This retrofit is not substantially difficult depending on the vehicle you do it on. You should have good amount of technical ability (be able to understand wiring diagrams and work with 12V electrical systems) and a small amount of mechanical knowledge. I consider myself a fairly competent technician and I still got a lot of help doing this. Any part numbers I quote are for a UK spec Octavia in RHD, but should be identical for LHD (other than the headlights which are obviously different).

 

Prerequisites that I know of:

• A BCM and CAN gateway which support xenon headlights. I cannot give a definitive list of part numbers which are compatible, but I know that BCM 1K0937087J and CAN gateway 1K0907951 are compatible.
• Headlight washer jets - fitting this is a major job in itself and is outside the scope of this guide. UK MOT rules require all cars first used after 1 September 2009 with high intensity discharge headlights (any dipped beam light source with an output greater than 2000 lumen) to be fitted with a headlight cleaning system. See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-1-6
  • My car is an Elegance spec so had headlight washer jets fitted as standard, I believe the Scout is the same. This saved me a lot of work.
• Quite a lot of time and money. The conversion cost me about £500 in total, but this heavily depends on how much you end up paying for the headlights, which are by far the most expensive parts of this conversion.

 

Parts required:

• Nearside xenon headlight 1Z2941015G
• Offside xenon headlight 1Z2941016G
  • If your headlights do not come with the ballast/driver and AFS slave module, the part numbers are 1Z0941641B and 7L6941329B respectively.
• AFS master (range control module) 5M0907357C with software SW 0142 or later
• Front suspension level sensor 1K0941274C
• Rear suspension level sensor 1K0941273N
• Fasteners for level sensors:

  • Front
    1x M6x16mm bolt N10653201 with washer N0115477
    1x M6 nyloc nut N10205802

  • Rear
    5x M5x16mm bolts hex head N10430104
    2x M5x3.8-6.5mm XL rivnuts N10601701
    3x M5x0.5-3mm rivnuts N10597701

• Dashboard dimmer switch without manual headlight range adjustment 1Z0941333A
• Wiring loom - I used this one from Aliexpress which was designed for a mk6 Golf and required some adaptation as the pinout is not exactly the same as the Octavia. I also had the seller include an extra level sensor cable, as the Octavia uses two level sensors as opposed to the single one in the Golf.

 

Step 1 - install level sensors.

• The front sensor is very easy to install. Take off the front left wheel and have a look at the subframe immediately behind the CV gaiter. There are two holes; the left one is a simple hole which is where the guide pin on the level sensor bracket goes, and the right hole is threaded, so put your M6x16mm bolt with washer in here. The bottom part of the sensor goes into more existing holes on the lower suspension arm, near the anti-roll bar. Make sure the arm on the level sensor is pointing outwards.

 

 

 

• The rear sensor is a little more tricky as you have to get fully under the car. You also need to set 5 rivnuts in the left suspension - 2 in the upper arm, and 3 in the lower. The holes already exist, there should be 3 in a triangle at the bottom and 3 in a line at the top. You only need to set rivnuts in the outer 2 holes at the top. Unfortunately I forgot to take decent photos of mine, but you should get the idea. Mount the sensor using your M5x16mm bolts, once again making sure the sensor arm points outwards (it will not work if it's pointing inwards!)

 

 

 

 

Step 2 - install wiring.

• This is probably the most time consuming part of the conversion. I tried to make mine as neat and OEM looking as possible. You will ultimately end up with wiring running between the following locations:
  • nearside headlight and centre of dashboard (behind climate control panel)
  • offside headlight and centre of dashboard
  • front level sensor and centre of dashboard
  • rear level sensor and centre of dashboard
  • centre of dashboard and CAN gateway (buried at the back behind the steering wheel)
  • centre of dashboard and cabin fuse box (or other suitable power source)
• The looms for the headlights themselves have a short section which converts from the 10 pin halogen headlight connector to the 14 pin xenon connector, and also a CANBUS twisted pair and power wire for the AFS slave which needs to go into the cabin. I used some flexible conduit cable tied neatly from both headlights to near where the grommet in the bulkhead behind the battery is located as this is where I'd be passing the wiring into the car.
• I got the wiring for the front level sensor into the engine bay through the hole that the brake pipe goes through.

