I would be very interested to know If it is possible to convert a 2015 Monte Carlo to LED headlamps. Are the headlamps the same shape and size as the current model ? How different are the connectors and wiring ? 

 

The reason for asking is that the car seems to get through an excessive number of H4 main light bulbs and sidelight bulbs. I always buy Osram or Philips mains and have replaced both H4 main bulbs again this week due to failed dipped beams.

 

I never had this problem with our other VAG cars. Is the Citigo subject to more vibration or am I just unlucky ? Cheers.

More light -> less lifetime. More lifetime -> less light. Simple. 

This has been my experience with bright bulbs too. Although the OP did not say that any super bright bulbs were being used, and the sidelights were blowing too...

 

It's not beyond belief that there may be a voltage regulation or calibration problem, as any peaky/momentary or sustained over-voltage would reduce bulb life. Has the car been fitted with any add-on electrical or electronic devices of any sort? 

 

Vibration seems an unlikely culprit to me - I think you'd feel it.

 

Finger prints on bulb would blow it pretty soon. You should never touch the glass parts of a bulb. 

9 hours ago, freemansteve said:

Vibration seems an unlikely culprit to me

Also @BigVinny

 

That depends on how firmly the bulb holder springs hold the bulbs. Slack (relative terms) bulb holders have been implicated with short lives on other makes and models.

Sure - perhaps some makes have slack springs, but I have never come across one that did, definitely not on anything VAG I have owned - generally they have been stiff enough to be a pain to get on and off!

 

And this would not apply to the sidelight bulbs, which OP says blow too...

 

We still don't know if the OP was using standard H4's or extra bright ones (known to be less long-lived).

 

LED upgrades are a topic that I have seen on several car owners' web sites, and it is surprising how many of the upgrades turn out to be very poor (light and beam pattern), sometimes illegal, and sometimes MOT failures - it's a bit of a minefield doing a worthwhile conversion.

 

For me, given a Citigo is a slow city car, I have found the OEM H4 lights to be pretty good as they are. It's a 2019 model; maybe original Citigos had different lamp units? Can't see myself using the electric beam height adjuster much though! I'd prefer a means to dim the crazy bright instrument binnacle lighting (I can't find how to do this).

 

21 hours ago, BigVinny said:

I would be very interested to know If it is possible to convert a 2015 Monte Carlo to LED headlamps. Are the headlamps the same shape and size as the current model ? How different are the connectors and wiring ? 

 

The reason for asking is that the car seems to get through an excessive number of H4 main light bulbs and sidelight bulbs. I always buy Osram or Philips mains and have replaced both H4 main bulbs again this week due to failed dipped beams.

 

I never had this problem with our other VAG cars. Is the Citigo subject to more vibration or am I just unlucky ? Cheers.

 

What do you call "excessive"?

 

I owned a 2014 Ford Galaxy for 18 months. I fitted uprated Osram Nightbreaker headlamp bulbs, and had to replace them every 5 or 6 months.

These high-output halogen bulbs are only rated for about 300 hours use. Unfortunately the Galaxy used the dipped beams as DRLs, with no way of turning them off. 300 hours was about 6 months' driving for me.

 

Standard output bulbs last a lot longer.

 

If the sidelamp bulbs are blowing too, maybe there's an earth fault?

Edited 14 October, 20196 yr by Clockworks

Just curious - how would 'an earth fault' cause bulbs to blow?

My thinking is that a poor connection may cause "pulsing" of the current flow, seriously shortening bulb life.

 

Does the Citigo use a light control module, or are the lights just powered direct from a switch or relay?

If multiple lamps/fittings are having the same problem, it must be something that's common to all of them that's at fault.