Mk6 LED Taillights

[GTI mk6]

Just received mine today from Germany. Will install them asap. Looking forward to it. I will post pics.

Thanks to Ozram and Golfitup. Both extremely helpful.

Congrats Escell, looking forward to the pics.
Do you have someone to recode them here in Melb?

[Escell]

Ah yes the recode. I was worried when I first fired the car up again and it flashed through messages saying "Check rear left light" "Check rear right light" one by one. I don't recall it happening after the first time. Therefore the only thing that's noticeable is the little yellow bulb light on your dash.

I can live with that.

I did get in touch with Volkspower and like someone else on this forum seemed to get a brush off. I didn't get the idea he knew what I was on about.

For now I will ignore the recode.

As for the LED tails themselves - as some random noted today - they are "fully sick". Guess that about sums it up. Will get around to pics at some stage.

Cannot stress how helpful Ozram's been (but he'd be getting a big head by now anyway). Also Golfitup's install video was invaluable. I felt like I'd already installed them before when I was putting them in today. Can't beat video!

[GTI mk6]

Ah yes the recode. I was worried when I first fired the car up again and it flashed through messages saying "Check rear left light" "Check rear right light" one by one. I don't recall it happening after the first time. Therefore the only thing that's noticeable is the little yellow bulb light on your dash.

I can live with that.

I did get in touch with Volkspower and like someone else on this forum seemed to get a brush off. I didn't get the idea he knew what I was on about.

For now I will ignore the recode.

As for the LED tails themselves - as some random noted today - they are "fully sick". Guess that about sums it up. Will get around to pics at some stage.

Cannot stress how helpful Ozram's been (but he'd be getting a big head by now anyway). Also Golfitup's install video was invaluable. I felt like I'd already installed them before when I was putting them in today. Can't beat video!

Hope to see some pics in the near future then....shame about Volkspowers response (I had him on my list for recode)
How long did yours take to arrive (once sent) Escell?
Got confirmation mine left seller yesterday.

I am actually experiencing the blown bulb -havent even got the LED's in
Warning message said check left fog light.....yep is not working, only used the fogs once for 5 kms too
Hopefully "just" the bulb, booked in with VW service dept tomorow.
At least I know what to expect once LED's are fitted, but sure hope someone in Melbourne can help with recode if
the dealership doesnt come through (still liasing with them)

[Ozram]

Cannot stress how helpful Ozram's been (but he'd be getting a big head by now anyway).

Ithankewe. If I'd had a bit more business accumen I should have had a big fat wallet by now as well.

Nah! Thanks to everyone that has taken the time to acknowledge. I have pictured the smiles on your faces as you opened the packages, and I'm glad to have been able to help some of you.

[Escell]

GTI mk6 - they took about 2.5 wks from payment to arrival. Emailing the guy in German was interesting. Google translate loses a bit of the message sometimes. But good fun and worth it for the lights. I noticed a Mk5 GTI owner driving behind me in Prahran last night who couldn't take his eyes off the LEDs even when he turned the corner. Interestingly the bubble looking tail lights of the Mk5 are what stopped me buying it in the first place (went for a Jetta TSI). Never quite liked that look.

Correction to my previous post - the MFD does cycle through the four light warnings every time you start the engine. But I barely notice anymore and it's been 24 hours.

[GTI mk6]

GTI mk6 - they took about 2.5 wks from payment to arrival. Emailing the guy in German was interesting. Google translate loses a bit of the message sometimes. But good fun and worth it for the lights. I noticed a Mk5 GTI owner driving behind me in Prahran last night who couldn't take his eyes off the LEDs even when he turned the corner. Interestingly the bubble looking tail lights of the Mk5 are what stopped me buying it in the first place (went for a Jetta TSI). Never quite liked that look.

Correction to my previous post - the MFD does cycle through the four light warnings every time you start the engine. But I barely notice anymore and it's been 24 hours.