 

 

 

 

 

• The rear level sensor wiring enters the car through the same rubber grommet the ABS cable goes through, and runs down the passenger side of the car up to the front.
• Once all the wiring is in the front, you need to get it into behind the climate control panel. This is pretty easy as you can just push it through the gap between the carpet and the plastic surround of the centre panel.

Edited 12 September, 20205 yr by slow_nick

 

• The CANBUS wires from the headlights and all of the wires from the level sensors eventually terminates in the large white plug which goes into the AFS master, which lives in the back of that hole. There is also a CANBUS pair which goes from the AFS master to the CAN gateway. The AFS master and both AFS slaves need power - I ran wire from one of the unused permanent live positions in the fuse box with a 10A fuse to power all three AFS modules.
• The CAN gateway is under the steering wheel, at the back of a hole above the BCM. A bit of a pain to get out. The CAN pair from the AFS master should be connected to pins 6 and 16 on the CAN gateway plug, make sure to match the wire colours so you get CAN L and CAN H the right way around.

 

 

Step 3 - install the headlights:

• If you have auto lights, make sure you turn the switch to the OFF position.
• Remove the old headlights by undoing the plastic nut on the back, then releasing the entire lamp unit by pulling on the catch on the side and slide the whole lamp out and disconnect the plug.
• Plug in the adaptor loom and connect to the xenon lamp units and install them. Don't forget to put the plastic nut back on.

 

• Do not turn the lights on yet.
• You can now replace your dashboard dimmer switch with the one without range adjustment:

 

 

Edited 12 July, 20205 yr by slow_nick

Step 4 - VCDS coding:

• Enter control module CAN Gateway, click Installation List and check the box for 55 Headlight Range. This will tell the car you have level sensors and a range control module installed.

• Enter control module Cent. Electrics, go to byte 14 and check bit 4 "Bi-xenon headlights (without shutter) installed". If you don't see this checkbox in your VCDS (it wasn't there for me), do it manually in the binary coding by changing the fifth digit from the right from a 0 to a 1

 

• Enter control module Headlight Range, click on Coding, enter 1507610 and click Go. This should automatically re-code the AFS slaves too.

 

 

• Go to Basic Setting, select Group 01 and click Go. Align the headlights using the manual adjustment screws on top of each headlamp unit.
• Check for any stored fault codes (there shouldn't be any) and clear if so.
• Once there are no fault codes left, exit VCDS and cycle the ignition. You are now ready to test if everything works.

 

 

Step 5 - testing:

• Every time you start the engine, the headlight motors will perform a self-test routine where the vertical motors will go to their lowest level, the horizontal motors will go to their farthest outwards and back in, and then the vertical motors will return to the correct height.

 

• You should also have some new options in maxidot:
  • Under "Assistants" there will be an option to turn Bend Lighting on and off
  • Under "Setup" and then "Lights & Vision" there will be an option to turn Travel Mode on and off.
• Go for a drive! Once moving, you should notice the headlights will move laterally with the steering.

 

 

Step 6 - bonus round if you have auto wipers!

• Try changing the Headlight Range coding to 1311190 - this should unlock AFS II functionality, which the mk2 Octavia was never sold with in the UK. You will need to perform the Basic Setting again after changing the coding!
• With AFS II, you should also notice that at speeds under ~30mph, the offside headlight will be quite low and pointing quite far outwards. Once you go over ~30mph, you will see it move back towards the centre and slightly upwards. This is the AFS II transitioning from "city light" to "country light". The beam shape will also change slightly at higher speeds (such as on the motorway) where the level of both lights will adjust slightly upwards to extend the range of the lights. There is also a different beam shape that will activate when the rain sensor detects rain.

