My left Xenon has turned bright pink, popped into the dealer this morning, said they'd never seen anything like it.

Did a quick search on here...suggests bulb is about to die (?).

The car is going back in on Wednesday for them to have a proper look but I thought they would have just replaced the bulb. The car is under warranty/a lease car but apparently that job is £260 + VAT + fitting

Car has 55k miles and always has the Xenons on as DRLs (about 90% brightness IIRC), this is how the original Mark IIs were configured.

Is this the normal life span for Xenons?

Dan

Edited 21 February, 201115 yr by dan123

My left Xenon has turned bright pink, popped into the dealer this morning, said they'd never seen anything like it.

Did a quick search on here...suggests bulb is about to die (?).

The car is going back in on Wednesday for them to have a proper look but I thought they would have just replaced the bulb. The car is under warranty/a lease car but apparently that job is £260 + VAT + fitting

Car has 55k miles and always has the Xenons on as DRLs (about 90% brightness IIRC), this is how the original Mark IIs were configured.

Is this the normal life span for Xenons?

Dan

Hi

Had this last month on my company S Class Merc, yes as you say it's a sign that bulb on it's way out. It was about £130 for the bulb but fitted free coz they like me otherwise about 1 hour labour.

Very surprised your dealer had not seen before, seen quite a few cars with the "Pink Wink"

VAG Xenons aren't prone to dying young. But yes it they are going pinkish it means the bulb is failing.

Thanks for the replies, hopefully will be sorted on Wednesday.

Dan

Never mind the pink im still waiting for my superb xenons to look blue!!!

Do Skoda not cover the xenon bulbs in the 3year warranty? Ford do, as far as I know.

Al

According to the warranty booklet it states bulbs are a wear and tear item. I know xenon lamps are a bit different to a £3 bulb but it looks like they include it as a wear item as there is no specific mention of xenons.

Contrary to popular opinion HID bulbs grow dimmer as they age - for example the Philips OEM D2S bulb output is reduced to 70% after 2000 hours. They also age quicker the more times they're switched on, especially so if they're switched on when already hot.

I don't know how long one of these bulbs is meant to last, but if it's over 3 years then it should really be included in the warranty, imo.

Do Skoda not cover the xenon bulbs in the 3year warranty? Ford do, as far as I know.

Al

It's a company car, so I don't pay either way.....a nasty shock for those who own these types of cars down the line,I've already had a new Columbus on warranty, they retail at over £1200 iirc.

Imagine owning a 10 year old Superb worth about £250 and coughing up £300 plus to replace a bulb.

Dan

I don't know how long one of these bulbs is meant to last, but if it's over 3 years then it should really be included in the warranty, imo.

As I posted earlier, the first of the mark II Superbs (mine is a 2009 58) used the Xenons as DRLs...now the fog/turning unit is used for DRL...maybe the increased wear on the xenons is why Skoda made the change?

Dan

Edited 22 February, 201115 yr by dan123

A suitable xenon bulb can be purchased from GSF or even europarts and I have paid around 40 quid for osram/phillips units. Fitting of a xenon bulb is so simple and easy one cud almost do it blindfold in around 10 mins. I have just looked at my xenons and within 2mins i had my bulb unclipped. Being charged silly money even a 100 to 250 quid is outrageous no matter who picks up the bill. Just my view point.