Only 2.5 weeks, even better!
Hehe yep, I have had a few laughs with email replies, but def. worth it alrighty.
So sad for the mk 5 golfer huh I also wasnt keen on the bubble look
initially,def. prefer the mk 6 look too but thats personal taste, did like the GTI mk5
front grill though.
Anyway, Im getting off topic, these LED's are a birthday pressie (had to use this as bargaining leverage) hehe
LED's = eye candy (gotta love that mate)
Thanks for the info Escell, much appreciated

PS When Ozram (the great) see's my sig; think he will laugh? hehe

[solistics]

the MFD does cycle through the four light warnings every time you start the engine. But I barely notice anymore and it's been 24 hours.

Something I noticed the other day (whilst admiring my tails in the reflection from a glass door I was parked in front of...sad I know.) is that the fog light flashes 3-4 times when you start the car and the MFD is cycling through the errors.

[GTI mk6]

Something I noticed the other day (whilst admiring my tails in the reflection from a glass door I was parked in front of...sad I know.) is that the fog light flashes 3-4 times when you start the car and the MFD is cycling through the errors.

Just a query mate.....you mentioned in an earlier post that Volkspower will be doing an APR ECU flash and you hope to get
the LED's recoded there at the same time.....have you asked if they can do the job?
I had another CW GTI mk6 following me on the way home from work tonight, he then switched lanes & came up beside me,
I looked over to acknowledge him....he kept looking straight ahead, thought to myself....hmm maybe those cool LED's may have
got his attention (if I already had them)...hehe.
Nothing wrong with admiring your new tails... (any way you can) LMAO
Interesting about the fog light?

[solistics]

Yeah, using Volkspower was the plan but before that I'm going to give the TM Tuning code box. It's on order and I'll let everyone know if it's any good.

[Escell]

Let me know if volkspower can do the recode!

[AdamD]

Yeah, using Volkspower was the plan but before that I'm going to give the TM Tuning code box. It's on order and I'll let everyone know if it's any good.

Fingers crossed for you. I read a post on VWVortex that detailed the code changes made by the TMTuning code box (and the sequence in which they are applied), and while the TMTuning staff assured me it'd work for Aus-spec cars, that post indicated the changes suit US-spec cars only. Hopefully they ship different code boxes for different markets and you'll be fine. Anyway, let us know how you get on.

[Ozram]

ATTENTION ALL PURCHASERS OF LED'S FROM MY SOURCE

Can those of you that have 2010 GTI's please read this forum link and check that your side lights are ok? Looks like a change of Vagcom coding may be needed.
Fitted Golf R Lights But Having One Issue

[AdamD]

Can those of you that have 2010 GTI's with halogen headlights please read this forum link and check that your side lights are ok? Looks like a change of Vagcom coding may be needed.
Fitted Golf R Lights But Having One Issue

Thanks for the heads-up Ozram!

So, I checked my car, and yep, it was affected. Mine's a March 2010 build GTI with halogens, and I had coded byte 18 to 04 (00000100). The symptoms of this problem are:

• The DRLs are not functional, and cannot be enabled or disabled according to the procedure in the manual.
• When the parkers or full headlights (in manual or Auto light mode) are on, the DRL bulb is illuminated along with the parker bulb. Therefore the parkers are very bright. However, the parker bulb is only illuminated very dimly. Here's a photo (you'll just be able to see the dim parker bulb in the lower left of the headlight housing):

The fix for the problem is to change the code of byte 18 (within 09-Cent Electrics -> Coding 07 -> Long Coding Helper). I had previously incorrectly assumed that setting this byte to 15 (as suggested in the documentation supplied with my tails) was for US-market cars with the orange side indicators, however I was mistaken. 15 is definitely the go! Bear in mind that 15 is the value for the byte in hexadecimal - that's 21 in decimal, and 00010101 in binary. When you type the value into the long coding helper, enter the binary value.

For those who are concerned that this may not be the right setting, I've checked the operation of the following on my car, and all is good:

• No Bulb-Out warnings
• Indicators and hazards
• Parking lights - correct bulbs and brightness
• Headlights and taillights (inc high beam and brakes) - correct bulbs and brightness
• DRL lights - correct bulbs and brightness
• Reverse light
• Front and rear fog lights
• Inner tails off on tailgate release

If you have a GTI built after week 45 2009 and with halogen headlights, I would try byte 18 = 15 (00010101) first.

