I fancied the W8 mod, did not really fancy the cost of buying a proper unit, so I had a stab at doing it myself. I documented it as I went.

Parts/tools required:

- bell wire

- red & black heat shrink

- sleeving

- soldering iron, solder (and the ability to solder)

- wire cutters & strippers

- variety of small sized drills (all under 6mm, iirc)

- drill

- philips screw driver

- multimeter

- 2 x superbright 12v red LEDs (Maplin: 2 x CJ63T)

- 2 x male lucar spades (Maplin: 1pack x HF11M)

- 2 x female lucar connectors (Maplin: 1pack x HF10L)

- spade and connector "covers" (Maplin: 1pack x FE66W, 1pack x FE65V)

1. Remove the light cover from the bulbs from the central unit

2. Remove the screws, as circled above, and unclip the unit from the headlining

3. Unclip the connector block.

4. Retire to the warmth of the house.

5. Remove the bulbs and store somewhere safe. Using a small drill, drill a pilot hole on both sides for where you wish to mount your LEDs. I tried to get mine close into the corners, taking care not to trash the back of the lighting unit. Enlarge the holes carefully until the LED is a snug fit and points straight down.

6. Right-hand hole with LED fitted.

7. Left-hand hole with LED fitted.

6. Right-hand hole with LED fitted from the rear

7. Left-hand hole with LED fitted from the rear

8. Using some bell/speaker wire, solder onto the LED, ensuring you mark up the +ve and -ve on the LEDs. Used red and black heat-shrink as appropriate and sleeving to ensure you are not going to get any nasty shorts. I avoided cutting the legs of the LEDs down.

9. Solder on female lucar connector (remembering to put the cover on first) into the +ve wire coming from the light unit, and a male (spade) connector to the -ve wire.

10. On a fresh length of wire, solder on the reverse connections and mark them up (red=+ve=male/spade, black=-ve=female)

11. Return to the coldness of the garage

12. Unclip the A-post cover. I did this by untucking the door rubber trim and then pulling. I have a feeling the top connector may have broken... but it was cold, so do this with care! The connector "click/blocks" can be seen towards the top of the picture, in white.

13. Unclip and then remove the scrip holding the sun visor into place on the drivers side of the head lining (maybe not necessary)

14. I tucked the wire along the gap of the top of the windscreen and then roof lining, popping it through (well forcing it through) in the middle so it popped out of the center hole. Thinking about it, this may cause issues when changing your windscreen - will find out soon enough as mine is cracked :'(

15. When you reach the A-pillar, again, with car, tuck the wire between to roof and roof lining, and then back it behind the other wiring.

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20100318_w8_mod/P1030056.JPG

16. Remove the fuse box cover and plastic trim above (this just unclips).

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20100318_w8_mod/P1030057.JPG

17. Remove the headlight switch. This is done by pushing the n0b in, and turning slightly to the right (positioned half-way between off and side-lights). You should then be able to remove the switch my carefully pulling it forward

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20100318_w8_mod/P1030058.JPG

18. Tuck the wire through from the bottom of the A-pillar into the area above the fuse box

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20100318_w8_mod/P1030059.JPG

19. Tuck the wire through and out of the headlight switch hole

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20100318_w8_mod/P1030067.JPG

20. Disconnect the battery (I didn't, but one should really!)

21. Solder the +ve wire (once marked with red heat shrink) to pin 14 (+ve dash lights feed, iirc), and the -ve wire to pin 10 (ground)

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20100318_w8_mod/P1030068.JPG

22. At this point, I checked I had a 12v supply on the wires where they came out of the head lining.

23. Connect up the wiring (2 lucar connectors and main power block) for the center light unit, and clip back into place

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20100318_w8_mod/P1030074.JPG

24. Replace screws, and bulbs, and cover.

25. Turn on lights

26. Return the car back to its previous tidy state:

- sun visor

- a-pillar cover

- re-insert headlamp switch

- fuse box and above cover to be clipped back into place.

27. Return to house for beer.

28. Next time you drive in the dark, you can enjoy red glowing hands when you change gear.

Option extras: fit an inline fuse.

