Hi Everyone. I have a skoda octavia mk3 elegance that came with halogen lights. I am tnkn about changing the OEM headlights to the OEM xenon drl headlights. However I am wondering do you need specific wiring etc ? Or can you jus plug in.

Any info much appreciated cheers.

You'll need headlight washers, and all the electrical gubbins to make them self levelling to start with.....

Cost prohibitive to go genuine.

 

It would cost less to sell your car and buy one of a similar age and mileage with them already fitted.

I have a blue octavia elegance with little or no milage so im happy with it ????.

Anyone alternative bulb change etc?

The headlights with xenon and drl light oem can be bought for €800.

I wondering what capables exatly you wud need etc

There's a lot more to it than just changing the headlights. .sorry

I have a blue octavia elegance with little or no milage so im happy with it ????.

Anyone alternative bulb change etc?

The headlights with xenon and drl light oem can be bought for €800.

I wondering what capables exatly you wud need etc

 

Do the headlights for €800 include the xenon bulbs, ballasts and igniters? This is where the cost is, not in the actual headlight cluster itself.

 

I'd be surprised if you can get them this cheap unless they are second hand. Second hand ones are usually damaged (off a crashed car) or stolen.

 

You also need the fit the headlight washers (new bumper plus painting), the self levelling system (sensors fitted to the suspension), a new wiring loom plus all the labour and coding required. Chances are you'll need a new BCM (electronic module that controls the cars lighting / electronics) too.

 

It really would be cheaper to buy a new car to do this legally.

Edited 30 October, 20169 yr by silver1011

By the sounds of it. Thanks lads.

Any good bulbs to improve night time driving and are white in appearance nd road legal nd dont blind other oncoming drivers nothing worse ????

By the sounds of it. Thanks lads.

Any good bulbs to improve night time driving and are white in appearance nd road legal nd dont blind other oncoming drivers nothing worse ????

PIAA Xtreme White Plus - best bulbs you can get to upgrade OEM halogen.

Changing the headlights is the easy bit if you're a dab hand with electrics & wiring.

Fitting the headlight = easy

Powering up the xenon ballast and bulb for dip and mail beam = easy.

Powering up the indicator = easy

Powering up the LED constant current ballasts for the DRL = medium

Powering up the motors to allow the roller inside your car to adjust the height of the headlight = very difficult

If it was me then I would buy a set of OE headlights, take both yours and the new ones apart and merge the 2.

You could use better projectors than the ones we have, fit additional amber LED's to the DRL bar (so the indicator is the DRL light strip) and make them amazing.

You just need the time, money, patience and skill.

The tricky part is the lack of auto-levelling and headlight washers - this causes LOTS of controversy on just about every car forum I've ever been a member of.

 

Why?

 

Legally, the UNECE Regulations require the fitment of both auto-levelling headlights and headlight washers to make a vehicle with HID headlights legal for use.

 

But, in the UK the MOT test requirements are only that IF FITTED auto-levelling headlights and headlight washers must work.

 

So if you retrofit HID bulbs, and the beam pattern passes the MOT headlight aim requirements (which most will) then you can pass the MOT test with NEITHER auto-levelling headlights or headlight washers, despite the car notionally being illegal.

 

If you don't believe that's the case about the MOT test requirements, then read them for yourself as they are available online as a pdf file.

Edited 31 October, 20169 yr by PetrolDave

The tricky part is the lack of auto-levelling and headlight washers - this causes LOTS of controversy on just about every car forum I've ever been a member of.

 

Why?

 

Legally, the UNECE Regulations require the fitment of both auto-levelling headlights and headlight washers to make a vehicle with HID headlights legal for use.

 

But, in the UK the MOT test requirements are only that IF FITTED auto-levelling headlights and headlight washers must work.

 

So if you retrofit HID bulbs, and the beam pattern passes the MOT headlight aim requirements (which most will) then you can pass the MOT test with NEITHER auto-levelling headlights or headlight washers, despite the car notionally being illegal.

 

If you don't believe that's the case about the MOT test requirements, then read them for yourself as they are available online as a pdf file.

 

Yep 100% true.

 

The issue is people fitting Xenon conversions in reflector housings that are designed for a halogen bulbs. These will produce an enormous amount of glare, even when using the "H7R" reflector type bulbs, as the bulbs are a different length and shape to halogens.

 

You'll only generally find that you'll get a good Xenon beam is if you car is already fitted with projector headlamps - if it isn't then a Xenon conversion is not recommended. 

The tricky part is the lack of auto-levelling and headlight washers - this causes LOTS of controversy on just about every car forum I've ever been a member of.

.....

If you don't believe that's the case about the MOT test requirements, then read them for yourself as they are available online as a pdf file.

 

It shouldn't cause an controversy at all, it's very simple...

 

Possessing a valid MOT doesn't mean a car is road legal or even roadworthy - even at the time of the test. Only that it hasn't failed a minimal set of tests and standards set by the DVSA or DVA.

 

Passing the MOT headlight check ( https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/the-mot-headlamp-aim-test-is-changing ) does not mean the headlight system have satisfied the ECE requirements to be used on the road.

