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Sunday 13 January 2013

Micro Mods

A quick post to show that it's not all big-money modifications and that there is always scope for improving small elements of your van/camper without breaking the bank. These smaller 'micro-mods' are some of the best, often using items from the parts bin elsewhere in the Volkswagen range.

Take the interior light in the cab for example:


It's boring. One switch, one bulb. Yeah, you could stick an LED bulb in there, maybe a blue bulb if that's your thing.

Or you could search through the entire VW range looking for the same light unit shape in a different vehicle! (Yes I know, I should get out more!)

Hey presto! The Mk4 Golf has the same unit but with extra reading lights. Plugs in using exactly the same plug. No wiring mods, no soldering, no hacking away at plastic to make it fit.

Simple pop the light lens off, remove two screws, unplug, plug new unit in, screw in place, replace lens, sit back and admire your new and slightly less boring light unit:


I added a couple of wedge-base ultra-white LEDs into the reading lights. I might change the centre festoon bulb to LED too. Everything works as it should, the lights dim when the van locks etc.

One word of caution on the newer CANBUS T5's - many LED bulbs will throw up a bulb-failure warning light on the dash - make sure you fit fault-cancelling LED's to a newer van.

As a rough guide this micro-mod can be done for around £20 via eBay, cheaper if you're prepared to search the breaker's yards. Happy micro-modding!
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6 comments:

  1. Richard Mackney14 January 2013 at 10:53

    This is brill, thanks for sharing! I was about to just go down the LED route, but this looks great.

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    1. richard14 January 2013 at 13:29

      No problem. Sharing is what it's all about!

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  2. Unknown3 February 2013 at 15:53

    Ours came with reading lights presumed they were standard ours doesnt have the surround though with the little vents

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    1. richard4 February 2013 at 13:32

      Hmm... odd.

      I thought those little vents at the front were standard. Ours started life as a basic van with no extras at all (other than the Stone Blue paint and twin-slider).

      Any ideas what they would be for?

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  3. Evan M18 February 2013 at 17:23

    Hi, always thought the little vents were to do with the alarm system (if fitted)
    Put one of these light units in mine about 3 months ago, but have no idea when it comes to LEDs, but would like to fit them, where do i get "fault cancelling" jobbies & what sizes etc?? They look like they make a huge difference looking at your pic. In fact as i only check in from time to time, to see how you are getting on, i have to say the van is looking awsome, great work :-)

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  4. richard18 February 2013 at 19:43

    Cheers Evan,

    You'll only need the fault-canceling LEDs if you have a new T5 with the CANBUS wiring system (the type that tells you on the dash if a bulb is out).

    The best place to look for LEDs is eBay. For the two reading lights you need x2 W5W 501LED - the ones with a push-fit 'wedge base' usually used for sidelight bulbs. For the main bulb in the middle you need a C5W 44mm 'Festoon' bulb.

    I've gone back to standard filament bulbs for now, and I'm currently looking for SMD (Surface Mount Device) bulbs - like the ones above the rear number plate from a few blog-posts ago. These are super-bright white light and much more stable than standard LEDs which don't seem to like the 'fade' function of the VW interior light.

    Hope all this helps! Thanks for reading,
    Richard (Stone174)

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