality kit.
Adjusting the lights is a most but is dead easy, remember to cut the zip tie around the low beam housing, this is used for shipping purposes I second the advise to leave the Silica PAC inside, no housings are completely sealed they need to breath and moisture maybe an issue with temperature changes at first the silica will take care of that.
 

BxGTI

Go Kart Champion
Location
Bronx,NY
That is exactly what I am going to do for my MK7 gold. I am interested to find out how difficult is it to install. They look awesome. Is it the bi-xenon? where did you buy it and how much did it cost? I have seen anywhere from $599 to $799. Please keep us in the loop and provide any lessons learned, tips and tricks.

They are not Bi-xenon! but they have a flap or something that opens up and let more light out went you use you high beams plus the regular high beams so overall is like getting an extra set of HB bulbs :)
 

Miguel1

Ready to race!
Location
Houston
They are not Bi-xenon! but they have a flap or something that opens up and let more light out went you use you high beams plus the regular high beams so overall is like getting an extra set of HB bulbs :)
I thought that was what bi-xenon meant? To use one beam for both low and high beams.
 

BxGTI

Go Kart Champion
Location
Bronx,NY
Oneperfectdose what's up with the supply of these lights it seems that everyone is out of stock on the red stripes any info on ETA?
 

BxGTI

Go Kart Champion
Location
Bronx,NY
I thought that was what bi-xenon meant? To use one beam for both low and high beams.

You maybe correct.
Fro TRS

7. Low beam or Bi-xenon Projectors: When choosing a bulb from TRS, it does not matter whether you are using low beam or bi-xenon projectors. Unlike halogen headlights, with bi-xenons, nothing happens to the bulb when the high beams are activated. It does not get any brighter or shift positions. Simply put: you don't need "low beam" or "bi-xenon" specific bulbs. Our S2K-R low beam projectors and FX-R bi-xenons both use "D2S" bulbs.
 
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