 

For a true road legal xenon retrofit, as you say, the car will need to satisfy the ECE requirements. The simplest way to do this is to replicate a factory xenon install with the appropriate control modules, level sensors, cleaning system and finally projectors or reflectors designed for xenon light sources. This combination of parts will already have type approval and therefore if correctly installed and set up should be road legal.

 

Anyway, back to the OP and their question.

 

To install OEM xenon lights:

- You would definitely need level sensors and an AFS module. As xpower mentioned, you won't get any headlight range adjustment without this.

- Make sure the headlight control modules and ballasts are included, these are quite expensive when sourced seperately.

- If second hand headlights are used, be prepared to buy new xenon bulbs for maximum output. They do dim over time...

- You'd need wiring for the sensors, AFS controller, headlight controllers, power and probably to the BCM for the bi-xenon shutters/LED DRL.

- You might need a new BCM, this will depend if your current one supports xenons/LED DRL.

 

If you haven't got headlight washers, then ideally these would also be added but the xenon system will function without them.

 

When I did this for the MK2 Octavia, I was able to source the level sensors/control modules and wiring for around £150. I had the benefit that the BCM supported xenons and the car had washers fitted as standard which obviously reduced costs. From my experience, the self levelling side of the retrofit was very reasonable in terms of cost when compared to the price of complete headlights etc.

 

If you really want to do it, go for it! Just research carefully to get a total cost before buying anything

In case if anyone is brave enough to invest and try this solution:

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/A-T-Car-Styling-for-Skoda-Octavia-Headlights-2015-New-LED-Headlight-DRL-Lens-Double-Beam/32644862377.html

 

And while I was looking found these rather interesting fog lamps with LED DRL and turn signals built in:

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/LED-fog-lamps-assembly-for-Skoda-Octavia-A7-2014-2015-Daytime-running-light-with-yellow-turning/32755443602.html

 

Edited 31 October, 20169 yr by Yaumeister

Washers aint mandatory, if the the lightoutput is low enough.

Believe or not, but Tesla model s doesnt have headlightwashers, but they run 25w Xenons.

Washers aint mandatory, if the the lightoutput is low enough.

Believe or not, but Tesla model s doesnt have headlightwashers, but they run 25w Xenons.

 

Correct, I think if they are below 2000lm there is no need for washers or a levelling system to meet ECE R48: http://www.philips.co.uk/p-m-au/automotive/news/automotive-articles/article/the-entry-into-premier-league-of-car-lighting

 

A 25W system should use a D5S or D6S xenon bulb with a new projector/reflector designed for those bulbs. Any halogen replacement drop in 'HID kits' won't meet the ECE regs.

 

The D5S/D6S should have about 2000lm compared to a halogen H7 bulb at 1500lm or a D1S/D2S/D3S/D4S xenon at 3200lm. The projector/reflector is likely to have more effect on the light output so it's vital that quality optics are used

Washers aint mandatory, if the the lightoutput is low enough.

Believe or not, but Tesla model s doesnt have headlightwashers, but they run 25w Xenons.

Skoda (like most internal combustion engine and hybrid cars) use 35W Xenons, but some aftermarket kits offer the option of 35W or 55W.

Xenon's can be had on the Rapid without washers but these are less than 2,000 lumens.

 

The MkIII Octavia is different though so not relevant...

 

Skoda (like most internal combustion engine and hybrid cars) use 35W Xenons, but some aftermarket kits offer the option of 35W or 55W.

It depends on the model, for example the Skoda Rapid uses 25w D5S xenons...

Edit: snap with silver ;-)

Edited 31 October, 20169 yr by langers2k

I'd have thought the Teslas were LED lights over HID.

I'd have thought the Teslas were LED lights over HID.

All Teslas Ive seen has been HID. Not sure about model x though.

Edited 31 October, 20169 yr by Gromle

Thanks lads. Ya i take my time doing up my previous skodas. I just got a newoem r230 spoiler painted in race blue for €230 including p&p.

Will post photos when fitted.

Will look to headlights now and adding a diffusor for the rear of my elegence. But looking at the rear parking sensors limits what aftermarket diffusor i can get.

Thanks lads. Ya i take my time doing up my previous skodas. I just got a newoem r230 spoiler painted in race blue for €230 including p&p.

Will post photos when fitted.

Will look to headlights now and adding a diffusor for the rear of my elegence. But looking at the rear parking sensors limits what aftermarket diffusor i can get.

HI

 

My octavia MKIII has reflector headlight. I understand from above thread that, if replaced with OEM LED headlight than as per UK legal requirement  auto leveling and washer are required.

However in India it is not necessary to fit washer and auto leveling.  can I retrofit OEM led headlight without any problem like coding of CECM, BCM etc.?

Will be thankful, if someone have knowledge about it.  

Surely your biggest problem is that there is no OEM LED unit for the Mk3 pre facelift...

10 minutes ago, SC03OTT said:

Surely your biggest problem is that there is no OEM LED unit for the Mk3 pre facelift...

It is available in India from skoda dealer or you can purchase from http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-III/Lightning/

In this case do I need any other coding or replacement of  CECM / BCM or any other type