Thread: PIAA/Silvervision bulb change with lots of pics

OK folks, apols if this has been done before, but as I've just changed my DRl/Sidelights/Indicators and repeaters I thought I'd show some pics of before and after along with details on the bulbs I used.

Firstly, as the car looked before any bulb changes:



Then the DRL and side light were changed on the right hand side:



A picture with the DRLs on (right hand side is the new bulb):



Sidelights on next (right hand side with the new bulb):



Now with the Xenons on and the sides (right hand side new bulb):



Both DRLs changed now:



Both sidelights changed:



Xenons and sidelights on now with both sidelights changed:



I also changed the side repeaters. Firstly, as they were originally:



Next, with the side repeater bulb changed:



Finally the indicators were changed. The picture below shows the changed bulb on the left with the original still in on the right:



Finally, with both indicator bulbs changed:



Bulbs Used:

DRLs: PIAA H227 Xtreme White S25 Single 382 Bayonet 21 watt
£12.71 each purchased from hid.uk.com
Link

Sidelights: PIAA H222 Xtreme White Wedge sold in pairs 5 watt each
£11.91 for the pair purchased from hid.uk.com
Link

Side Repeaters: 501 Chrome Wedge sold in pairs
£6.99 for the pair purchased from Autobulbs direct on Ebay
Link

Indicators: Philips Silvervision PY21W Sold in pairs 21 Watt
Purchased from Ebay for £8.99 (make sure the packaging is the new style not old)

The DRLs and sidelights were easy to change but I couldn't reach the indicator bulbs due to the Xenon units. So to get to them I turned the wheels in and on the wheel arch liner where it's split into 2 parts, towards the edge there are 2 torx screws. If you undo those, you can then open the wheel arch liner and just about get your arm up to the indicator bulbs. With a turn of the bulb holder, it should release the bulb and holder and it can then be removed for the bulb to be changed.

Jon

Excellent post Jon, exactly what I was looking for. Thankyou

No probs Nathan

Jon

Is this an aesthetic change or do these bulbs make the headlights/sidelights brighter (sorry for the ignorance!)

Excellent post! Perhaps we need a "how to/retrofit" sticky index with hyperlinks to such threads as this?!

Originally Posted by QuickNick

Is this an aesthetic change or do these bulbs make the headlights/sidelights brighter (sorry for the ignorance!)

More asethetic really QuickNick. I can't stand the yellow look of the DRLs and sidelights compared to the whiteness of the Xenons.

These changes make the DRLs and sidelights appear whiter now - much more like the Xenons. The DRLs are probably better now, but as I've not driven with them on yet so can't comment yet.

The indicator changes tidy up the front end nicely in my opinion. They still function as well as normal indicators, but don't have that annoying 'orange' look to them.

Jon

Yep asethetic. Greats rid of that ORANGE look. Same as sidelights get rid of that YELLOW look. I'm not gonna bother using my DRLs they dont look like the R8s so whats the point, just looks like a big sidelight.

Ah thanks for that ! Maybe this should be saved as a sticky !!
Richard

Can I be cheeky and ask for pics of the sidelights at night! Just to check they aren't stupidly blue!

Originally Posted by Matt

Can I be cheeky and ask for pics of the sidelights at night! Just to check they aren't stupidly blue!

I dunno, some people are never satisfied

legend

No probs Matt

Jon

Very nice! Well done & thank you for posting pictures up, I now know which kind of bulbs to buy =D

Just to get it right though, i've got just the normal Xenons with Sidelights... do I need to get the H222 - Xtreme White Wedge
5 W =10 Watt Light Output to match my Xenons? What kind of bulb is that?

Thank you

They look quite good at night, it'll be good to see them with the xenons on Jon. Good work anyway.

Nice posting. Did the Xtreme DRL's and sidelight bulbs ma self. Yip does away with the nasty yellow. Much much better
During day if DRL's not on the bigger bulb here tends to reflect blue in the surround but its just a teeny gripe.

A very good how too and before and after. Nice one butch.

Originally Posted by emzino

Very nice! Well done & thank you for posting pictures up, I now know which kind of bulbs to buy =D

Just to get it right though, i've got just the normal Xenons with Sidelights... do I need to get the H222 - Xtreme White Wedge
5 W =10 Watt Light Output to match my Xenons? What kind of bulb is that?

Thank you

Hi Emzino,

Yup, you should still need the H222 bulb - it's the same as a 501 wedge bulb. The difference being that it produces a much whiter light, even though the bulb is a blue colour. So when your xenons and sidelights are on, you loose the yellow effect from the old sidelight bulbs and the new bulbs match the much whiter light that your xenons produce.

Jon

Originally Posted by N8KOW

They look quite good at night, it'll be good to see them with the xenons on Jon. Good work anyway.

Good plan Nathan - I'll do a pic with the xenons and sidelights on so you can see the lights producing a similar colour.

Are these the same for the DRL on my S3?

Great post by the way.

DRLs: PIAA H227 Xtreme White S25 Single 382 Bayonet 21 watt
£12.71 each purchased from hid.uk.com

Originally Posted by Spin140

Are these the same for the DRL on my S3?

Great post by the way.

DRLs: PIAA H227 Xtreme White S25 Single 382 Bayonet 21 watt
£12.71 each purchased from hid.uk.com

Thanks.

I would be pretty certain they are the same - I doubt Audi would use different bulbs for the S3 as opposed to the A3, though you never know!

Jon

Brilliant post Jon, I'll be doing all these things when I get my A3, its all about helping others!!

Here we go then, xenons with the sidelights at night:



My job for tomorrow is to fit my RNS-E which arrived this morning along with my Dension Gateway for my iPod.