 

 

Congratulations - you now have completely safe and legal retrofitted xenon headlights which will pass MOT!

 

Ps. massive thanks to @langers2k for the immense amount of help he gave me at almost every step of the way, including doing the adaptations to my wiring loom as I am colourblind and had trouble with it! I'm certain I would not have been successful with this conversion without all of his advice  

Edited 12 July, 20205 yr by slow_nick

Cracking effort and well written up.

Did you buy the headlights new or get them second hand from a breakers?

7 hours ago, Liger1956 said:

Did you buy the headlights new or get them second hand from a breakers?

 

Both second hand from eBay, separate listings about 6 weeks apart. The mk2 fl xenon headlights are stupidly rare - only the L&K had them as standard, and it was a £650 optional extra on most other spec which not a lot of people apparently went for. I had a saved search set up in eBay since last year and until about May 2020, I had only seen a single one get listed in the previous 6 months and it sold before I was serious about doing this project. I was happy to pay up to £200 per light providing they were in very good condition and had all of the bulbs and control gear present. There was no way I was going to faff around buying the xenon ballast and AFS module etc separately, and a pair of decent D1S bulbs is £120!

 

I was very lucky that I managed to get two in excellent condition and for a decent price (£190 and £170). I also got the AFS master from eBay for £17 as it was listed by a breaker as "other control unit" since they didn't seem to know what it was.

 

The headlights brand new from Skoda are over £500 each and I think the AFS master is around £140.

Edited 13 July, 20205 yr by slow_nick

On 12/07/2020 at 03:18, slow_nick said:

Step 6 - bonus round if you have auto wipers!

• Try changing the Headlight Range coding to 1311190 - this should unlock AFS II functionality, which the mk2 Octavia was never sold with in the UK. You will need to perform the Basic Setting again after changing the coding!
• With AFS II, you should also notice that at speeds under ~30mph, the offside headlight will be quite low and pointing quite far outwards. Once you go over ~30mph, you will see it move back towards the centre and slightly upwards. This is the AFS II transitioning from "city light" to "country light". The beam shape will also change slightly at higher speeds (such as on the motorway) where the level of both lights will adjust slightly upwards to extend the range of the lights. There is also a different beam shape that will activate when the rain sensor detects rain.

Excellent work Nick! 

 

Be happy and enjoy them! 

The headlights seem to be as new - not visible worn though.. 

 

Some of querries to throw, 

 

1.    Haven't you been able to find AFS module with software 0148? I had the idea that AFS2 would be able to be recoded on a AFS1 system  only if on this version installed  or higher.?

 

2.    I have the factory system 

 

Address 55: Headlight Range        Labels: 5M0-907-357-V2.lbl
   Part No SW: 5M0 907 357 C    HW: 5M0 907 357 C
   Component: AFS-Steuergeraet    0142  
   Revision: 00H04000    Serial number:               
   Coding: 1507354
   Shop #: WSC 73430 790 00000
   VCID: 3430EDF0C2363CF7A5C-8060

   Subsystem 1 - Part No: 7L6 941 329 B  Labels: 3D0-941-329.CLB
   Component: AFS-Lst.-Modul l    0004  
   Coding: 00000023

   Subsystem 2 - Part No: 7L6 941 329 B  Labels: 3D0-941-329.CLB
   Component: AFS-Lst.-Modul r    0004  
   Coding: 00000023

No fault code found.

 

Could this be able to enable the AFS2 schematics? 

 

3.    How do you make the basic setting adaptation successfully,? 

I'm in the standard range setting now and which is ideal for AFS1, will need to re set it somehow for AFS2? 

 

 

Thank you, 

Regard s

Edited 13 July, 20205 yr by AkisVH

Well done and a virtual pat on the back to both of you!

 

I hope that you inspire others to do the same.

 

I was going to suggest some of the German E-bay sellers like AT Autoteile for good value headlights but they mostly stock LHD ones, are they perhaps universal dipping for the xenon units?

Thanks JR - mines system is factory fitted. 