[GTI mk6]

Thanks for the heads-up Ozram!


The fix for the problem is to change the code of byte 18 (within 09-Cent Electrics -> Coding 07 -> Long Coding Helper). I had previously incorrectly assumed that setting this byte to 15 (as suggested in the documentation supplied with my tails) was for US-market cars with the orange side indicators, however I was mistaken. 15 is definitely the go! Bear in mind that 15 is the value for the byte in hexadecimal - that's 21 in decimal, and 00010101 in binary. When you type the value into the long coding helper, enter the binary value.

If you have a GTI built after week 45 2009 and with halogen headlights, I would try byte 18 = 15 (00010101) first.

Awesome job Adam, thankyou for posting the positive outcome so quickly for those of us with 2010 builds
great job mate

[AdamD]

LED Taillight Recoding Summary

Here is a summary of the information I've tracked down from various reputable sources (including my LED supplier), regarding the recoding required to remove the bulb-out warnings that are raised when regular tails are replaced with OEM LEDs.

If anyone has updated info, please let me know in this thread or by PM, and I'll update this post.

In all cases, the byte to code is byte 18 of the Central Electrics module. Access it in VCDS via 09-Cent Electrics -> Coding 07 -> Long Coding Helper -> Byte 18.

Build date: Prior to 2009
LEDs not supported: Central Electrics Control Module (CECM) update required

Build date: 2009, prior to week 22
LEDs not supported: Central Electrics Control Module (CECM) update required

Build date: 2009, week 22 - week 45
Central Electrics Revision*: 0537 or 0541
Headlights: Halogen
- Coding (hex): 4
- Coding (binary): 00000100
Headlights: Bi-Xenon
- Update to software version 0575 required!

Build date: Week 45 2009 - mid-late 2010
Central Electrics Revision*: 0573 or 0575
Headlights: Halogen
- Coding (hex): 15
- Coding (binary): 00010101
Headlights: Bi-Xenon
OPTION 1 (definitely works for some; ref this post and this post):
- Coding (hex): 15
- Coding (binary): 00010101
OPTION 2 (advised by one supplier; doesn't work for some):
- Coding (hex): 43
- Coding (binary): 01000011

Build date: Mid-late 2010 - Mid-2011 (including MY11, MY11.5)
Central Electrics Revision*: 0615
Headlights: Halogen (verified by peedman):
- Coding (hex): 15
- Coding (binary): 00010101
Headlights: Bi-Xenon (MY11.5 with LED DRL) (verified by chopper):
- Coding (hex): 4
- Coding (binary): 00000100
Headlights: Bi-Xenon (MY11, no LED DRL) (verified by v0a)
- Coding (hex): 22
- Coding (binary): 00100010

Build date: Mid 2011+ (MY12)
Central Electrics Revision*: 0651
Headlights: Halogen (confirmed by Zircon):
- Coding (hex): 15
- Coding (binary): 00010101
Headlights: Bi-Xenon (with LED DRL):
- Coding (hex): 4
- Coding (binary): 00000100

Build date: ?
Central Electrics Revision*: Beyond 0651
- Coding to be determined. If you know, or have a revision beyond 0651, PM me!

* See the last four digits of the Component string reported in VCDS for your Central Electrics module. (Example: Component: BCM PQ35 H 103 0575)

Be sure to check the operation of the following after recoding:

• No Bulb-Out warnings
• Indicators and hazards operate correctly
• Parking lights - correct bulbs and brightness
• Headlights and taillights (inc high beam and brakes) - correct bulbs and brightness
• DRLs - correct bulbs and brightness
• Reverse light
• Front foglights
• Rear fog light
• Inner tails switch off on tailgate release

Other resources:

• Post on VWVortex for coding data that may be specific to US-spec vehicles
• Thread on golfgtiforum.co.uk that contains coding information that may be specific to UK/European vehicles