jthspace
Well-known member
As has been mentioned, a very few LED replacement DRL bulbs fit without modification. After reasding other posts, I took the decision to modify the lampholder and fit the LED bulbs that I had bought but didn't fit.
First Comment : Anyone with a lease car who don't want to modify their car - no-one will ever see the modification and the original bulbs will go back and nothing of the mod can be seen.
Second Comment : The problem is not the bulb holder, it is the metal reflector inside the lamp that is the problem.
Third Comment : Total time to modify was 30 minutes, including stopping to take photos.
Tools Needed
Plastic tool to pop off the lamp covers - I used a butter knife as the blade is flat and not sharp. I covered it in one layer of insulation tape just in case.
Philips Screwdriver to undo the three screws holding the lamps in place.
T10 hex screwdriver to remove the bulb holder
Hold enlarger - "Step Drill". I bought this one from Amazon for £11.25 delivered.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Am-Tech-Lar...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
So, onto the modification. First picture is the driver side lamp (RHD) and the unmodified kerb side to show the difference. As you can see, I also have Angel Eyes fitted and I made another post earlier on that modification.
Next two photos are close-ups of each lamp, modified and original
Here is a close-up of the bulb holder and the offending metal reflector hole which is too small
Remove the bulb holder using a T10 hex screwdriver. This is why the modification is reversible - we are ONLY making the hole bigger in the reflector, there is no modification to the bulb holder
Here is the bulb holder removed. The two wires are for the Angel Eyes
This is the step drill - note you want to buy one that can drill metal. It's maximum size is 20mm which is what we want. I used an electric battery powered drill / screwdriver set to high torque / low speed. TAKE YOUR TIME - let the tool do the cutting, do NOT push, just let it slowly "nibble" away at the hole. If the drill catches and stops, you are pressing too hard. Be gentle, it's like filing your nails, not drilling into concrete. sloooow but sure. Took me about 3 minutes of gently letting the tool work it's way making the hole larger, drilling, removing the tool slightly, drilling . . . etc.
Here is the LED bulb that I had bought.
Keep trying the bulb for hole clearance - when it is a loose fit, job done.
Just for reference, here are the Angel Eyes I had fitted previously.
Refit the bulb holder and fit the new LED bulb.
Close-up of the fitted bulb
That's All, Folks!
I didn't show the refitting as it is a simple reverse of taking it apart. I apologise for the long post, but some of us are a little less sure of making modifications so I hope that this "Hayne's Manual" approach of lots of photos helps.
Jeff
First Comment : Anyone with a lease car who don't want to modify their car - no-one will ever see the modification and the original bulbs will go back and nothing of the mod can be seen.
Second Comment : The problem is not the bulb holder, it is the metal reflector inside the lamp that is the problem.
Third Comment : Total time to modify was 30 minutes, including stopping to take photos.
Tools Needed
Plastic tool to pop off the lamp covers - I used a butter knife as the blade is flat and not sharp. I covered it in one layer of insulation tape just in case.
Philips Screwdriver to undo the three screws holding the lamps in place.
T10 hex screwdriver to remove the bulb holder
Hold enlarger - "Step Drill". I bought this one from Amazon for £11.25 delivered.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Am-Tech-Lar...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
So, onto the modification. First picture is the driver side lamp (RHD) and the unmodified kerb side to show the difference. As you can see, I also have Angel Eyes fitted and I made another post earlier on that modification.
Next two photos are close-ups of each lamp, modified and original
Here is a close-up of the bulb holder and the offending metal reflector hole which is too small
Remove the bulb holder using a T10 hex screwdriver. This is why the modification is reversible - we are ONLY making the hole bigger in the reflector, there is no modification to the bulb holder
Here is the bulb holder removed. The two wires are for the Angel Eyes
This is the step drill - note you want to buy one that can drill metal. It's maximum size is 20mm which is what we want. I used an electric battery powered drill / screwdriver set to high torque / low speed. TAKE YOUR TIME - let the tool do the cutting, do NOT push, just let it slowly "nibble" away at the hole. If the drill catches and stops, you are pressing too hard. Be gentle, it's like filing your nails, not drilling into concrete. sloooow but sure. Took me about 3 minutes of gently letting the tool work it's way making the hole larger, drilling, removing the tool slightly, drilling . . . etc.
Here is the LED bulb that I had bought.
Keep trying the bulb for hole clearance - when it is a loose fit, job done.
Just for reference, here are the Angel Eyes I had fitted previously.
Refit the bulb holder and fit the new LED bulb.
Close-up of the fitted bulb
That's All, Folks!
I didn't show the refitting as it is a simple reverse of taking it apart. I apologise for the long post, but some of us are a little less sure of making modifications so I hope that this "Hayne's Manual" approach of lots of photos helps.
Jeff