Hi all,

Just a quick question, Skodagirl (the wife) was out driving in the car last night and came back and said to me "Do you find the headlights poor on the car?" I said I had not really noticed before but she is convinced that they don't seem bright compared to other cars we have had, so I'm thinking of uprating the bulbs at the weekend, any suggestions to which bulbs I should look at, my Fabia has cornering headlights, but just wondered if other people have had any problems with the headlights on the Fabia and uprated them.

It's been noted on the forums that the headlights in the Fabia vRS are nothing short of shocking. Quite a few people, including myself, have replaced the bulbs as a matter of priority just because I'd like to see where I'm driving at night :wonder: Owners have suggested it isn't the bulb itself but the actual projector but people who have replaced the bulbs seem quite pleased.

Cheers mate, what bulbs did you replace them with and sort of cost?

Well I have the curve projectors on the cr tdi elegance seem pretty bright but have not been out at night yet,however I have put nightbreakers on the 1.4tdi and much brighter

Cheers mate, what bulbs did you replace them with and sort of cost?

I looked at the Philips E-xtreme Vision and the Osram Nightbreakers and went for the latter due to the huge cost difference. 4 bulbs (replacing dipped and main beams) cost me £32 for Osram Nightbreaker Plus. Which is supposed to be 90% more light. You can replace the bulbs yourself or get a garage to do it for whatever there minimum labour charge is (usually £20-£30).

Cheers guys, how easy it to change the bulbs in the Fabia, I remember it was a pig to do on my vRS, mind you my local mechanic usually does it for free for me.

I bought the Philips CrystalVision 4300k bulbs on a recommendation from Marcusfordus for my Fabia vRS. Not fitted them yet but they're reported to be a vast improvement on the OEM ones.

I paid something like £29 including p&p from a seller on eBay, most other places charge somewhere in the region of £45 for them so it's a competitive price. It's worth noting that this particular set comes with sidebulbs as well as the H7s which is a bonus.

There are a plethora of replacement bulbs to choose from so I just went on recommendations from others. I dare say that anything would be an improvement on the standard ones though as they are very poor.

I bought the Philips CrystalVision 4300k bulbs on a recommendation from Marcusfordus for my Fabia vRS. Not fitted them yet but they're reported to be a vast improvement on the OEM ones.

I paid something like £29 including p&p from a seller on eBay, most other places charge somewhere in the region of £45 for them so it's a competitive price. It's worth noting that this particular set comes with sidebulbs as well as the H7s which is a bonus.

There are a plethora of replacement bulbs to choose from so I just went on recommendations from others. I dare say that anything would be an improvement on the standard ones though as they are very poor.

Do they come with sidelight or main beam bulbs... the sidelights on the vrs are the DRLs?

Do they come with sidelight or main beam bulbs... the sidelights on the vrs are the DRLs?

They come with 2 x H7s and 2 x sidelight bulbs.

The Fabia does actually have separate sidelights as well as the DRLs i.e. the DRLs aren't themselves the sidelights.

They come with 2 x H7s and 2 x sidelight bulbs.

The Fabia does actually have separate sidelights as well as the DRLs i.e. the DRLs aren't themselves the sidelights.

On the VRS though, the DRLs act as the sidelights.

The headlight cluster contains the main beam and dipped beam in separate bulbs doesn't it? Both H7.

I went out in the dark for the first time the other day, early morning start and did around 40/50 miles before daylight. Not over impressed but I have had worse lights. Full beam is fine but dipped head could be better. If I did more night driving I too would look to improve the bulbs.

On the VRS though, the DRLs act as the sidelights.

The headlight cluster contains the main beam and dipped beam in separate bulbs doesn't it? Both H7.

I stand corrected Stu. Just collected my car back from the dealers and you are right. The DRLs just dim when sidelights are activated, don't know why I never noticed before.

The free sidelights are irrelevant then on the vRS, oh well never mind.

I agree, the projector lights are crap

I tried osram nightbreakers which were a minor improvement

I then tried phillips xtreme bulbs at £20 a pair. Much more of an improvement. The lights are now 'adequate'

Hi there, my Roomster is equipped with H4 headlights and no H7 projector type ones, but from the very first night trip i found out exactly what Skodagirl did. The headlights were very poor and i almost lost two right turns on a country road.

I asked from my dealer to raise a bit the headlight's beam and since then i travel in a great comfort. The oncoming drivers are not disturbed after the raising of the beam.

I have been debating in my head between Philips Xtreme Power and Crystal Vision, because I would like whiter light, however, do want good night performance too because the standards are naff.

The thing which is tearing my decision at the moment is price, Crystal Vision are about a fiver more, and I would like 4 bulbs because I want to do the full set.

Anyone had any experience with Crystal Vision bulbs?

Not got mine yet but have a set of philips extreme bulbs waiting for pick up day.

Am used to Xenons on last 2 cars and it appears everyone hates the fabias bulbs :'(

Hopefully the philips will go someway to doing the job.

I got nightbreaker plus upgrades for the dipped beam and seems a good improvement. It also showed up a slight mismatch in height between the two projectors that I'd like to sort.

Wouldn't it be good if the DRLs went back to full power when rear fog or main beam was switched on?

I got nightbreaker plus upgrades for the dipped beam and seems a good improvement. It also showed up a slight mismatch in height between the two projectors that I'd like to sort.

Wouldn't it be good if the DRLs went back to full power when rear fog or main beam was switched on?

This could probably be tweaked somewhere using VAG-COM / VCDS, but I wouldn't like to try it, plus it would also most likely be illegal.

Would be nice though, I can see where you are coming from.

Maybe this is the only real fix :

http://www.dieselstation.com/img/Skoda/Fabia-S2000/skoda-fabia-s2000-rally-car-02.jpg

Totally agree Sandy, Well I'm away out this afternoon to purchase some new bulbs think I'm going to look at the philips bulbs.

Davy

Well went along to my local halfords and could not find any of the bulbs suggested, so popped up to a company I have used before and picked up some Ultra power bulbs, going to go for a wee drive tonight to see what they are like.

Davy

Yeh Halfords won't have any of the bulbs mentioned You're giving them too much credit there!

Just installed Osram Nightbreaker Plus today. Will report back with results! :yes:

Your best bet with these things is usually online.

Must admit having had to drive my VRS home from work late last night I can't see how the head lights can even be legal they are that poor. So Philips Xtreme power ordered so hopefully they will help.

However to me it looks like skoda planned to fit the VRS with HID's from the start and VAG have told them NO as it would **** all over the polo.

Has anyone noticed they are slightly offset too?

Not realy more than any other set of healights, however to me they appear to be set exceptionaly low and flat like I believe an HID pattern is.