I think if universal headlights they should have a dipping function for the oncoming dazzling prevention when vehicle loaded. 

Otherwise not legal. 

So the set  should come with sensors and complete. 

12 hours ago, AkisVH said:

Excellent work Nick! 

 

Be happy and enjoy them! 

The headlights seem to be as new - not visible worn though.. 

 

Some of querries to throw, 

 

1.    Haven't you been able to find AFS module with software 0148? I had the idea that AFS2 would be able to be recoded on a AFS1 system  only if on this version installed  or higher.?

 

2.    I have the factory system 

 

Address 55: Headlight Range        Labels: 5M0-907-357-V2.lbl
   Part No SW: 5M0 907 357 C    HW: 5M0 907 357 C
   Component: AFS-Steuergeraet    0142  
   Revision: 00H04000    Serial number:               
   Coding: 1507354
   Shop #: WSC 73430 790 00000
   VCID: 3430EDF0C2363CF7A5C-8060

   Subsystem 1 - Part No: 7L6 941 329 B  Labels: 3D0-941-329.CLB
   Component: AFS-Lst.-Modul l    0004  
   Coding: 00000023

   Subsystem 2 - Part No: 7L6 941 329 B  Labels: 3D0-941-329.CLB
   Component: AFS-Lst.-Modul r    0004  
   Coding: 00000023

No fault code found.

 

Could this be able to enable the AFS2 schematics? 

 

3.    How do you make the basic setting adaptation successfully,? 

I'm in the standard range setting now and which is ideal for AFS1, will need to re set it somehow for AFS2? 

 

 

Thank you, 

Regard s

 

I was not aware of the different software versions on the AFS master until after I had bought mine. There was a belief that AFS II would not work on modules with software earlier than 0148 but mine accepted the coding and it appears to be working. The most obvious sign of the light pattern changing is when accelerating past 28mph (45kmh), the offside light beam moves back into the centre. This is clearly the transition between "city light" and "country light".

You can try the AFS II coding on yours, it will either accept it or not. The basic setting is easy if your headlights are already aligned, just make sure you park the car on level ground without any extra weight in it then start the basic setting and click through it. This just tells the car that whatever the level sensors are reading at that moment should be considered completely level.

 

12 hours ago, J.R. said:

Well done and a virtual pat on the back to both of you!

 

I hope that you inspire others to do the same.

 

I was going to suggest some of the German E-bay sellers like AT Autoteile for good value headlights but they mostly stock LHD ones, are they perhaps universal dipping for the xenon units?

 

Almost impossible to buy RHD xenons brand new except from Skoda themselves, and the LHD lights do have a different beam pattern so cannot be used.

Ok thanks,

Just some more thoughts that have in mind and would like to share in case you may know,  (and let's share this as an encyclopedia info for others.. ),

 

1.    So the system has now come as close as the one that the 2008+ Suberb had, which had this same AFS2 functions from factory option and with Bi-xenons..

Do both projectors you think play the beam patterns?

 

2.    Does the dynamic cornering/bending function work together with the AFS2 patterns at the same time?

 

3.    Are both codings for AFS2 - 1507610 and 1311190?

 

4.    Basic settings better performed with me sitting in the driver's seat or being out of car with all doors closed? Supposing that I'm 100 kg, should differ a bit the level sensors position and thus take it as correct or not?

Also 100% flat level surface without any inclination?

 

5.    Just in any case and reason for a roll back in AFS 1 system, should it just be simply to recode the old coding and do everything in back steps?

 

6.    "Assistant" menu:  if for a reason I would not want to have AFS2 patterns, could the deselection of  "Bending lighting" allow to do this?

Also turns off bending lighting to straight standard beam or not perhaps?

 

 

I may have given you some ideas to play more with your new lights - so it would be nice to report back what you will discover.

 

Thanks.

The AFS system only works if the light switch is in the auto position. So it can be disabled at will by turning the switch to on.

