Replacing Sidelights ?

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 7:58 pm

Hi all,

Could anyone tell me how to change the sidelights in the mk5 polo gti?
I'm unhappy with how yellow they are compared to the main beam, and after having a quick look, i don't know how i could change them.

Diagrams of how to do it aswell would be great

Any ideas of which bulbs are best too

Cheers guys

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:42 pm

Hmm

It's not easy. Basically you have to remove the front bumper entirely, then remove each headlight entirely, then open them up and change the bulbs.

It takes about 1.5 hours.

It's a pain in the arse!

Probably best left to a dealer/specialist if you're not sure.

I think I did a "how to" somewhere on here, with photos. Just can't remember where

Just watch out around the HID light wire. It can kill you.

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:28 pm

Josh_PoloGTi wrote:Just watch out around the HID light wire. It can kill you.

Yikes!! That will indeed be a job for a specialist then! I want to do the same - those Phillips jobbies look really smart.

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 6:46 pm

Cheers Josh.

Is the HID wire that dangerous. I have asked a lad to use his connections to try and find someone who may do it for me. I dont want to take it to a specialist and let them charge me a fortune to fit some new bulbs.

Seems to me a little strange that it is so hard to change something as simple as bulbs. Definately not a positive point of the beautiful car.

Oh, and am i right in thinking the Fogs are H3
Sidelights are 501
Full beam are H7

chris-k · Post by **chris-k** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 3:27 pm

Hello!

I'm sorry if I sound a bit thick, but what does full beam H7/ fogs H3 mean? I don't have a lot of technical knowledge!

Anyway, I am hoping to change my sidelights aswell for exactly the same reason: they look really dull and yellow next to the xenons.

I see you mention Philips replacements, but which bulb exactly should I go for as there are many in the philips range?

Can anyone recommend from experience?

Cheers guys!

Chris

polo2k · Post by **polo2k** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 3:57 pm

i think its w5w capless for the side lights
and then h7 for the fogs/highbeam

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 4:40 pm

H1, H3, H4, H7 are all bulbs but with different fittings. I think i'm right in saying that sidelights are known as having a wedge fitment. As for the other lights, i think H3 tend to be used for Fog lights, H4 are for cars which use the same bulb for main beam and high beam, and finally H1 + H7 are used for seperate main and full beam. I'm not 100% certain though.

Would be thankful if one of you could let me know for sure.

kenny15 · Post by **kenny15** » Sun Apr 25, 2004 10:31 pm

i just change the sidelightds today to piaa leds , and took about 1hour to do, there roughly 20 screws holding the bumper in place ,but it finish the the lights off to a tee.

mkone · Post by **mkone** » Wed May 05, 2004 7:14 pm

Just bought some philips bulbs through powerbulbs.com (got my 10% discount too, thanks Josh!). Tried to tackle fitting them at the weekend but gave up. Removed grill fine, but could not see where to remove the rest of the bumper. Please could someone let me know how I'm gonna fit them without breaking anything, its really bugging me now.

Thanks

mark

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Wed May 05, 2004 10:12 pm

Theres a post somewhere which i've read on how to take your bumper off.

From what i can remember off hand, theres 4 on the top which connect to the grill, 5 in each of the front wheel arches, 1 behind each light fitting which is plastic shaped like this =(+)=

I think there could be 2 more somewhere near the lights aswell.

I've just recieved my new bulbs too. I'v bought some cheapish ones from Ebay for now to see what they're like. Blue LED's for the sidelights, and some new fog and full beam lights which should be whiter. I'm gonna try and fit them this weekend so i'll let you know how i get on.

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Thu May 06, 2004 8:46 am

Theres a post for removing the front bumper in the DIY Guide section - I'm sure I've seen it in there... *goes to check*... yup. Defo.

waveydavey · Post by **waveydavey** » Fri May 07, 2004 10:23 am

M@Turner Wrote.....

I've just recieved my new bulbs too. I'v bought some cheapish ones from Ebay for now to see what they're like. Blue LED's for the sidelights, and some new fog and full beam lights which should be whiter. I'm gonna try and fit them this weekend so i'll let you know how i get on.

My other half has a Lexus IS200 Sport so i also go on the Lexus Owners Club of GB forum too. There are a few posts on that forum from people who bought "Bright White" bulbs off of e-bay that weren't E-Marked and they have had big probs.

From what i can remember the UV they give off fogs up the clear plastic headlight lenses like we have on the Polo GTi, and they ended up buying new headlight units in the worst cases. From memory i think the bulbs were xxtreme whites or something like that from the far east.

On a brighter note.....he he he get it??..... i bought 2 sets of white LED sidlights off e-bay a 4LED set and a 6LED set i've fitted the 6LED set to the lexus and they look superb a very very white light. I think they really add to the menacing look of the car especially as it's in black with the extra body-kit and 18" alloys. I also fitted Phillips blue vision bulbs to the main and dip beams of the lexus so the whole lighting of the car is now a lot whiter. The missus is even toying with some neons for it now!!! With the problems of fitting them to the Polo i've never ended up fitting them to my car!!!

Cheers

Dave.

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Sat May 08, 2004 3:46 pm

Thanks for the advice waveydavey, but i think the ones i've got will work fine.

Me and my brother have just spent the last hour trying to get the F$*kIN bumper off, and could we my arse!

I'd like to think things were going well until the hidden screw under each of the indicater units needed to be removed. We pulled and lifted, lifted and pulled, and could we buggary remove the unit. It felt like there was something pulling it back into the engine bay, and i dint want to end up breaking something.

Any advice from those of you who have changed there bulbs would be much appreciated. Or if you fancy meeting me somewhere and help me do it, i'd be all for it.

HELP ME!