What bulbs are fitted to the S3 & upgraded bulb recommendations

[Lee_M]

Hi Rob,

 

yes correct no resistor needed on the ones I used, although I used cheaper bulbs from AliExpress (found the details in this thread).

 

Reverse light:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2x-High-Power-S25-1156-BA15S-80W-P21W-CREE-XBD-LED-White-Red-Amber-Reverse-Light/32505126692.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.U2sQvk

 

Indicators:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-Amber-Yellow-Error-Free-BAU15S-7507-PY21W-1156PY-LED-Bulbs-w-Reflector-Mirror-Design-For/32316963252.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.U2sQvk

 

 

Edited 4 September, 2017 by Lee_M

[pompom]

On 2017/8/30 at 15:51, SwissRob said:

Here is the link to the video

 

 

The trick makes it MUCH easier!

 

All the best,

 

Rob

i managed to swap the light. Thanks Rob!

[SwissRob]

You're welcome! 

[MrMoonWhite]

I tried these Osram cornering lights 35w from Powerbulbs ( https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/osram-night-breaker-unlimited-h8-twin ) and it doesnt look as good as my previous Höen bulb I installed on an Audi A5. Just looks like those first editions of LED automotive lights if you know what I mean? Any suggestion to other brands?

 

btw: service from Powerbulbs was GREAT!

[Vtec9000]

1 hour ago, MrMoonWhite said:

I tried these Osram cornering lights 35w from Powerbulbs ( https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/osram-night-breaker-unlimited-h8-twin ) and it doesnt look as good as my previous Höen bulb I installed on an Audi A5. Just looks like those first editions of LED automotive lights if you know what I mean? Any suggestion to other brands?

 

btw: service from Powerbulbs was GREAT!

 

Yet to get my car but for fog light I was thinking of these https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/h8-12-smd-samsung-3623-gold-canbus-leds-5000k-white/

[simhub]

50 minutes ago, Vtec9000 said:

 

Yet to get my car but for fog light I was thinking of these https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/h8-12-smd-samsung-3623-gold-canbus-leds-5000k-white/

 

Bulbs like that don't tend to give good light output because they use multiple small LEDs.  The reflector is designed for a filament bulb, which is a single point source of light.  A bulb with lots of LEDs will tend to spray light all over the place, so it shines in other drivers' eyes but doesn't actually light the road very well.

 

A bulb with a single very bright LED will give a better beam (though still not road legal) but they are pricey.  I've seen them from Osram somewhere in this thread.

[Vtec9000]

A DRL Bulb question re MY2018 with Halogen Headlights, SE Tech due to arrive late December.

 

Brochure on page 18 suggests even for S models,

 

> HALOGEN HEADLIGHTS WITH LED
DAYTIME-RUNNING LIGHTS

 

But looking at pictures such as the below from MY2017 cars it looks like they used to be or still are halogens or perhaps low colour temp LED's, has anyone just got a MY2018 to comment/send a pic?

Looking in the manual it only shows how to replace the two headlights, no green element for the DRL position.

Is there a thread somewhere else on this?

Any help appreciated as the ones below don't look good! 

   

[Alan_P]

I was really disappointed in how yellow all the bulbs were on my MY17. Here is the thread I posted so someone can compare their model numbers from their MY18:

 

 

I ended up changing all bulbs at the front and followed SJCSE’s very helpful DLR info from the following posts:

 

 

I really didn’t like the idea of molesting brand new components, but I couldn’t live with the colour or having to strip the bumper and headlight just to change a bulb. I bought a couple of rubber caps instead of tape though… indicator caps fit perfectly. Listed as E5J0941607A on my invoice and cost £2.60 each from a dealer.

 

Dipped and full (approved and road legal 4200k):

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005Q0F9PA

 

Fog (probably not road legal 5000k):

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ONC31MK/

 

I went for these sidelights first (almost definitely not road legal 6000k):

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PW24W-CREE-SMD-LED-Xenon-White-DRL-Daytime-Lights-Bulbs-Canbus-Golf-VW-BMW-Mini/322456866671

 

…but I was actually sent gold cases instead of silver. So went for these (also 6000k):

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-series-Daytime-Running-Lights-LED-Bulbs-Resistors-DRL-PW24W-F30-F31-Xenon/261522409638

 

They were exactly as pictured although both give no errors on the dash or within VCDS. I also prefer the spread of the second ones and they are a tiny bit closer to the Osram H7 although still noticeably whiter (6000k compared to 4200k). Let me know if you want some images.

 

Still can’t work out why they don’t want people to access the sidelights… profit I guess?

 

Edited 11 October, 2017 by Alan_P

[Vtec9000]

Thanks for the info Alan, I will wait and see if the brochure claim is true and maybe similar MY2018 owner can chip in as they get their cars ...

FYI I found these https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/pwy24w-white-60w-cree-xbd-smd-12-5w-canbus-bmw-indicator-led/ 

 

[Alan_P]

Thanks for the link, but I can’t see the colour temp rating so they are likely 6000k like the ones I already have. I don’t think there is any difference with the PWY24W and PW24W as many sites use both codes on the same listing. I wonder if they have just fitted the MY18 with road legal PWY24W LED?

 

I found a few listings for PWY24W/PW24W with a rating of 5000k which might be closer to the Osrams, but no reviews and the sites don’t inspire confidence. It also might turn out to be more of a guesstimate than a proper rating. For all I know the ones I have are 5000k

[Lee_M]

My MY18 car looks to have halogen DRLs.   Want to change them to LED, but really don't fancy taking the wheel arch liner off.

