1.2TSI - replacing filament bulb DRL with LED bulb

[scobb]

I'm keen to replace the OEM standard filament bulb that is used for my daytime running lights (DRLs), with an LED bulb. Just to be clear, as there are various flavours of DRL on the Polo, this picture shows the bulb I'm referring to:



I've tried using this LED bulb, but it does not light. I've tried the bulb both ways round in the socket, but no joy. I don't get any errors on the dash and reinserting the original bulb works fine. I've tested the LED bulbs with a 12v circuit and they work fine.

I don't want to go the expense and hassle of a full LED retro-fit, I was just hoping to do a simple bulb swap for the desired effect. Can anyone think why this would not work and what a solution might be? If LEDs aren't an option, are there any bright white conventional bulbs that could be substituted for the feeble yellow affair that is fited as standard?

[Bassik]

Yeah ok, I've been wanting to do the same thing but I think this is a much better option!

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=380390143601&index=4&nav=SEARCH&nid=73917483506

[scobb]

Thanks for the suggestion. That looks like a better, if more complex, solution. I'm nervous about anything that involves altering the vehicle's wiring and from what I can see from the eBay link, I would imagine you would need to cut into the existing wiring loom to fit this solution. I'm also not sure how the bulb fitting would mount to the car? Having had the light in pieces during my unsuccessful attempt, it's quite a complex fitting.

Is there a simpler solution that simply involves a straight bulb swap?

[Bassik]

This is the simple swap and plug. The only reason for the wiring is so you by pass the can bus which is what gives you the error in the dash. Basically they are resistors that change the voltage, tricking the car thinking its a standard halogen bulb. There are H8 LED with built in resistors on eBay that may also work but I haven't found one yet that's got enough LEDs. I'm not to sure if it will be too bright or not bright enough. Last thing I want is mega bright LEDs blinding everyone on the road.

Was it difficult taking the fog lights out. I have yet attempt this?

[gavs]

Ok, first off scobb, are those the activated drl's on your car or are you plugging in a bulb and hoping it just illuminates? A pretty simple question I know, but hey, sometimes the simplest solutions.....

Secondly, where did you get the led bulbs? Are they CANBUS compatible? Are they known as "no bulb error" LEDs? Are they the correct voltage?

Swapping bulbs over is not as easy anymore as just unplug and plug in. The car has a system that can tell you when you have a bulb out so the whole thing is controlled by the onboard computers.

[Bassik]

You could just get these and solve all your problems...lol
LED Powered Front Fog Light Kit - Polo 6R - Oriental Parts

[scobb]

Was it difficult taking the fog lights out. I have yet attempt this?

It's pretty straightforward:

1. If you look at the black plastic surround that surrounds the fog light, you will see a small hole in the plastic beneath the light. I just hooked a piece of bent stiff wire through the hole and pulled with moderate force. There are a couple of plastic lugs that hold it in position, but they come away nicely and quite easily when you pull the panel this way.

2. Once the plastic surround has been removed, you'll need a torx screwdriver to remove 2 screws holding the light in place at the bottom.

3. With the screws removed, lever upwards the 2 lugs that hold the light in place at the top and the light assembly will pop out.

[scobb]

@gavs: very wise to ask simple questions, as I am reasonably new to this field. I'll try and explain:

1. My standard NZ-spec car has a light assembly below the front bumper, per my photo, that comprises 2 bulbs within the one assembly. The inboard bulb (nearest the radiator) is a fog light; the outboard bulb (nearest the wheels) is the DRL, currently populated with a bog-standard filament bulb (21W from memory). With the ignition on, the DRLs are illuminated. When the sidelights or headlights are illuminated, the DRLs are extinguished.

2. The LED bulbs I bought don't mention being CANBUS compatible, so I suppose the problem may be as simple as that. From what I've read on the briskoda forum I use regularly, CANBUS is not as fully implemented in the Polo 6r as it is for some VAG cars, hence I have been able to swap the number plate lights on my Polo for LEDs without any recoding or dashboard error (unlike my Skoda, which does throw an error). I would have thought that non-CANBUS bulbs would at worst throw a dashboard error, but instead they just don't light up, no warnings, no errors, no light .

Given the existing functioning lights are coded to work already, surely there wouldn't need to be any coding adjustment, would there?

[Bassik]

Thanks for the follow up Scobb.

From what I can see the LED you bought doesn't look to be the same? Don't get me wrong but how did you manage to even plug that in I thought the fog lights are H8. This looks much like an older plug.

[scobb]

Thanks for the follow up Scobb.

From what I can see the LED you bought doesn't look to be the same? Don't get me wrong but how did you manage to even plug that in I thought the fog lights are H8. This looks much like an older plug.

Remember - I'm not talking about changing the fog light bulb; I'm wanting to change the DRL bulb. I'm not sure what bulb style is used by the fog light, but the DRL bulb is an 1156 (bayonet style) and looks like this:



Maybe that would account for my confusion as to how I could fit the bulb you suggested .

Cheers,

Simon

[gavs]

@gavs: very wise to ask simple questions, as I am reasonably new to this field. I'll try and explain:

1. My standard NZ-spec car has a light assembly below the front bumper, per my photo, that comprises 2 bulbs within the one assembly. The inboard bulb (nearest the radiator) is a fog light; the outboard bulb (nearest the wheels) is the DRL, currently populated with a bog-standard filament bulb (21W from memory). With the ignition on, the DRLs are illuminated. When the sidelights or headlights are illuminated, the DRLs are extinguished.

2. The LED bulbs I bought don't mention being CANBUS compatible, so I suppose the problem may be as simple as that. From what I've read on the briskoda forum I use regularly, CANBUS is not as fully implemented in the Polo 6r as it is for some VAG cars, hence I have been able to swap the number plate lights on my Polo for LEDs without any recoding or dashboard error (unlike my Skoda, which does throw an error). I would have thought that non-CANBUS bulbs would at worst throw a dashboard error, but instead they just don't light up, no warnings, no errors, no light .

Given the existing functioning lights are coded to work already, surely there wouldn't need to be any coding adjustment, would there?

I think you inadventantly answered your own question. The 6R has 2 fundamental systems with many varients of them but we will just narrow it to 2 for arguments sake. There is GTi canbus and regular 6R canbus, the 6R is much more integrated whereas the regular 6R system is not. If you are not getting bulb-light errors on the dash, this does not mean that the light isn't throwing an error. I would start by getting your hands on some properley specced LED bulbs from somewhere like hids4u.co.uk and see if these work for you.

[Bassik]

Ahhh ok. My Polo does not have this in the fog light part so that's where I was getting confused.
Sorry buddy I can't help ya then. However if the connection is similar to the one posted above then I can't see why It wouldn't work?

[scobb]

Thanks, good idea. I had no idea that the same bulb shape/style could go by so many different names! Any idea what I should be looking for at hids4u.co.uk? I can see bulbs listed on their site by the names of 380, 382, 581 and 241, all of which look potentially suitable.

[Hail22]

You could just get these and solve all your problems...lol
LED Powered Front Fog Light Kit - Polo 6R - Oriental Parts

When you get them Bassik post a photo up

[Bassik]

When you get them Bassik post a photo up

I ain't getting these. It's to expensive and I'd prefer to see them on someone elses car first.