Single headlights to double upgrade question

[Cadenzza]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here, I think, so please let me know if I had to submit this thread somewhere else...

I own Ibiza 6J 1.6TDI from 2015 with what I believe is basic kit (Reference), including single headlights that use H4 bulb.

I had a small accident ~2 weeks ago in which I broke my front left headlight, bent hood a bit and scratched my bumper. Not one of my proudest moment as it was my fault, but comparing to Dacia I hit I got the better end.

So, I have to fix my horn and replace headlight. I believe horn connector got wobbly (hopefully!) so I don't have to buy another one, but that requires removing fron bumper. This is also an opportunity for me to remove it by myself for the first time, and I was thinking about option to replace my single headlights for double. Reasons:

- I need to replace my broken headlight so I'll fix that
- better look
- better illumination ( I believe at least)

The thing is, I'm not quite sure is that plug and play operation, or should I consider any additional purchases and issues regarding my plan?

Thanks for your help in advance!

KR,
Cadenzza

 

[AlR]

I don't think it is do-able. Firstly, although I think the headlamp shells are the same shape and will physically fit, I believe the wiring connectors are different. I did investigate this, hoping the wiring to the lamp unit was identical and the diffrerneces to run the seperate bulbs was all internal to the headlamp. The major problem though is that your current H4 lamp takes 3 wires. One for low, 1 for high & 1 for earth. When you select high beam, the low beam is turned off. On a twin bulb H7 lamp, the low beam stays on all the time & the high beam is added. You would need to make high beam act the same way as headlamp flash, which activates the high beams without turning off the lows.

 

[RUM4MO]

I can see that this upgrade is a lot of work, but surely some people have carried out this change in the past. A really pity if someone needs this information and it is not already available online, I'm sorry that I can't help as I've always had cars that had double bulbs.

 

[Cadenzza]

Hey folks

sorry for late response. Thanks for letting me know! I think I'll get the same headlamp as it was originally and fix my car up properly. I will then research a bit more what are my options.

Thanks once more!

KR,
Cadenzza

 

[KXL]

Get some better bulbs perhaps? I believe all the stock bulbs that cars come with are all 'longlife' eg..dimmer, perhaps invest in a set of Philips Xtreme Vision +130 or one of Osrams' Nightbreaker offerrings. These replacement ones do tend to go pop after a shorter time though, about a year if you use the lights everyday.

 

[Cadenzza]

Get some better bulbs perhaps? I believe all the stock bulbs that cars come with are all 'longlife' eg..dimmer, perhaps invest in a set of Philips Xtreme Vision +130 or one of Osrams' Nightbreaker offerrings. These replacement ones do tend to go pop after a shorter time though, about a year if you use the lights everyday.

Hi KXL,

I already have Nightbreakers Laser, and they're throwing much brighter light than stock. Unfortunately, last pair lasted a bit less than a year :\

Thanks!

 

[LeonPassat]

I know I'm kinda late to the party, but I just did this on a 2016 6P (Facelift 6J) and this was the procedure to get everything working (needs VCDS to do the coding so all the lights work as they should).


To retrofit H7/H7 readlights on a Ibiza that originally came with H4 headlights, you must:
Add a ground wire to pin 7 (this pin is blank on cars that come with H4), this is the ground for high beams, turn signals and parking lights. This should be done on both sides.

Now all lamps should work, however, there will still be 2 problems, which can be solved with VCDS:

1 - When switching to high beams, the low beams turn off. This is the correct behaviour for H4 bulbs, as they have both functions in just one lamp. On H7/H7, the high beams are complimentary to the low-beams, so both lights must turn on.
To solve this, on VCDS go to:
09 - Central Electrics -> Security Access - 16
Type code 31347. This will enable "Adaptation"

Go to Adaptation - 10
On the search box, search for 6ABL
Relevant results are something like:
Dimming_AB_6 = 100
Dimming_CD_6 = 0
Dimming_Direction_CD_6 = minimize

Change them so it becomes
Dimming_AB_6 = 100
Dimming_CD_6 = 100
Dimming_Direction_CD_6 = maximize

To save the change, click "do it". You must change one parameter at a time.

Do the same for the other side:

On the search box, search for 7ABL
Relevant results are something like:
Dimming_AB_7 = 100
Dimming_CD_7 = 0
Dimming_Direction_CD_7 = minimize

Change them so it becomes
Dimming_AB_7 = 100
Dimming_CD_7 = 100
Dimming_Direction_CD_7 = maximize

Now, the high beams should work as they should.


2 - No DRLs and faults 8202 (bulb for left DRL) / 8458 (bulb for right DRL)
To solve this, we will make the high-beams dim and work as the DRLs (when lights are off).
If you closed VCDS on turned off the ignition, you must again go to Security Access and type code 31347.

Go to Adaptation
On the search box, search for 8FL

Relevant results are:
Function_C = Not active
Dimming_CD = 0
Direction_CD = Maximize

Change them so it becomes:
Function_C = Daytime running lights (my VCDS showed two options with the same name, the first on the list was the correct one)
Dimming_CD = 30
Direction_CD = maximize


Do this again, now for the right side:
On the search box, search for 9FL

Relevant results are:
Function_C = Not active
Dimming_CD = 0
Direction_CD = Maximize

Change them so it becomes:
Function_C = Daytime running lights (my VCDS showed two options with the same name, the first on the list was the correct one)
Dimming_CD = 30
Direction_CD = maximize

This will make the high beams work as DRL (with 30% brightness) when ignition is on and headlights are off.

At this point, the car has working DRLs, but the errors are still there.

To take care of them search for LB43:
Light_Function_A = Daytime running lights
Change it to Light_Function_A = Not active

Do the same for the other side
search for RB6:
Light_Function_A = Daytime running lights
Change it to Light_Function_A = Not active

Now the errors are gone and all the lights work as they should.