A8 Parts Forum - LED Bulb Upgrade

A8 Parts Forum (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/index.php)

- D2 - Interior Electrics (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=25)

- - LED Bulb Upgrade (https://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3374)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 52844)

Yes it can be done, though some bulbs (courtesy, map and vanity IIRC) are different.

There's also a polarity issue at the front which I'll add some details on when I remember what it was.
Everything else was pretty straightforwards.

Edit: It was the front centre lights which are, IIRC BA9s but are the wrong polarity for LED's.
The glovebox is also a BA9s and was the wrong polarity, but if you take the glovebox out you can swap the spade terminals over on the bulbholder to fix that.
I suspect FL is the same, haven't looked at it yet.

I bought some small panels with a selection of adapters and reversible connectors on the leads and stuck them in with double-sided pads.
Not very elegant though. Something like this:

I'm in the process of doing this upgrade on my PF and have discovered this problem.......and bingo, here is the answer, thanks! +++

I ordered T4W bulbs for the map lights and they are grouped with BA9s in the LED options, and the BA9S bulbs didn't work. I'll look for these now, are they readily available?

I'll post a list of bulbs required and photos of the results when I'm done as I couldn't find one for guidance when I started.

I think I did some posts (maybe a thread?) when I did mine a while back.
Undid it all before selling it on and moved "most" bulbs to the new car.
(left the glovebox as it's a PITA to get at :D )

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 52854)

I think I did some posts (maybe a thread?) when I did mine a while back.
Undid it all before selling it on and moved "most" bulbs to the new car.
(left the glovebox as it's a PITA to get at :D )

Not a problem, I had a good look but only found FL details. The only issue I've had is the map lights so hoping to sort that now.

I'm collecting all of the bulbs I'm replacing should I have the need to do the same!;)+++

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 52854)

I think I did some posts (maybe a thread?) when I did mine a while back.

Mostly in here: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1860 ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 52856)

Mostly in here: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1860 ;)

Somehow I missed that, sorry. Maybe I assumed anything posted last year involved FL D2 changes, my mistake. Where did you buy them from, I didn't see link?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 52842)

Out of interest, how easy was it to fit these?

I had a quick look and these are inside the mirror.
The little covers come out (with care) easily enough but the bulbs are fairly deep in a small recess, no way my fat fingers can get at them. :Confused:

Did you use some sort of tool to swap them over, or did you dismantle the mirror?

I just fitted LED's for the rear reading lights and that was more difficult than expected as the bayonet lugs on the LED bulbs were a mm or so further from the tip than the original bulbs and it was VERY tight indeed.

Given the limited space I'm thinking of some smaller bulbs for the front, that look like this:

long nose thin pliers with some insulating tape wrapped round the nose works a treat, I used these bulbs

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1207682663...84.m1439.l2649

Ah, so they're "that" type (wedge/501's?). I'm sure someone (Iyole - got confused between types maybe?) posted that they were BA9S's (bayonet).

Bit of tape on some long thin pliers will deal with that as you say, and I have loads of LED bulbs similar to that anyway, I use them in several places in the Focus as well. +++

Edit: Wish I'd seen this ages ago which tells you exactly what and how. :o http://elsaweb.spaghetticoder.org/do....29/34516980/3

Now all done, looks much better +++ . Though the drivers one was a bit of a pig, especially to put the new LED in, as the socket doesn't line up straight with the hole.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norretal (Post 52857)

Where did you buy them from, I didn't see link?

Ah well, RTFT as they say. ;)
There was no link; as I said I got them all on eBay, bit by bit. No particular supplier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iyole (Post 25811)

2 x 6418 36mm Festoon Type Bulbs - REAR DOME

Did you use "standard" LED or the CANBUS type here?

Reason I ask is that I'm getting some odd behaviour from the rear interior light cluster; sometimes it doesn't come on or just dimly (all 4 bulbs!). But if I pop it out and start "wiggling" it works, so I'm not sure if it's a poor contact (the wires/rails all look very solid and clean) or a resistance issue as it's a complex setup interlinked to the front (which is fine). :Confused:

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce (Post 52867)

getting some odd behaviour from the rear interior light cluster

I think I've pretty much decided it's down to a dodgy main "rocker" switch, having played with different bulbs. CANBUS is a red herring and not needed.
I'll have it out sometime soon to investigate; it definitely doesn't feel very positive unlike the (apparently identical) front one.