Hi All, just to share a simple and very cheap upgrade to LED running lights. 2016 Fabia SE comes with horrible / cheap filament bulbs for Daylight Running. I found these LED bulbs recommended by others on Amazon, just a few pounds. Anyway, after using them for 2 months, no problems (did not fall apart like some). Running lights now brighter and nice crisp white light (instead of yellow'sih before). I'm sure other brands are fine to, these are just the ones I have experience of.

Just a 5 minute job to fit them, no dashboard error messages.

By the way, don't try the same for your turn indicators as that will cause you problems (rapid flash and error messages).

 

You have a night time picture or dusk 

Day time photos

that looks better 

 

did a similar upgrade on my dads citigo but paid a lot more for the bulbs than that

 

do you have a link to share for any members wishing to purchase some 

 

 

I am experiencing the daylight error message at the moment. Is there a step by step guide to change the bulb please?

Edited 22 May, 20188 yr by Guest

Scott you got the error message, but does the DRL still work? If you only get the message, but the lights are ok, the problem is the canbus-resistor. It is always a gamble if you got the error message or not: sometimes when you put the same bulbs in another car (same brand, model, engine, year of production and so on), you don't get the message in the other car. The warning systems for not functioning bulbs is very sensitive, and a slight difference in the bulbs or in the electric system of the car can cause you to get this message (or not).

Thanks for the reply. The left DRL does not work but I don’t know if it’s just loose. I can’t find a step by step guide on how to access the DRL area to check. 

Edited 22 May, 20188 yr by Guest

If the left one did't work since last fitting, there is the possibility that the polarity of the bulb is wrong. If it is possible, you can try to turn the bulb 180 degrees, so the 12Volt and ground connection on the bulb are exchanged. (I got my Fabia III later this week, so I don't know how the connector/fitting for the DRL looks like)

I think it possible to recode the sensitivity for the DRLs if replaced with LEDs, but I'm not 100% sure. I replaced the reversing lights with very bright LED bulbs and was getting light bulb error which I was able to get rid of by changing the bulb type in VCDS. You might want to look up someone with VCDS near to you and check if this could be a possibility

Having just bought the wife a 17plate Fabia the old style bulbs look rubbish, especially coming from the LED DRLs on the Yeti.

I thought about the upgrade as well - have you got any more details of the supplier Cotswold pls

On 22/05/2018 at 22:16, Fabia-format said:

If the left one did't work since last fitting, there is the possibility that the polarity of the bulb is wrong. If it is possible, you can try to turn the bulb 180 degrees, so the 12Volt and ground connection on the bulb are exchanged. (I got my Fabia III later this week, so I don't know how the connector/fitting for the DRL looks like)

 

On 22/05/2018 at 21:45, Fabia-format said:

Scott you got the error message, but does the DRL still work? If you only get the message, but the lights are ok, the problem is the canbus-resistor. It is always a gamble if you got the error message or not: sometimes when you put the same bulbs in another car (same brand, model, engine, year of production and so on), you don't get the message in the other car. The warning systems for not functioning bulbs is very sensitive, and a slight difference in the bulbs or in the electric system of the car can cause you to get this message (or not).

 

Cheers. I ended up down Halfords and now know how to change the bulb (lift bonnet and bulb can be accessed on far left or right side). I'm learning slowly

Edited 29 May, 20188 yr by Guest
spelling mistake

you should have got an SEL, it already comes with LED bulbs as standard..

25 minutes ago, skodaTDI said:

you should have got an SEL, it already comes with LED bulbs as standard..

 

Or a Colour Edition. TBH I can’t see many reasons to opt for an SE over a Colour Edition given the minimal price difference and larger spec. 

If you did not spot it in the original photos, the LED bulbs I used were ZISTE 2835 (P21W replacements). Seem to work fine, not error or warnings. Go for the brightest 6000K.