Hi all

 

Let me start by saying that I don't like filament bulbs - no logical reason really, I just prefer other lighting methods

 

This thread is intended to be a gathering of information regarding converting the various lighting on my car to LED and HID should anybody be interested in doing the same

 

When I purchased my car the previous owner had already swapped the interior lighting to LEDs except for the boot and glovebox lamps.  The car has factory fitted Xenon lights

 

There is also minor damage to the rear LHS (mine is LHD so I won't be using driver/passenger side) light cluster, meaning replacement would always be on the cards

 

I'll update this thread with more information as and when I do little bits, I'm away in the UK for a couple of weeks at least so won't have much to write about until then

 

Let's begin with what I've done already...

 

 

 

Front Parking lights - W5W fitment

 

These were replaced with these units: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151702370542 as recommended by another member on here

 

Excellent light output and colour, no issues with CANBUS - will report back on longevity if it becomes an issue

 

Coded out cold start testing using VCDS

 

 

 

Main Beam - H1 fitment

 

I feel like I'm going to be opening a can of worms by saying this but yes, I have converted my main beam to 55W 6000k HID.  I find that they do suit the driving here - there is little traffic, not much ambient light, and flashing other drivers is not commonplace.  We recently drove the 350km from Zagreb back home at 1900 on a Saturday and were able to leave main beam on for minutes at a time.  It's been a month now and I can say that I'm happy I did it, it suits the local conditions.  Would it suit driving in the UK?  I don't think so but its up to each individual driver to decide what is best for them, I'm happy to answer questions anybody has

 

The HID units are these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281413571138 - 6000k 55W

 

I have installed many HID conversion kits in different vehicles (all passed MOT beam tests I should add) and have found that cheap Chinese kits are really not lacking in quality compared to those from more prestigious suppliers, obviously aftersales support could be a different story!!  Regardless, if they fail, they're now cheaper than a pair of Osram Nightbreakers!!  I'm not looking to pick a fight between HID/non-HID folks, if we could keep it out of the thread and start a new one then that'd be dandy

 

I used 3M adhesive pads to affix the ballasts inside the original headlamp units so there's no cutting involved and it should keep them away from the elements - I've coded out cold start tests on the main beam and so far I've had no issues - if my CEM implodes I'll let you all know

 

 

 

Rear Numberplate Lights - C5W fitment

 

These were LED when I purchased the car, but the previous owner had purchased HUGE LEDs with two rows that didn't fit and necessitated angling them in towards the car meaning they hardly shone out at all.  I would advise anybody loking to replace them to carefully consider the space available, three surface mount LEDs provide more than enough illumination...

 

Simple job to replace them with these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161903106028

 

Coded out cold start test using VCDS and no issues so far

 

Now onto upcoming replacements

 

 

 

Front Indicators - PY21W fitment

 

Have ordered these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252318343379

 

Unknown quality, will report back when they're fitted

 

 

 

Rear Lighting Cluster

 

Rather than fitting a whole bunch of unsuitable bulbs to a broken light unit I have ordered the Litec/Dectane unit from www.orange-tuning.de

 

Expect a fitting guide and comparison with stock when I'm back home in a couple of weeks...

 

 

 

Boot lights - W5W fitment

 

Have ordered these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201485932808

 

Have had them previously in another vehicle, they lasted 12 months but that was in a cramped, hot, headlamp unit close to the engine heat - let's see if they last any longer in the relatively cushy surroundings of the boot

 

Be aware that not all W5W bulbs will fit in the holders, they'll be too long.  The W5W bulbs I showed above will not fit.  You also need bulbs that illuminate to the side rather than forwards, hence my use of Chips On Board LEDs rather than Surface Mount

 

 

 

Front Fog Lights - H1 fitment on vRS / H8 on all other pre-FL models

 

These are currently halogen, and I use them as Daytime Running Lights coded using VCDS - I'm torn between leaving them or converting to HID or LED.