I realised afterwards that one could source the required +12vdc from the glovebox light switch, so if you don't fancy soldering onto your headlight switch then that could be a suitable alternative, just send the wire down the passenger side of the car.

Sorry not all the images are inline, for some reason I am not able to place them all inline - pants :'(

Full set of pictures:

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/index.php?loc=./20100318_w8_mod

Edited 18 March, 201016 yr by mbames

Nice! Does it look ok at night bearing in mind all the dash lighting is green?

Quite a lot of work's gone into that

But would it not have been better to stay faithful to the original and drill the LED locations in the plastic housing, so you get the benefit of the diffused red glow from the LEDs at night, which is surely the point of the mod?

As per:

Nice! Does it look ok at night bearing in mind all the dash lighting is green?

It just gives a gentle red glow down near to the gear kn0b, I quite like it, so I am happy

Quite a lot of work's gone into that

But would it not have been better to stay faithful to the original and drill the LED locations in the plastic housing, so you get the benefit of the diffused red glow from the LEDs at night, which is surely the point of the mod?

As per:

I was going for the stealth look, and plus if it did not work, then I could remove the LEDs and there would be no nasty holes on show. LEDs where the traditional ones go in the proper w8 unit is made harder due to the switch arrangement and actually getting the bulbs somewhere where they do not foul up with the tracks on the back. I guess one could have removed some of the wiring tracks (what is the proper word?) drilled the holes wired up the LEDs and then put the tracks back in place and secured with a blob or two of hot-glue-gun glue. If someone had an old "original" unit, having done a proper w8 fit, I would gladly have a go at seeing if I could mount the LEDs in a more faithful position

Also with mounting there, one might have wanted to use LEDs in the metal mounts. I did not want my eye to be drawn upwards to the red glow when I was driving in the dark.

I actually did this over Christmas, but have only got around to writing it up today (on leave, and it is raining! )

Edited 18 March, 201016 yr by mbames

I did this exact mod with my Fabia and with my Passat, both using white LEDs instead though. On both of those, I used a power tap from the sunroof as both cars had one. I will probably do likewise with this Octy when I get around to it; the sunroof only has power when the ignition is on so it's perfect really.

I'm on the hunt for some recessed LED mounts that will look closer to the OEM W8 unit; it must be possible. Although that said, I do like the Superb unit . . . just at £80 it's a bit pricey. :(

I did this exact mod with my Fabia and with my Passat, both using white LEDs instead though. On both of those, I used a power tap from the sunroof as both cars had one. I will probably do likewise with this Octy when I get around to it; the sunroof only has power when the ignition is on so it's perfect really.

I'm on the hunt for some recessed LED mounts that will look closer to the OEM W8 unit; it must be possible. Although that said, I do like the Superb unit . . . just at £80 it's a bit pricey. :(

I wondered if some of these might work?

Damn it! I should have throught of sunroof power, but that said I did not really want the LEDs on during the day, still better than running the cable the cable around lots of things

I wondered if some of these might work?

Damn it! I should have throught of sunroof power, but that said I did not really want the LEDs on during the day, still better than running the cable the cable around lots of things

Yes those are the sorts of thing I was thinking of, but less proud of the surface than they would be (they'd be a bit too stark I think). To be honest I never found the daytime running an issue - I didn't even notice they were on when it was daylight as they aren't that bright really. This was my effort on my Fabia. I left the LEDs in situ when I sold it but disconnected the power supply . . . . (clicky thumbnails for bigger pics)

Edited 18 March, 201016 yr by yashicamat

Can I ask a question (and don;t tae this the wrong way...) but why?? - When I'm driving at night I prefer the inside of the car to be dark and unilluminated as it is far less distracting and easier to see out of...

Can I ask a question (and don;t tae this the wrong way...) but why?? - When I'm driving at night I prefer the inside of the car to be dark and unilluminated as it is far less distracting and easier to see out of...

This is a very gentle and discrete light source. Probably something you need to experience. I guess there must be deemed to be good reasons, as comes as a feature on some cars. Guess a bit of googling might reveal more info.