Thanks for all the positive comments on the thread - I'm glad a lot of you have found it useful

Jon

Sidelights are excellent Jon, really good match. Let me know how you are getting on with the Dension Gateway my friends interested in one of those. What other mods do you have planned?

I'm really pleased with them Nathan - highly recommended. No other mods planned at the mo - think I've spent enough money for the moment .

By the way the Superchips Bluefin remap is fantastic. Definite added 'grin' factor. Only been out a couple of times since I uploaded it to the car yesterday afternoon, but it just pulls like a train now - another recommendation for yours when you get it .

Jon

Thanks Jon, Beddie couldn't have recommended it highly enough either. Can I buy it now or do I need the car, I thought they send it to you in the post? Confused on that one. Don't fancy any rims/tints/coilovers? I've spend loads already and I haven't finished either But its all good when mine arrives and its fully modded I'll be getting this treatment everywhere i go!

Cheers Jon.

P.S - I see you've uploaded the map already? Whats your mileage now? I like the fact you can upload/unload it at anytime.

You could get the Bluefin unit now (they do post it to you), but I'd save your £500 until nearer the time you get your car mate!

Nah - I'm going to keep it pretty much standard from the outside as it's a car I'll only be keeping 3 years, so not going to spend more money on it when, in my opinion, it looks great as is.

I've only got 200 miles on the clock, but Superchips assured me I'd be fine uploading the map now - I'm just making sure I keep the revs down (well I am trying too) until I've reached the 500 mile mark.

Jon

Originally Posted by redbutcher

in my opinion, it looks great as is

That is the most important feature Jon, that you're happy with it. I'm gonna keep my car for 3/4 years, but I feel every car is limited, and I modify to release its potential! Where is northants? Sorry to be dumb

These lights not estan authorized in my country, I take positions a few lights of led

Originally Posted by N8KOW

Where is northants? Sorry to be dumb

no worries, south of B'ham mate, Silverstone country. I live about 45 mins from the track, though I've never been (well not yet anyway).

Ah thanks jon.

Well after reading the excellent thread written by Jon I've taken the plunge & changed out my bulbs. Here is a few pictures to give you an idea. Sorry Jon for repeating what you have done.

This is before any change



This is with the YELLOW DRL's on



This one is with the new bulb on the driver side & the yellow on the passenger side



This pic shows the 2 new bulbs in place & i feel it looks great with the sprint blue



Lastly here is the new DRL's on



I think everyone will agree that this looks so much better.
I also changed out the sidelights exactly the same as Jon but you couldnt really see them that great in the photos.

Once again thank you to Jon for all the information & links to the web site.

Cheers, Bruce

Your S3 is looking lovely bruce. Bulbs change is a definite! Cheap and very effective mod!

Have just ordered the DRL & side lights so will let you all know how I get on, £30 inc shipping etc.

Spin

Thanks very much N8KOW, i just had fitted the bulbs after i washing the car. As you can see, i think it needed after a round trip from Aberdeen





I think jr001 wouldnt be to pleased to see the car in this state, lol.
Cheers once again.

Nice pics Bruce .

Glad you got them all changed OK - they make a massive difference to the 'look' of the front end dont they.

They look especially good with the Sprint blue as well of your S3.

Glad to be of help - at least we now have confirmation the same bulbs exist in the S3 .

Jon

Jon and Bruce top guys! His S3 looks dirty there!!! Nice to see you cleaned it even in the cold, I take my hat off

That's filthy! Thank god you washed it lol. Is it hard to change the bulbs? I'd do it but I remember trying to get to the indicator bulbs after seeing someone do it on here but it's just IMPOSSIBLE to get my hand in there...

Is it the same case here?

Yup - impossible to get to the indicators from the bonnet - apparently it's a dealer job according to my manual .

However, relatively easy to get to them from the wheel arch liner - remove 2 torx screws on each liner and you can then get your hand in to reach the bulbs.

Good to know!

Ok but how about the side lights, they easy to get to? (Xenon'ed headlights)

With a car with the current Bi-Xenon headlights the sidelight bulbs are in the same housing as the DRL's. The main bulb is the large 21w bulb in the centre and the small 5w sidelight bulbs are a push fit into a housing in the same unit. Some members have said they are rather a pain to actually get out of the housing but they do just pull out - eventually.

Yup - impossible to get to the indicators from the bonnet - apparently it's a dealer job according to my manual .

However, relatively easy to get to them from the wheel arch liner - remove 2 torx screws on each liner and you can then get your hand in to reach the bulbs.

ElsaWin, the electronic workshop manual used by the dealers says they should be changed from the wheel arches. It says you should remove the wheels first but I understand it can be done by just turning the wheels onto the appropriate full lock.

Originally Posted by h5djr

ElsaWin, the electronic workshop manual used by the dealers says they should be changed from the wheel arches. It says you should remove the wheels first but I understand it can be done by just turning the wheels onto the appropriate full lock.

Exactly what I did - turning the wheels gives you plenty of room.

They certainly must look better than the normal yellow DRL bulbs. Me thinks I must order a pair!

You know it makes sense

I've done my DRL's on mine, but I can't get the sidelights to come out to change them.

Yea when I get paid this friday i'm going to order some PIAA sidelight bulbs hopefully =D

Useful info thanks Guys

Originally Posted by si_reading

I've done my DRL's on mine, but I can't get the sidelights to come out to change them.

They are just a push fit. The bulb sits in a holder which is a push fit into the light fitting, so a gentle tug on the holder (if you can reach) or the wires themselves should get them out no bother.