 

Local climate means fog lights are essentially useless because we don't get fog, but fitting HIDs would likely mean they're too bright even for here for DRL use - normal fog lights at 100% are perfect for the ambient light here, much, much brighter than the UK

 

Again, this isn't meant to be a foglight/DRL argument, just the musings of the OP...

 

Haven't found an LED bulb I like the look of, I suspect fitting an HID kit to be a messy affair, would be interested in fitting the OEM LED running lights if it didn't involve so much faff and expense...

 

I'm with on filament bulbs... also dislike them!

 

Like the idea of getting rid of them all in favour of LED.

 

Replaced nearly all my house lights with LED. Also replaced the bulbs in the motorhome with LED... it originally had 12v tail/brake light bulbs in these old light fittings... drawing 10w each! I can now run all the lights for the equivalent of one of the old bulbs.

 

So if nothing else think of the fuel savings not having to provide so much power! lol

So if nothing else think of the fuel savings not having to provide so much power! lol

 

Haha, if only we weren't throwing those extra horses into warming resisters...

 

Just had an email from Orange Tuning, the Clear tail lights are out of stock until "before the end of June" - disappointing but it seems that that's all across Europe :(

Edited 22 April, 201610 yr by hrvrs

Sounds good, I've done the same on my FL
 
Every external bulb apart from the main beams has been replaced - the dipped beams are a factory xenon retrofit and all others are LED. If it helps these are the bulbs I used, no load resistors are fitted but I have edited the lighting configuation to avoid any bulb out warnings.

DRL
- Morimoto XB LED http://www.morimotohid.com/led-lighting/morimoto-xb-led-1156-bulbs.html

Fog lights
- Chinese clone of the Philips X-treme Vision LED fog lights http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Brand-new-LED-fog-6000K-H8-H11-H16-LED-fog-valve-X-treme-Ultinon/32611184356.html

Front and rear indicators
- Morimoto XB LED (bases replaced with PY21W as they aren't sold) http://www.morimotohid.com/led-lighting/morimoto-xb-led-3156-bulbs.html
 
Front sidelights
- Philips X-tremeVision 6000k http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/127996000KX2/x-treme-ultinon-led-led-interior-lighting

Licence plate
- Clones of the Superskoda Mega Power units http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Canbus-LED-License-lamp-For-SKODA-Octavia-1Z-Roomster-5J-LED-License-Plate-Light-auto-car/32266687563.html

Rear clusters
- Genuine Skoda 1ZD945095A + 1ZD945096A

Reverse lights
- Cheap 30W things http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131544161772
 
Puddle lights
- Superskoda Mega Power http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-II/Octavia-II-09-13-Facelift-MEGA-POWER-LED-mirror-downlight-KI-R

Excelent info as always langers2k

 

 

Unfortunately the fog lamps you have are H8 or H11 (I think?) and mine are H1 on the vRS - they don't make them in H1 flavour - also a bit of a pain as I've just looked and there's not much room in the enclosed fog lamp unit to fit good bulbs with heat sinks attached - I might take my chances with some of the cheaper ebay specials as they're only driving lights and I can refit halogens without any problems if I don't go cutting (yet...)

 

Also, the Chinese OEM rear clusters you fitted, what lamps are LED on those? I saw them but it looked like the indicators where still halogen?  I'm tempted to go down that route despite hearing that additional resistors are needed due to it not being a VCDS option to add the LED clusters - can you let me know how it was to fit them?

On the rear clusters, anything red is an LED so tail, brake and fog. I then added LED P21W and PY21W bulbs for reverse and indicators to make it a full LED conversion. They are also only for the hatch and aren't made for the combi/estate.

 

For the fogs, you could try the Fabia LED fogs (5J0941067 and 5J0941068) but they will need modifying as the mounting points are different. I'm sure I've seen somewhere that it's possible to take the internals from the LED fog and fit it inside the halogen fog housing. Unfortunately I can't find where I saw the conversion so I may have imagined it

perfect timing given I'm looking for some new LED parking / sidelights...   did you go for the 6 or 10 led versions?