3 hours ago, Phil-E said:

The AFS system only works if the light switch is in the auto position. So it can be disabled at will by turning the switch to on.

Well that definitely brings my memory back in a 2009 Superb adv which was doing exactly  as you describe..

On 14/07/2020 at 16:25, AkisVH said:

Ok thanks,

Just some more thoughts that have in mind and would like to share in case you may know,  (and let's share this as an encyclopedia info for others.. ),

 

1.    So the system has now come as close as the one that the 2008+ Suberb had, which had this same AFS2 functions from factory option and with Bi-xenons..

Do both projectors you think play the beam patterns?

 

2.    Does the dynamic cornering/bending function work together with the AFS2 patterns at the same time?

 

3.    Are both codings for AFS2 - 1507610 and 1311190?

 

4.    Basic settings better performed with me sitting in the driver's seat or being out of car with all doors closed? Supposing that I'm 100 kg, should differ a bit the level sensors position and thus take it as correct or not?

Also 100% flat level surface without any inclination?

 

5.    Just in any case and reason for a roll back in AFS 1 system, should it just be simply to recode the old coding and do everything in back steps?

 

6.    "Assistant" menu:  if for a reason I would not want to have AFS2 patterns, could the deselection of  "Bending lighting" allow to do this?

Also turns off bending lighting to straight standard beam or not perhaps?

 

 

I may have given you some ideas to play more with your new lights - so it would be nice to report back what you will discover.

 

Thanks.

 

I am by no means an expert on any of this so I cannot be 100% confident in my answers but I assume the following:

 

1. Yes it is the same AFS II system as the mk2 Superb, but without bi-xenon. Both of the projectors will constantly adjust as you are driving (left and right with the steering, up and down as the level of the vehicle is changing during acceleration and braking, and overall position depending on which lighting mode is active).

 

2. Yes the bend lighting still functions during the different AFS II lighting modes. The most obvious working is the "city light" mode which you can see when driving at low speeds (<45kmh), where the offside beam is angled out very wide. When you come to a halt you can see that beam move back to the centre. And you can also see it move back to the centre as you go past 45kmh and it goes into "country light" mode.

 

3. As far as I am aware 1507610 is the standard coding for RHD xenons with AFS only. I don't know if it is the same coding for LHD but I do not believe it gives AFS II functions. The 1311190 coding is for RHD xenons with AFS II. Again I do not know if it is the same coding for LHD.

 

4. The car should be unloaded except for its usual running gear (spare wheel etc) and a full tank of fuel. The Octavia has a front level sensor too and can actually angle the xenons upwards from their centre position to compensate for the nose pitching down slightly. If your headlights have already been aligned properly (with a beam setter) there is no worry about simply clicking through the basic setting while the car is on level ground. The basic setting just tells the car that the current position is what it should consider absolutely level.

 

5. Yes you can swap between the 1507610 and 1311190 coding no problem, I changed mine a few times while I was trying to get it to work (I had a separate issue which I fixed). You need to do the basic setting again each time you change the coding.

 

6. I do not believe disabling bend lighting will disable the different AFS II lighting modes, if you don't want the AFS II modes then just stick with the standard coding. I quite like it though, and it's cool to see the lights constantly moving around.

 

23 hours ago, Phil-E said:

The AFS system only works if the light switch is in the auto position. So it can be disabled at will by turning the switch to on.

While this is true of the Superb I do not believe it is the case with the Octavia. I think it was possible to have xenons/AFS on the mk2 Octavia without having auto lights.

Edited 15 July, 20205 yr by slow_nick

I'll pull up the coding later for LHD.

The coding I used is:

 

1441884

 

That's a LHD with 2WD. Should be the same for your 1.4 TSI as mine.

11 hours ago, Phil-E said:

The coding I used is:

 

1441884

 

That's a LHD with 2WD. Should be the same for your 1.4 TSI as mine.

OK, I'll try this as this works the AFS2 light patterns for you..

