Club 80-90 Forums

Hello, I need a blue bulb for my dash main beam warning lamp. Are they a special type ?

I have looked in the wiki but nothing there. Thanks.

Tex Ritter

Yes, special bulb. Try VW dealer. If you convert to a blue LED like a few have tried it will burn your retinas out at night

Westy.Club.Joker wrote:Yes, special bulb. Try VW dealer. If you convert to a blue LED like a few have tried it will burn your retinas out at night

DOH!!

Just changed mine for an LED

Mine went and replaced with standard blue LED. You have to change the resistor on the membrane PCB to 2.2K otherwise, as said, it will be far too bright.

Or as I did, dip in black paint first - still shows through.

CovKid wrote:Or as I did, dip in black paint first - still shows through.

The main beam replacement one in mine is RED...what colour would I need to add to give a blue effect?

TR

Red bulb or red LED? The LED housing has a little blue insert for the main beam light and this can be pushed out, since yours is red and the insert is blue then you wont see much at all if you leave it in. Replace it with a Blue LED and change the resistor or keep to red.

AngeloEvs wrote:Red bulb or red LED? The LED housing has a little blue insert for the main beam light and this can be pushed out, since yours is red and the insert is blue then you wont see much at all if you leave it in. Replace it with a Blue LED and change the resistor or keep to red.

I thought the main beam warning light had to be BLUE??

It is, thats why I queried the 'red'. Glad to hear you have sorted it.

AngeloEvs wrote:
Red bulb or red LED? The LED housing has a little blue insert for the main beam light and this can be pushed out, since yours is red and the insert is blue then you wont see much at all if you leave it in.


Ah! ... so all I really need is a BLUE insert then, as the bulb is OK?

UPDATE: I've taken it apart and It's definately a LED with 2 stalks.

'Westy.Club.Joker' have ordered replacement from VW, should arrive in a couple of days. Thanks for all the input folks.

Tex Ritter

Our high beam warning light is yellow. It can be any colour it wants to be in my opinion, as long as it works. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
MOT man definately sat in the drivers seat and played with lights/switches this year (in May), didn't mention any problems with having a non-blue warning light. And as he declared the van a 'pass' we love him and all of his professional opinions very much!

I may be wrong
I think when these vans where built they could not make blue leds thats why they are yellow

Blue LEDs weren't available but since I have hundreds of them decided to fit one and should last for ever, job done permanently. Not sure about the colour requirements or if there is a legal requiremnt so maybe any colour is fine.

• • Just changed my Main Beam warning bulb with a Blue LED without any problems.
    
    Method:- simple
    Remove small bulb (its about 3mm).
    Leave in the small blue insert.
    Use a 3mm blue LED (maplins have em)
    Cut the led legs to the same size as the bulbs.(NOT to short)
    There is NO need to change the resistor.
    The blue insert you left in will help dull the brightness of the LED.
    Jobs-a-gud-un.
    Hope that makes scence. It does to me lol.
    
    Phredd

PS:- Remember an LED will only work one way round.
If it dont work first time just turn it round.

If you have replaced with a 3mm 12V LED may not need to change the 100 ohm resistor, if you have a standard (non 12V) Blue LED then it will not last very long with the 100 ohm series resistor.