On the rear clusters, anything red is an LED so tail, brake and fog. I then added LED P21W and PY21W bulbs for reverse and indicators to make it a full LED conversion. They are also only for the hatch and aren't made for the combi/estate.

 

For the fogs, you could try the Fabia LED fogs (5J0941067 and 5J0941068) but they will need modifying as the mounting points are different. I'm sure I've seen somewhere that it's possible to take the internals from the LED fog and fit it inside the halogen fog housing. Unfortunately I can't find where I saw the conversion so I may have imagined it

 

 

Yeah I remember reading about the Fabia LED conversion as you have, was a bit more money and faff than I wanted to put into it but it would look very nice when complete...

 

Did you have any issues with the brightness of the rear units when the brake isn't active?  I've read a bit about them and if I've got the right end of the stick people were having issues because the BCM wasn't actually sending PWM signals to the LEDs and they were too bright when just on "side light" mode

 

 

Have you heard of anybody actually coding the OEM LED units to work with the European CANBUS?  I doubt it's easy given that the models are different and I've not heard found anything whilst searching...

 

 

 

perfect timing given I'm looking for some new LED parking / sidelights...   did you go for the 6 or 10 led versions?

 

Mine were 10 SMD ones, they do feel very solid, especially for the price  

Did you have any issues with the brightness of the rear units when the brake isn't active?  I've read a bit about them and if I've got the right end of the stick people were having issues because the BCM wasn't actually sending PWM signals to the LEDs and they were too bright when just on "side light" mode

 

I've no experience with the pre-FL but on the FL with a PQ35 BCM, the default light configuration isn't suitable for the LED lights. The standard light config is:

- A27/C3 are 100% for CH/LH, parking and tail lights

- A6/C47 are 17% for CH/LH, parking and tail lights, this increases to 100% for rear fogs

- A26/C4 are 25% for CH/LH, parking and tail lights, this increases to 100% for brake lights

 

It's easy to fix on the FL if you know what you're doing and have the right tools. It may also need a modern enough BCM that natively supports LEDs although this isn't confirmed. If I remember correctly I changed this to:

- A27/C3 are 35% for CH/LH, parking and tail lights

- A6/C47 are 100% for rear fogs only

- A26/C4 are 100% for brake lights only

 

There are some pictures of this setup here http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/289065-octavia-hatch-led-tail-lights-now-fitted/?p=4464047

 

I don't think the pre-FL CECM allows the same level of control unfortunately.

thanks 10 LED sidelights it is then...

I don't think the pre-FL CECM allows the same level of control unfortunately.

 

Unfortunate... :(

 

I think the choice is Dectane due to ease of install, and I do slightly prefer the look...

 

The question is, smoked that can be dispatched now, or wait until June for the clear units that I really want... :(

 

*sigh*

Have chosen to wait it out, just can't bring myself to fit smoked tail lights to my car

 

Order with Orange Tuning kept and awaiting dispatch once stock comes in...

UPDATE

 

The Ebay seller of the indicator bulbs either didn't send them or RM have lost them, I opened a friendly case of "hey these aren't here yet, can you confirm postage?" that has been ignored

 

As such I ordered a pair of these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152050675384

 

Initial impressions are good, and my god they're bright!!  I've currently fitted them to the XC70 in the UK and not getting any bulb warning (IME the Volvo is more sensitive to bulbs than the Skoda so far)

 

Will update when I get them over to Croatia and fit them to the vRS, and also will have to make sure they're not too bright to use at night...

Following on from the last post I'm impressed with the quality of these bulbs

 

 

I've ordered an identical pair for the reverse lamps when the Dectane units arrive (with the correct base of course) and have also taken a punt on these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152069142120

 

I'm hoping I can get the little control boxes in the fog lamp housings without cutting holes and allowing moisture in

 

The flexible heat sinks should also be a bit easier to get in than the larger solid ones

 

Updates when I have chance to fit them...

