Good LED sidelights for Mk4 Ibiza?

[STROBE]

Hi guys

It's been a long while since I paid much attention to my car, which is feeling a little long in the tooth and in need of some TLC. I've got an original '04 plate 1.8T FR, which could do with new front pads, a cambelt change, new suspension bushes, etc.

But in the short term, I want to replace the sidelights with LEDs, especially since the front left one appears to have a dodgy bulb.

Can anyone recommend what LED replacements to buy for the existing W5W / 501 sidelight bulbs, that fit within the space available of the sidelight lens (I've seen some that exceed the dimensions of a regular 501 bulb)? Would directional or non-directional (with emitters around the outside rather than facing straight ahead) be best?

Any recommendations on where to purchase, as well? I've seen places selling these things for up to £20 a pair, which is hilarious. I was thinking more like £5-6, considering what LEDs actually cost!

Thanks in advance.

 

[R1ch85]

Well I use PIAA LED's. They cost me £20 for a pair, but they have lasted nearly 5 years across all the cars I've owned so pretty good value in my opinion I've seen plenty of people spend a fiver on LED's and have to replace them every few months.

I got mine from my local Motaman store, though they are probably available online too.

 

[STROBE]

Cheers - maybe I'll get some branded, quality ones in the long run. At first I just want to see how effective they are, so I picked some up off ebay for a huge £4.86. I'll try them in the right hand lamp first, that I can actually get to.

Actually, that's a good question - how do other people access the front left sidelight/indicator panel with the battery box crammed up against the back of the headlight? I can barely even get my fingers to it, as it is.

 

[DEAN0]

Well I use PIAA LED's. They cost me £20 for a pair, but they have lasted nearly 5 years across all the cars I've owned so pretty good value in my opinion I've seen plenty of people spend a fiver on LED's and have to replace them every few months.

I got mine from my local Motaman store, though they are probably available online too.

Are these a nice white without any blue in them ?

Our local MOT station is being more strict on any blueish tint to the lights and concidering what a complete PITA the sidelights bulbs are to change i would rather fit something that will go through the MOT.

 

[STROBE]

I hope so! there was no mention of bluishness, "cool white" or any tints in the description. Just "white". Obviously LEDs have a cooler colour temperature than incandescent bulbs anyway, but that's not blue.

 

[DEAN0]

I hope so! there was no mention of bluishness, "cool white" or any tints in the description. Just "white". Obviously LEDs have a cooler colour temperature than incandescent bulbs anyway, but that's not blue.

Such a pitty that the manufacturers don't put the K rating like with the HID lights.

Only phillips seem to offer a 4000K led 501 bulb - but they are over £30 a pair !!!

 

[STROBE]

Aye, I saw those, then laughed at the price!

I've used white LED lights in a variety of applications, and they do have subtle different tints to them, but never seen any that are as blue as the blue tinted headlight bulbs that are available (and legal).

Guess I now need to prepare myself for the cuts and scrapes associated with accessing that evil left hand sidelight cover!

 

[DEAN0]

Aye, I saw those, then laughed at the price!

I've used white LED lights in a variety of applications, and they do have subtle different tints to them, but never seen any that are as blue as the blue tinted headlight bulbs that are available (and legal).

Guess I now need to prepare myself for the cuts and scrapes associated with accessing that evil left hand sidelight cover!

It seems a long way to do it but it was much easier taking the battery out on my TDi.

Let me know what they turn out like.

I still think the headlight lense is causing some blue tinting cos i have a couple of LED side light bulbs that I and even the MOT guy say are white with no blue when powered up with a battery.

Put them in to the Ibiza sidelight/headlight and they look much more blue.

 

[R1ch85]

Are these a nice white without any blue in them ?

Our local MOT station is being more strict on any blueish tint to the lights and concidering what a complete PITA the sidelights bulbs are to change i would rather fit something that will go through the MOT.

They come in three options...

Basically, theres two LED's in each bulb, and you can either have blue/blue, blue/white, or white/white so there should be no problems come MOT if you choose the white ones.

I have the blue/white ones and although they really are quite blue, I've not yet failed an MOT because of them

 

[mick-fr]

Im using these. Had them on for about a year no problem, and they look white - even though my phone camera pics up a slight blue tint to the light beam, not the bulb

 

[STROBE]

Im using these. Had them on for about a year no problem, and they look white - even though my phone camera pics up a slight blue tint to the light beam, not the bulb

Cheers Mick - yours look somewhat brighter in the car than mine do. Guess it's better to have more front-facing emitters given the design of the Ibiza's sidelight enclosure. I might get some of yours as well and compare. At £2.95, I think the credit card will stretch to it.

It seems a long way to do it but it was much easier taking the battery out on my TDi.

Let me know what they turn out like.

I still think the headlight lense is causing some blue tinting cos i have a couple of LED side light bulbs that I and even the MOT guy say are white with no blue when powered up with a battery.

Put them in to the Ibiza sidelight/headlight and they look much more blue.

Well I managed to get them in without removing the battery, which was a relief. In fact, it was considerably easier than I feared.

They have a radically cooler tint than the headlight bulbs, which is obviously expected, but still takes you by surprise. They look white when tested out of the car, but put them in, next to the headlights, and they do look an incredibly cool colour temperature.

While I was in there, I also replaced my stock H7 bulbs with Bosch Pure Lights, which won the Which? test last year. Haven't driven on an unlit road yet though to be able to judge any improvement.

That said, the Ibiza's headlamps are pretty decent anyway, it seems. Where many cars have tiny, weird shaped or curiously located headlamp units, we get full size, unobstructed parabolic reflectors. Maybe some Osram Night Breaker Plus H3s will be the next thing for the main beam.