Edited 16 July, 20205 yr by AkisVH

12 hours ago, slow_nick said:

While this is true of the Superb I do not believe it is the case with the Octavia. I think it was possible to have xenons/AFS on the mk2 Octavia without having auto lights.

Hey Nick, thanks - couldn't all have been written  so good!

 

Yes but MK2 Octavia only had the AFS1/Xenons option so even with autoswitch or not, the coding was standard for all from factory..

 

As Phil says, from the moment there is all the electronic equipment there and coding with the 'Superb' number, the auto light switch does the activation/deactivation to the 'auto' and 'on' positions.

 

I may be wrong the point how I understand it but I'll try it and report back.

My 2009 FL came with Xenon but no autolights.

 

Fantastic write up though.Proper top banana

 

Edited 16 July, 20205 yr by gathy
spelling

Well found few minutes free time today and coded the 1441884  and the projectors moved standard position higher.

on AFS I the projectors were identical to the correct level height, but when changed the coding they moved up.

Is it how it should be?

 

But the coding was accepted from the module.

 

I did the adaptation to relearn the position but without adjusting anything  manually, just went on  and finished the procedure.

 

I also had an failure AFS message on the maxidot but cleared it when ended the learning position.

 

Currently no errors in the module.

 

Should I manually  adjust them regarding  the  normal height?   Does  the AFS II coding need a different adjustment than a standard AFS I?

Edited 22 July, 20205 yr by AkisVH

Tried to go for a short drive but the lights dazzle the oncoming so I returned quickly.

So not really tested them..

I see the protectors even with lights off, they look higher than before.

Yes you're supposed to adjust them. I also noticed when I did the basic settings that they moved up higher.

 

I parked by a wall, applied tape to the wall to mark the height beforehand, initiated the basic settings, adjusted the lights back down to the height before and then saved the settings.

Ok, thanks I thought that that level height (AFS I) would be the same for AFS II that's why I didn't perform any manual settings..

So the basic setting 0 is the same  position like all the standard light systems using a common adjustment tool in a electrician repair shop.

2 hours ago, AkisVH said:

Well found few minutes free time today and coded the 1441884  and the projectors moved standard position higher.

on AFS I the projectors were identical to the correct level height, but when changed the coding they moved up.

Is it how it should be?

 

That doesn't sound right. The projectors do have a good amount of upwards movement available as the levelling can compensate for a heavy load in the front of the car, and also the lights do angle slightly upwards when "motorway light" mode is active. But they should not be aiming upwards during normal driving.

 

Does it still do the self test when you start the engine? Do the lights return to the centre position afterwards or do they go up high?

 

When you perform the basic setting it should move the projectors to their absolute centre position, and it uses the current reading from the level sensors as its "absolutely level" point. 

 

If your headlights were well aligned before you changed the coding, you should not need to adjust them again. Also note that the manual adjustment screws on the actual headlights do not move the projectors with the same mechanism that the automatic levelling does. If the projectors are pointing upwards during normal driving then you have a serious problem. Or maybe you did the basic setting while there was a big load in the boot, and now when you drive without that load in the boot the auto levelling is aiming the headlights higher to compensate for what it thinks is the car running with the nose pitched down?

 

Could you post a photo of one of the projectors so we can see?

Edited 22 July, 20205 yr by slow_nick

Ok, I'll post a photo tomorrow.

 

I did the basic setting on a level ground and no load in the back.

 

Before that, I had the bending function to off (not ticked in the MFD) and during the setting it popped up an error regarding the AFS..... I was in the basic settings at the time but pressed the ON/OFF/...  button  then the bending function was enabled itself I saw in the menu.

 

Did this play any role in the basic settings?

 

I pressed lots of time the ON/OFF/...  button as I was not sure if I had to leave the menu when "position learned" screen or when it was "Off"  (terminate and close procedure)...?   so it seemed I did the basic settings buttons 2-3 times...

 

Yes, the projectors do the startup with no faults but they return to a position looking higher.

 

I think I can get tomerrow to an electrician and adjust with a Bosch beam leveler?