...I ordered a pair of these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152050675384

 

Initial impressions are good, and my god they're bright!!  I've currently fitted them to the XC70 in the UK and not getting any bulb warning (IME the Volvo is more sensitive to bulbs than the Skoda so far)

 

Well *******s...

 

Looks like the Volvo only tests the bulbs when the engine is running, just popped out and I get double time flashing and a warning message

 

I'll try them in the Skoda and then report back, might need load resistors...

Edited 5 May, 201610 yr by hrvrs

Right, I'm back home now!!

 

The LED reversing and indicators work just fine in the Octavia, Volvo system must be more sensitive, they are VERY bright

 

I tested the H1 LED units on a bench battery and they're extremely bright, so much so that I think they'll be wasted on fog/DRL lamps

 

I've now put them in the main beam, they're almost as bright as the 55W HID kit but fire instantly - beam pattern looks a little better spread than the HIDs as well, kind of a chubby C shape vs a small blob of incredibly intense light

 

Will test them for a bit and see how it works, I'm hoping that as they're high beam heat dissipation shouldn't be such an issue as it would be with DRLs or dipped beams...

 

The only problem is that they're throwing bulb warning lights, when I get VCDS up and running on the new laptop I'll see if I can code them out..

Well, 2016 went a bit quick!!

 

Anyway, I gave up waiting for Orange Tuning to get stock or even contact me so started looking again in earnest for the Litec units - got a set on order from the UK

 

Never got around to sorting the main beam warnings, tried resistors without success and also looked for coding options, none

 

So we're down to the small stuff now, and because it's a vRS and therefore I'm allowed to be a bit chav I ordered two of these:

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-Custom-Courtesy-Light-Specified-Car-Door-Ground-For-SKODA-Octavia-2004-2008/32740063147.html

 

"Comments welcome"

Hi,

 

I just had a sidelight blow on my Mk.II Octavia vRS. I'm looking at these, purely because they're convenient to get. http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/halfords-501-filament-led-upgrade-bulbs-x-2

 

They are the extra bright ones. I thought they might be better for not triggering bulb warnings because of the higher current drain. Are they likely to need the car recoding? Asking as I don't have VCDS yet and £240 is an expensive set of bulbs

 

Thanks.

Papfox - I can't vouch for the Halfords bulbs, I doubt any LED could pull 5W of power without a resistor, a 5W LED torch is as bright as a set of car headlamps

 

Funnily enough one of my sidelight bulbs has started giving up, can't find the pack of ten I ordered though, d'oh!!

 

Anyway, back to the lights!!  Litec Red/Crystal lights are on, very nice fitment and light output, phone camera struggles to capture them in low light...

 

 

Thanks.

 

Update - Just tried fitting the Halfords bulbs and I couldn't get either of them to light (tried them in both sides and turned them round 180 degrees). Verdict: What a load of cobblers.

 

Going to try the eBay ones above. They offer 6 LED and 10 LED versions. Which should I get please?

10 LED because more...

On 07/02/2017 at 17:37, Gobsheene said:

10 LED because more...

 

Sums it up nicely...

 

Get a decent sized pack, I've yet to find an LED W5W bulb that last more than a year...

Just a couple more pictures of the Litec units...

 

 

1 minute ago, hrvrs said:

I've yet to find an LED W5W bulb that last more than a year...

 

 

Buy quality LEDs?

 

I fitted these as my sidelights over a year ago: http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/127996000KX2/x-treme-ultinon-led-led-interior-lighting

 

They are lit permanently when the car is running and I've covered about 32000 miles since then without any issues

3 minutes ago, langers2k said:

 

 

Buy quality LEDs?

 

I fitted these as my sidelights over a year ago: http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/127996000KX2/x-treme-ultinon-led-led-interior-lighting

 

They are lit permanently when the car is running and I've covered about 32000 miles since then without any issues

 

A mere snip at just over ten times the price of the ebay specials though

 

Ignorning me being a bellend and forgetting where I put the pack, the Philips would need to last ten years to make them financially equal in cost per lifespan...