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C4 - DS4 Owners :: Forums :: Styling Performance and Upgrading :: Interior and lights
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C4 Brighter, fuller sidelights; Is there a simple way?
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Author Post
glossevans   
Tue Aug 31 2010, 11:22am
Member No: #10878
Joined: Sep 13 2009
Location: Preston
 I really like to get the side lights on my C4 to appear much brighter and whiter than they currently are, and if possible for the light to ‘fill’ the whole of the sidelight at the top of the main headlight unit. At present I am just using the normal sidelight bulbs and the light unit has not been modified in any way.

I am hoping that I can achieve this purely with new bulbs rather than modifying the lights at all.

I am aware that there is a plethora of information regarding different bulbs / LED substitutes and what works, what does work, what works but gives warnings or stays on after switch-off. So much so, that I am utterly confused over what my options are, and how much success people have had.

So, in nice simple terms, is it possible to get the result I am looking for just by swapping the sidelights bulbs? If so, what should I go for?

Ideally, I would be able to achieve this without getting any “side effects” such as warnings, or the lights remaining on after switch-off.

Thanks in advance for your patience.
Biohead   
Tue Aug 31 2010, 11:47am

Member No: #6049
Joined: Nov 05 2008
Location: Bracknell
 These LEDs ones will do the job: - Click Here -

Yes, you MAY get the warning in the log... but it doesn't pop up and isn't obtrusive. It only appears in the log when you actually go look for it. The top LED will only be lit for about 30 secs after turning off and isn't noticeable anyway. Really they are minor things (I won't even class them as problems, just "things").
routemaster1   
Tue Aug 31 2010, 12:13pm
Member No: #574
Joined: Jul 08 2007
Location: Dorset
 A potential issue is the legality of any changes you make. One post on this forum indicates that LED sidelights may be an MOT failure.
bandyquill   
Tue Aug 31 2010, 05:25pm
Member No: #3258
Joined: Apr 12 2008
Location: Wakefield
 yep, because the LED replacements showed blue mine failed its MOT
glossevans   
Wed Sep 01 2010, 07:11am
Member No: #10878
Joined: Sep 13 2009
Location: Preston
 Cheers for the recommendation Bio.

For the sake of a couple of quid purchase price and a 5 minute job to fit em, I'm gonna have a dabble at them.

Will report back on how I get on both in terms of end result and any spurious error messages I experience.

Thanks.
Bump   
Wed Sep 01 2010, 11:36am
Member No: #11478
Joined: Nov 15 2009
Location: Crewe, Cheshire
 Didnt get any errors on mine when I had some in but they kept turning blue, which I believe meant they had overheated ?
glossevans   
Wed Sep 01 2010, 03:11pm
Member No: #10878
Joined: Sep 13 2009
Location: Preston
OK Bump, thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep an eye out for that.

This is all being done very much in the manner of a bit of an experiment so if it doesn't give the result I'm after, its no biggy.
glossevans   
Fri Sep 10 2010, 03:29pm
Member No: #10878
Joined: Sep 13 2009
Location: Preston
 Right, LED bulbs arrived today and they won't fit in to the holes in the back of the sidelights.

I'm sure I've read that other people have had this issue and they have just gently reamed out the holes a touch so the LED will fit it.

Is this correct?

I'm a little nervous about doing this as I don't want to open up the hole so much that the bayonette type faster won't lock in to place and hold the bulb in-situ?

Any one had this issue, and did you mange to open the hole enough to get the new LED bulb in without stuffing up the locking mechanism of the bulb holder?

If so, any tips / advice?

Cheers.
Dave_Retired.   
Fri Sep 10 2010, 04:33pm

Member No: #1
Joined: Aug 07 2006
Location: Northumberland
 There are LED bulbs available that will fit without any alteration to the lamp units.

There is a thread with details an images but it's around 2 years+ since it was posted (I had them)
glossevans   
Fri Sep 10 2010, 05:28pm
Member No: #10878
Joined: Sep 13 2009
Location: Preston
 Evening Dave.

Any idea's where the bulbs came from that didn't require any alteration?
That's sounding a much better option!
wozza   
Fri Sep 10 2010, 06:39pm

Member No: #2
Joined: Aug 12 2006
Location: Manchester
 When you say they won't fit is it that it just won't fully tighten but goes in and turns some of the way?

If so one of mine is like that, has been for the last 2 years pretty much. Will be fine. The other side went in fine however.
Rob1977   
Sat Sep 11 2010, 01:05am
Member No: #13460
Joined: Apr 26 2010
Location: Cardiff
 I bought the led bulbs off eBay a seller called mr silicone.
There the ones with 4 little leds. They went in straight away.
Ain't had no blueness or warning messages.

Not sure how to put a link on here or I would.

Rob
Dave_Retired.   
Sat Sep 11 2010, 01:16am

Member No: #1
Joined: Aug 07 2006
Location: Northumberland
 It's so long since I got mine I can't remember but there are a lot on eBay to choose from: - Click Here -

@Rob1977 just paste the link into a post, the site system does the rest

There is a bulb thread here: - Click Here -


This one here is probably the best though with a full discussion on LED sidelights: - Click Here - where Clive (Bin The L Plates) opened up the holes in his lamp units with links to bulbs that others have used.

Mine came from - Click Here - (it was in that thread)
Rob1977   
Sat Sep 11 2010, 01:21am
Member No: #13460
Joined: Apr 26 2010
Location: Cardiff
 Thanks dave just realised.

- Click Here -

these are the ones I got they seem ok.
glossevans   
Sat Sep 11 2010, 06:02am
Member No: #10878
Joined: Sep 13 2009
Location: Preston
 All sorted.

Managed to get the bulbs fitted with just a very small about if filing of the hole just to open it out slightly.

Bulbs now all light up OK and the holders still fit and lock in place absolutely fine.

Just got to wait for dark to see how they look.

Thanks to all for your help, advice and pointers.
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