My pre-facelift Superb II has xenon lights, with the main beam supplemented by halogen bulbs.

 

It would be nice to replace the sidelights with LEDs to eliminate the colour clash with the xenons, but I note that the sidelight bulbs sit next to the main beam halogens.

 

My experience in the past has been that LED sidelights don’t like being next to the heat of a halogen, and they start flashing after a few weeks.

 

Is this still the case? Has anyone successfully replaced the sidelights with LEDs?

 

A supplementary question:  What about replacing those halogen main beams with LEDs? That would solve the issue, but are they MOT friendly?

Edited 7 December, 20241 yr by Dr_Mike_Oxgreen

Recommend wedge halogen lamp, but the blue tinted ones.  Mine came with those from factory and they are the same colour as the HID lights.  Currently still original bulbs from 2013.  I've not tried to replace the sidelights with LEDs as I rely on the DRL lights next to the fogs (I did replace those with LEDs).

 

I buyed 2 pairs. Originally bulbs are

Philips WhiteVision Ultra W5W T10 12V/5W.

I paid 2 bulbs 6€

https://hr.intercars.com/proizvod/g0pkh8-zarulja-w5w-pomocna-whitevision-ultra-blister-2-kom-12v-5w-tip-gedore-w2-1x9-5d-phi-12961wvub2

Thanks guys.

 

I’ll try a pair of the blue tinted bulbs and see what they’re like.

Use Philips or Osram. Not some chinese crap from aliexpress.

On 09/12/2024 at 21:36, wokwon said:

Recommend wedge halogen lamp, but the blue tinted ones.  Mine came with those from factory and they are the same colour as the HID lights.  Currently still original bulbs from 2013.  I've not tried to replace the sidelights with LEDs as I rely on the DRL lights next to the fogs (I did replace those with LEDs).

 

Can you recommend the DLR LEDs? I need to replace one and might as well go LED.

you have 12v/21W daylight?

if it is legal in your country (in mine is not) 

 

 

https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-x-tremeultinon-led-gen2-p21w-6000k-twin

 

3 minutes ago, imart143 said:

you have 12v/21W daylight?

if it is legal in your country (in mine is not) 

 

 

https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/philips-x-tremeultinon-led-gen2-p21w-6000k-twin

 

I think they're the same bulbs as the sidelights? They were added after the EU regulations came in but before the 2013 facelift of the Superb which added proper DLR. They're in the fog light housing.

yes i had it on mi Yeti 2012.

Have you guys successfully replaced the sidelight bulbs?

 

I’m failing to remove the bulb holder. I can just get my fingers in there, and I can turn the holder slightly, but it really doesn’t want to pull out.

 

Do you simply pull, or do you need to turn it first?

Wow! That was a struggle!

 

I succeeded eventually. The bulb holder has two flat edges, and by gripping those and wiggling, wiggling, wiggling… it popped out. Once you’ve got it out, it’s obvious that the bulb holder is designed to be gripped and pulled with your fingers, but it is extremely difficult.

 

So I’ve fitted a pair of canbus-friendly LEDs from eBay. They’re much brighter than conventional bulbs, and so far I have no dashboard warning. And they’re a nice colour match against the dipped xenon headlights. I would have preferred to use Philips ones, but I don’t think they do a canbus LED.

 

I smeared a tiny film of lithium grease around the collar of the bulb holder (avoiding the finger grips, obviously) in the hope that they’ll come out more easily if I ever need to get them out.

 

Time will tell whether they last. I’m somewhat hopeful. I seem to remember the failures I’ve had in the past were with LED sidelights housed next to halogen dipped beam bulbs, which obviously are on for long periods and the adjacent LED would get well heat-soaked. Next to the full beam halogen bulb it might not be a problem because you don’t use full beams for long periods at a time.

On 15/12/2024 at 10:49, Dr_Mike_Oxgreen said:

Wow! That was a struggle!

 

I succeeded eventually. The bulb holder has two flat edges, and by gripping those and wiggling, wiggling, wiggling… it popped out. Once you’ve got it out, it’s obvious that the bulb holder is designed to be gripped and pulled with your fingers, but it is extremely difficult.

 

So I’ve fitted a pair of canbus-friendly LEDs from eBay. They’re much brighter than conventional bulbs, and so far I have no dashboard warning. And they’re a nice colour match against the dipped xenon headlights. I would have preferred to use Philips ones, but I don’t think they do a canbus LED.

 

I smeared a tiny film of lithium grease around the collar of the bulb holder (avoiding the finger grips, obviously) in the hope that they’ll come out more easily if I ever need to get them out.

 

Time will tell whether they last. I’m somewhat hopeful. I seem to remember the failures I’ve had in the past were with LED sidelights housed next to halogen dipped beam bulbs, which obviously are on for long periods and the adjacent LED would get well heat-soaked. Next to the full beam halogen bulb it might not be a problem because you don’t use full beams for long periods at a time.

I was going to say it was such an easy job, and then I realised you're replacing the sidelights not the DLRs

 

I had to replace the ballasts before, now that is a fun job...

Edited 17 December, 20241 yr by TNE