Sidelight fiting guide - R32OC

dubzter · 3rd February 2008, 02:15 PM

Just fitted my LED sidelights today so thought I would take a few pics and write a few words on it just incase anyone else wants to do it themselves instead of getting charged a fortune by a garage.

Tools

Philips screwdriver
Torx driver (T25)
Long flat blade screwdriver

Step One

On the passenger side you will need to remove the battery cover and a cover over the back of the light. Remove the 2 philips screws (marked in red) that hold the light cover in place, remove the battery cover by pressing in the tabs on the side and lifting out. I then undid the 2 torx screws (marked in red) holding the light in place, this gives you a bit more room by allowing the light to tilt forward slightly.

Step Two

Locate the clip (red arrow) and push it towards the wing, this will release the ballast and allow you inside the headlight. I also undid the wire plug on top of the light to give me more space.

Step Three

Locate the bulb (circled) and I used a long blade flat screwdriver to prise the bulbholder out. Then it is just a case of squeezing your fingers in and manouvering it into a position where you can replace the bulb.

Step Four
Fit the bulb holder back in, make sure all wires are inside the light and replace the ballast. Refit light cover and battery cover.

Step Five

Very similar to the passenfer side but on the driver side you have more room to move and you don't have the covers to deal with. I didn't remove the torx screws on this side. Locate the clip on the ballast (red arrow) and push it towards the wing.

Step Six
Locate the bulb holder remove, replace bulb and refit. Refit ballast.

Step Seven

Looking Good

Step Eight

Get you other half to give you lots of sympathy for scraping your hands to bits

All in all took about 30 minutes and wasn't too difficult. Driver side is much easier than passenger. Apart from that its a piece of cake.

StuOwen86 · 6th February 2008, 09:42 PM

hehe good guide,i tried to change my sidelight on saturday as my passenger side one has blown, took me about 20mins to get it out then when i went to change it i realised i had the wrong type of bulb which was a head ache lol so i decided to order the LED Sidelights instead so im just waiting for them to be deliverd hopefully soon.

StuOwen86 · 8th February 2008, 09:01 PM

got my LED sidelights before, they were in the letterbox when i arrived home so seems as the car was in the garage i decided to fit them, took me about 25 mis to do both sides although it would ahve been quicker had the metal clip that holds the housing hadnt come out of its holders.

But they still look cool as.

Stu

Biovox · 28th February 2008, 06:44 PM

Must admit I like the look of the LED sidelights - saw them on Golfgirls old .:R and love the bluish tinge. Where did you get them from if you don't mind me asking?

Bio

topher · 28th February 2008, 07:01 PM

thats one thing i wont miss about my mk4, changing sidelight bulbs!

in the end i just found it easier to drop the bumper and take the headlight out

JayB · 29th February 2008, 09:22 PM

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/uh6w-bax9...f515bf253e3e6f

here's the link there £4.70 a pair £2.00 P&P hope this helps

SLB · 12th March 2008, 04:37 PM

Jay can you re-post that link as it doesn't seem to work?

JayB · 13th March 2008, 08:54 AM

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/pair-bax9...air-p-920.html

Here u go mate try this if this does'nt work go on the website then look for H6W BAX9 (Part Number)

Yoblet · 14th March 2008, 03:34 PM

Great guide, many thanks. This was my first "mod", 10 days after buying my R and saying there would be no modding.

A couple of notes in case anyone is struggling.

Long-nose pliers are a big help for pulling out the holder and also locating it back in with less hand-scrapage.

On the passenger side also remove the cover next to the one over the back of the light. You can then get at it from 2 directions at once.

Waiting for it to get dark now to see the effect. Seem pretty dim in what passes for daylight this time of year.

thisnamesux · 16th March 2008, 06:04 PM

are they street legal? pass mot etc..?

Rich R32 · 16th March 2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisnamesux

are they street legal? pass mot etc..?

I got mine from here, they're a bit more expensive but glow a nice bright white (not blue), but passed MOT

http://aceparts.com/all-led-bulbs/led-side-light-bulbs/

SLB · 17th March 2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayB

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/pair-bax9...air-p-920.html

Here u go mate try this if this does'nt work go on the website then look for H6W BAX9 (Part Number)

Thanks you, that link worked fine!

Sophie

S2Law · 07:03 PM

Just changed the drivers side one of my car for a standard one. Mainly cos it looks like a pain in the arse to do the passengers side and that ones working.

I can confirm that all my knuckles are in tact and it took me all of about 30 seconds. The only niggly bit was getting the retaining clip back on.

Cheers for the guide tho guys, I wasn't keen on shelling out a ton plus for the dealer to have a go.

Very Cherry · 2nd June 2008, 07:02 PM

did you take the LED option to match the xenons?

boy_lard100 · 2nd June 2008, 07:38 PM

to cheat the easy way with no scrapeing of knuckles
is popping the bumper off,

grill out,
5 30torx's
40 odd 25torx's
and 2 10mm's and makes it so much easier.

Scotty · 18th June 2008, 08:11 PM

Great tutorial, took me less than 10mins to fit my sidelights and well pleased with how they look.

James (caxton01) · 26th June 2008, 06:55 PM

Hi Dubzter,

How do you remove the connection from the third picture that you posted as I don't want to damage the connector removing it.

Thanks,

Very Cherry · 26th June 2008, 07:12 PM

iirc its a twist.....

James (caxton01) · 26th June 2008, 07:17 PM

Thanks VC,

Well I had a go at tugging the end with a screwdriver in the clip.

Did not want to force it though

(Step three,picture)

imster · 26th June 2008, 10:31 PM

we need a guide for the MkV too! Tried all bloody day today to take out the sidelights and its a right pain in the arse, in the end i just gave up :(

James (caxton01) · 3rd July 2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caxton01

Hi Dubzter,

How do you remove the connection from the third picture that you posted as I don't want to damage the connector removing it.

Thanks,

I had a look and it looks like it just pull off from the connector but unsure???

Anyone ?

Thanks,

James (caxton01) · 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caxton01

Hi Dubzter,

How do you remove the connection from the third picture that you posted as I don't want to damage the connector removing it.

Thanks,

Anyone know please ?

This is for the conector block on the passengers side if it helps, As I want to do it in the morning,

Thanks

golfr32golf · 14th July 2008, 07:21 PM

best way to change sidelights on a golf is get absoulutelly pissed and although it takes hours it feels like 5 mins and there is no pain of scraping knuckles.....
ive fitted uprated xenon bulbs to 8000k pure blue light...xenon sidelight bulbs and audi r8 type day running lights in my lower grilles... also gone for led rear lights

golfr32golf · 14th July 2008, 07:22 PM

by the way it is possible to remove the sidelights without uncliping the loom just push it downwards

Laura · 15th November 2008, 02:01 PM

Thank you ever so much for this - it was so helpful today. Until I realised that the bulbs I'd been given by my friend didn't even fit!