Fabia Mk 3 2018 SE 1.4 TDI, original owner from new

 

Started to get warnings to check LH DRL bulb

 

Found 21W incandescent bulb partially silvered but functional, and bulb holder starting to yellow with some melting (Picture A). Cleaned bulb holder contacts and trimmed back melted material

 

Didnt fix the issue; Tried to see the contacts in headlight using endoscope, but not possible

 

Bought 2nd hand headlight assembly (6V2 941 015C) to minimise the time that car's off the road if I couldn't clean up the headlight contacts

 

Found that 21W bulb in replacement unit had also started to silver, and the bulb holder also had yellowing from heat (Picture B).

 

Looks like the bulb holder - and possibly the headlight body too - was just not up to the heat of a 21W bulb being on all the time. Probably ok for intermittent brake light or indicator, but the heat from 21W continuous DRL looks like it caused a very expensive problem.

 

I'm guessing that the car will object to LED replacement bulbs, cos it won't see the same current draw as an incandescent bulb?

 

Alan

 

1 hour ago, AlanN said:

I'm guessing that the car will object to LED replacement bulbs, cos it won't see the same current draw as an incandescent bulb?

You can get ones with a resistor in them to fool the car. 

Canbus error free type.

But check carefully before ordering.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

If you are going the LED route then do check you buy from a good reliable source and check with them what is required for VW cars, one such source I can recommend is Classic Car LEDS Ltd. (21w incandescent bulbs are "classic" technology). - https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/

 

This is yet another example of German engineering quality of the 21st century, had the same with my wife's 2015 Fabia car so I just turned of the DRL lights off via the Infotainment menus (you can only do that if your 2018 car was first used before 1 March 2018) and my wife to turn the side lights on if wanted instead which also light up the rear sides lights which are very good on the 2015 Fabia. - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-2-1

 

If you go the LED route I'd be very interested to know how much a PITA it is to fit any ballast resistor as I loathe doing much on cars and particularly on my wife's VW.

 

Cheers.