Volkswagen Passat Headlights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

Bulb type, unit part numbers, and the faults that actually cause that flickering or dim light you've noticed.

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — aftermarket LH Valeo 046622 / RH Valeo 046623

Accuracy note: Covers the Volkswagen Passat (B8 2014-) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Headlights are sold by side (passenger / nearside = LH, driver's / offside = RH on a UK car) and by lamp type — halogen, xenon (D1S / D3S) and LED or full-LED units are not interchangeable, and DRL, cornering and levelling options change the part number again. The references below are UK aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, labelled by brand; genuine numbers are shown only where a listing quotes one. Check the lamp type and traffic side (UK right-hand-traffic units, not LHD) against your VIN, and expect xenon / LED and adaptive units to need levelling adjustment or coding after fitting.

Passenger side (LH / nearside) headlight — aftermarket	Valeo 046622 (halogen, original part, no levelling motor); Van Wezel 5742961 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, not for facelift); Diederichs 2249981 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, to model year 2020, not for facelift); Diederichs 2249085 (LED, automatic levelling motor, not for facelift); Van Wezel 5742965V (LED, adaptive high beam, electric levelling)
Driver's side (RH / offside) headlight — aftermarket	Valeo 046623 (halogen, original part, no levelling motor); Van Wezel 5742962 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, not for facelift); Diederichs 2249980 (halogen H7/H9, electric levelling, to model year 2020, not for facelift); Diederichs 2249084 (LED, automatic levelling motor, not for facelift); Van Wezel 5742966V (LED, adaptive high beam, electric levelling); Abakus 441-11BQRMLDEM2 (LED, electric levelling, model year from 2019)
Bulb types	dipped/main H7/H9 (PX26d), indicator WY21W on halogen units, PWY24W on LED units
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	None quoted in catalogue listings — order genuine units against your VIN
Fitment notes	Halogen and LED units are both offered, with no xenon listed; the listings split into pre-facelift (to 2020, not for facelift) and later 2019-on LED units, and the adaptive-high-beam LED units are for cars with that option.

A Genuinely Important UK Rule Worth Knowing Before You Buy — Volkswagen Passat Headlights

If your Passat has factory-fitted halogen headlamp housings, converting them to fit LED bulbs is treated as a definite MOT failure under the current inspection manual — this isn't a grey area or a minor advisory, since a housing designed for halogen doesn't distribute an LED bulb's light output correctly, which can genuinely dazzle oncoming drivers. If you want a genuine LED upgrade, the correct route is a complete headlight unit designed for LED from the factory, not a bulb swap into an existing halogen housing.

Before you buy: matrix LED, adaptive, and cornering headlight systems often require electronic coding to the car after a unit swap, even for a genuine like-for-like replacement — a headlight that isn't recognised by the car's electronics can trigger warning lights or fail to auto-level correctly. Check whether your specific trim has one of these systems before assuming a straightforward bulb-in, bulb-out job.

Volkswagen Passat Headlights: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: How To change 2015 VW Passat B8 Headlight bulbs & upgrade to LED H7 Canbus Xenon Removal HID Fit

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Passat B8 halogen bulb change.

Volkswagen Passat Headlights reference plate

Volkswagen Passat Headlights: What It Does

The Volkswagen Passat's headlight unit job is positioning the main and dipped beam bulbs (or LED/matrix modules on higher trims) to light the road without dazzling oncoming drivers. That housing frequently also contains the daytime running light and front indicator, which is exactly why part numbers and repairs here can get complicated.

Volkswagen Passat Headlights: Generations & Headlight Type

Standard trims	Halogen headlamps as standard, with LED daytime running lights and higher-spec LED headlight options available on some model years and trims

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Volkswagen Passat Headlights: Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Headlights Guide for the four bulb technologies and how they differ, UK law on aim and modifications, common faults to check for, how difficult this job is to DIY, and confirming fitment against your VIN.

More Volkswagen Headlights

The same part, covered across other Volkswagen models.