Side light bulbs - LED

[Georgel]

Had a bulb go, so I thought I'd get some LED side light bulbs as they need changing.

After cutting my hand an wrist just taking the cover off, I tried to get to the bulb. Surely this is some kind of joke? From what I can see you either need hands like a four year old, or you take the headlight out.

Its that tight I couldn't even get the dust cover back on the offside headlight.

Brilliant. Someone tell me I am useless and they did both in 10 minutes.

George

 

[Aimez]

changed mine, took me a while was worried id drop the cover in the engine! The light by the battery was a joke, thought my fiesta was bad having to take to light off the car but was easier then this car.
You cut your hands and then you end up putting finger prints all over the bulbs and can't be sure the bulb is secured i

 

[croakey]

i used the wires to pull it out....


but LED ones tend to die really quick..end up with them flickering on and off...

thinking i'm gunna get some more though, but i want white ones..not pinky/bluey/purpley "white" ones

 

[R1ch85]

i changed mine to a pair of PIAA ones. Two LEDs on each side, one blue, one white. Was easy enough for me having changed my sidelights before but first time can be a bit tricky.

http://www.piaa.co.uk/bulbs/bulbshow.asp?ID=led

 

[Georgel]

Well theres no way I can get my hands in there to fit them.

 

[Guinness]

get a 1.2 you dont have that problem lol

 

[dasmith83]

it is possible m8...but i hear what you're saying, it's stupidly tight down there! So bad i managed to lose one of the retaining clips for the dust covers which is still somewhere down the bottom of the engine bay! I had to get a knew clip...at first the stealer's tried to get me to buy a whole new light! Told em to sod off and get me a clip! lol...cost £1.62 or something in the end.

Neway what i was going to say was, if your getting leds for your sidelights, don't get the usual quad leds, as these do tend to last less than a week in my experience, and as i'm sure you've discovered, it's not a job you want to keep having to do!

Get a set of these instead-
https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/product.php?productid=16702&cat=612&page=1

They are much better and a luxeon type bulb rather than normal led. They seem more robust etc etc. Admittedly they are a bit more pricey, but worth it IMO.

 

[muddyboots]

Well theres no way I can get my hands in there to fit them.

You can take the bumper off and remove the headlight, not as big a job as it sounds.

On my Ibiza, which had OEM Xenons, the headlamp units were so deep (and screwed on) that bumper removal was the only option for bulb changes.

 

[Georgel]

Me and a mate had another go, we loosened the top bolts for the light and this meant we could lever the headlight forward a bit to get the bulbs changed. However, I still couldn't get the offside light cover back on..

 

[dasmith83]

yer that was the worst bit for me too m8...once you manage to locate the holes for the clips to sit in...really push it down hard onto the rubber, so it's easier to slide the retaining clip back over

 

[Georgel]

Just got to get some main beam bulbs sorted now, my 05 FR doesn't have Xenons unfortunately.

 

[CHR15B]

I think the Xenon option is dipped only anyways?

I've got my sidelights to do soon too... not looking forward to it.

 

[dasmith83]

I think the Xenon option is dipped only anyways?

I've got my sidelights to do soon too... not looking forward to it.

I think you're right there m8.

Don't worry that much about changing the sidelights...its fiddly, but not the hardest thing in the world. Just be careful you don't drop anything!

 

[CHR15B]

I've got fairly small hands so should be OK.

 

[Georgel]

How much are xenons from main dealer?

 

[Ad Lav]

Lots of £££, unless its a factory order, probably best part of a grand?

 

[dasmith83]

yer i think its £690 and thats when you request the option from new! I was told by a dealer that they wouldn't fit xenons to mine cos it would mean changing wiring looms and loads of stuff...its cheaper to get a decent hid kit anyway...as long as you align the lights and its a gd kit, i personally don't see a problem

 

[CHR15B]

Or you can get an aftermarket kit from the flea for about £70.

They are brighter as the beam spreads more (Not in projectors) but without Auto Levelling and Washers they are aparently illegal.

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

dont buy LED ones! or is it too late? as Croaky said, they dont last at all. i got through 3 sets before my Xenon sidelight bulbs. Got to think, i only got my Ibiza in December....

 

[CHR15B]

I've got two sets here and another on the way.

I have a LED set I got off eBay. A standard set I got from a local A1 Spares shop and some Philips Bluevision ones on the way.

My cars been in the bodyshop for about two weeks now, I should hopefully get it back soon... one of my sidelights is dull so I've got a selection of replacements to choose from.