[grenness]

On 4/21/2017 at 10:04, Andysuew said:

Fitted LED rear indicators, rear reverse, fog lights, door lights and boot lights in my 206TSI (280PS) All work perfectly. No issues at all. All items arrived once ordered within 10-21 days. 

[...]

 

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/2Pcs-12V-Car-LED-Courtesy-Door-Projector-Light-For-Audi-A3-A4-A6-VW-Skoda-Foot/32789695507.html

 

 

 

But just to clarify to others - these will not fit in the boot of an estate wagon.

 

Has anyone found any replacement LEDs on Aliexpress (as an alternative to superskoda) that are a perfect fit in the boot of an estate wagon?

[Alan_P]

37 minutes ago, Lee_M said:

My MY18 car looks to have halogen DRLs.

 

Interesting… what month was your car built? Is it possible the current brochure doesn’t tie in with all MY18 cars and the LED sidelights were added a little later? Could you take a pic of your headlight sticker?

 

Brochures:

 

37 minutes ago, Lee_M said:

  Want to change them to LED, but really don't fancy taking the wheel arch liner off.

 

It is really annoying, but even if I was OK with the original sidelights, I wouldn’t have been OK with removing the bumper and headlight then a realignment just to change a bulb. I certainly wouldn’t have been happy to pay the labour costs either… or even the ridiculous amount dealers charge for a conventional PWY24W. Dropping the liner is definitely the easier job and now I just remove a cap to change the bulb.

[Lee_M]

Heres a pic of the headlight sticker.

 

 

Upon looking again, am wondering if i could get a dremel tool in behind the DRL to cut the plastic cover and then reach in by hand.  its tight, but may just work...

[D402]

Is it possible to get a suction cup on the cover or glue something to it so that you can pull it out?

[Alan_P]

Certainly built after week 22 so must be a build or brochure error... or updated shortly after?

 

It is thin plastic, but I doubt it would snap out neatly without cutting. I cut it with a Stanley and the cap from the indicator fits perfectly… see SJCSE’s image below:

As you can see the indicator is actually less accessible but they allow for DIY  I thought about a Dremel but it is tight and didn’t want cuttings and dust dropping into the unit. I suppose you could vacuum it out.

 

[Lee_M]

1 hour ago, D402 said:

Is it possible to get a suction cup on the cover or glue something to it so that you can pull it out?

 

Its not a cover as such - the back is actually moulded closed.

[SwissRob]

On 10/11/2017 at 21:20, Vtec9000 said:

has anyone just got a MY2018 to comment/send a pic?

 

Hi Vtec9000

 

Daytime running lights: 

 

The MY2018 DRL look exactly like this (link):

 

 

 

And this is a MY2015 car. 

 

I don't understand how your vehicle doesn't have the LED lights. 

 

Hope this was useful,

 

All the best, Rob

 

 

[Sagalout]

I think the LED lights are for the SEL and above in the UK.  Style=SEL I think??

 

[Vtec9000]

9 minutes ago, SwissRob said:

 

Hi Vtec9000

 

Daytime running lights: 

 

The MY2018 DRL look exactly like this (link):

 

 

 

And this is a MY2015 car. 

 

I don't understand how your vehicle doesn't have the LED lights. 

 

Hope this was useful,

 

All the best, Rob

 

 

 

Thanks, yours look good! But your car has what in the UK is called BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS (a £1,295.00 option) so the DRL's are different, my question re the lower spec cars with Halogen headlights like the blue 17 plate picture I posted.

Get my car late December all being well ...

All the best

[MartiniB]

23 hours ago, grenness said:

But just to clarify to others - these will not fit in the boot of an estate wagon.

Why?!

Just install right way

 

Combi:

 

Hatch:

 

[grenness]

Believe me, I've tried both ways.

The led from Superskoda will probably fit, but these from Ali... But I will give it another try this weekend.

[drewellis]

Hi all, been searching around and can't find any solid info - am I right in thinking the bi-xenon headlights in the S3 are D3S bulbs? Also, how difficult are they to change? 

 

I do think my headlights are brill but I'm obsessed with getting the best available when it comes to bulbs lol... I'm considering buying a pair of either of these:

https://www.powerbulbs.com/blog/2017/03/osram-xenarc-night-breaker-unlimited-philips-xtreme-vision-xenon-gen2

 

I've always sworn by Osram Nightbreakers in the good old Halogen days, and they are cheaper. But could the Philips really give 150% more light? And are they worth the money? I'm not so sure 

[JackySi]

How does one switch Xenon bulbs on S3? Does it require removing front bumper? I wonder because I was thinking to buy stronger lights too, I love the original but if I can get better light, I'm really considering it =).

[Grief]

On 2017-09-04 at 14:50, Lee_M said:

Hi Rob,

 

yes correct no resistor needed on the ones I used, although I used cheaper bulbs from AliExpress (found the details in this thread).

 

Indicators:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-Amber-Yellow-Error-Free-BAU15S-7507-PY21W-1156PY-LED-Bulbs-w-Reflector-Mirror-Design-For/32316963252.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.U2sQvk

 

Thanks a lot for the advice... Not

 

These do not fit as they are BAU15s with the pins at an offset.

 

Rear indicators on the MKIII are BA15s where the pins are exactly opposite each other.

 

 

 

Edited 10 December, 2017 by Grief