Hello

 

I am new to this forum (posting although have looked lots) and yesterday took delivery of a 12 plate Octavia Estate ...

 

I have some questions and hoping that someone can help (I am getting confused with reading different posts and articles)

 

Main question I have is can you replace the bulbs in the vehicle with LEDs without any coding or similar? Or is it something you need to tell the car you have done?

 

I am sure there will be other questions as time goes on...

 

Many thanks in advance for your guidance

You can replace the interior lighting bulbs with LEDS with no problems as I did shortly after buying my car nearly 5 years ago.

Replacing the exterior  bulbs e.g. reversing lights, side lights, number plate lights will trigger a 'bulb out' warning unless either canbus friendly bulbs are used or the ECU is recoded.

Liger1956 is spot on, interior lighting isn't monitored so can easily be changed to LED.

 

Exterior lighting is monitored to give you warnings for faulty bulbs. On a 12 plate you probably have a BCM that supports LED lighting but it will need recoding. You can't do this with VCDS, you need either VCP or ODIS-e and the right knowledge for this.

 

Word of warning, I would suggest you only use quality LEDs. Cheaper ones tend to have resistors to fool bulb monitoring systems, some of these are very under spec'd and have been known to melt the solder joints and damage bulb holders.

You can replace the interior lighting bulbs with LEDS with no problems as I did shortly after buying my car nearly 5 years ago.

Replacing the exterior  bulbs e.g. reversing lights, side lights, number plate lights will trigger a 'bulb out' warning unless either canbus friendly bulbs are used or the ECU is recoded.

 

 

Liger1956 is spot on, interior lighting isn't monitored so can easily be changed to LED.

 

Exterior lighting is monitored to give you warnings for faulty bulbs. On a 12 plate you probably have a BCM that supports LED lighting but it will need recoding. You can't do this with VCDS, you need either VCP or ODIS-e and the right knowledge for this.

 

Word of warning, I would suggest you only use quality LEDs. Cheaper ones tend to have resistors to fool bulb monitoring systems, some of these are very under spec'd and have been known to melt the solder joints and damage bulb holders.

 

Thank you - one more question (being uneducated as I am...) - is it a straight swap over for interior lights or would I need to add anything else in to make them work?

 

Assistance appreciated....

 

Lawrence

Interior bulbs are a straight swap over. Got my interior LED lights from Halfords and it took me less than 5 mins to change over. You can of course get them cheaper elsewhere. Interior bulbs no problem, any other bulbs on the car I would avoid LED, unless you can get them coded. The only other bulb change I have done is to change the dipped headlight bulbs for Phillips ex-treme. No problem with this straight swap over, as they are not LED.

Edited 10 January, 20179 yr by roaddetective

As far as I know, this kind of bulb change isn't easy. At first, it will show you the warning so even licence plate bulbs can't be changed that easy. Then many people complain about poor quality bulbs that don't give a good light beam. They might seem too bright to other drivers. MOT inspectors may dislike them. These LED bulbs may overheat and need air circulation etc.

Conclusion - unless you car doesn't have LED lights from factory, don't change to them.

A good question to the OP would have been 'which bulbs do you want to change to LED?'

Good point Tilt - I didn't specify! That'll teach me....

 

Only looking at changing over the interior ones to leds.... exterior I'm leaving alone (for now!)

 

Thanks people.... nice helpful bunch :D

I literally yesterday bought some 501 LED's from Halfords canbus friendly.

 

popped them in the side light holders and instant perfect LED white light. they have 2 designs one with resistors on the spade and one integral. I used the spade ones very tight fit but went in with a satisfying slip.

 

no errors and when I turned just the side lights on in the dark this very morning I was greeted with great light.

 

I would say brighter than many vehicles dipped headlights so well impressed and £15 a pair. love them.

A lot of people on here including myself use a seller called Fizzmo on ebay. Great bulbs and nowhere near those prices. I have LED bulbs in reg plates, side lights and all interior including boot and all working fine with no error messages.

I would say brighter than many vehicles dipped headlights so well impressed and £15 a pair. love them.

 

Having sidelights that are 'brighter' than dipped headlights is not a good thing...

 

I have no issue using LEDs but please choose them sensibly as not to cause issues for other road users.

A lot of people on here including myself use a seller called Fizzmo on ebay. Great bulbs and nowhere near those prices. I have LED bulbs in reg plates, side lights and all interior including boot and all working fine with no error messages.

Just searched for this seller but no results found?!

fizzmocouk is there name. I've just searched on ebay and they came up.

fizzmocouk is there name. I've just searched on ebay and they came up.

Ta mate