Daytime Running Lights - Bulb Replacement And Led Option

[sillyme]

Hello to all members, I am a newbee needing help and guidance from those that can. My car is a c5 tourer exclusive 3.0 v6 hdi 2009. Having had my DRLs activated by a dealer two years ago a bulb has now failed, is there anyone that can advise on bulb type and replacement procedure please.

In anticipation of a helpful reply I extend my warmest thanks.

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

It looks as if the bulb is supplied fastened to a mounting, available from a dealer, and screws in to the bottom of the headlight unit. To change it the bumper needs to be partly removed and a torx driver used to unscrew it a quarter turn. Approx 1 hour at a dealer to change the bulb.

 

The Citroen part no. may be 6216 F6 and it may be a 12v HP24w white bulb - about £40 on ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-3008-5008-Daytime-Running-Light-Genuine-6216f6-/280918371645?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item41680a2d3d

 

So, if you have to pay for the bulb to be replaced, it would be about £100 at a dealer including a bulb - I would be simply turning the day running lights off.

 

 

 

Edited 13/2/2014 and 11/5/2016 (had T40 bit) - apparently it is possible to replace the bulb without removing the bumper, from inside the engine bay. A T45 torx bit in a right angle holder will help to slacken the bulb holder and a towel underneath will help stop it dropping down the bumper.

[sillyme]

Thank you for the fast response and detail, I use the car regularly on the continent 70k miles in 3 years and would like to get it repaired. Do you or anyone else know of an led bulb option ?

Thank you for your welcome. Also I have a lexia 3 kit but no idea how to use it if anyone lives in Herefordshire and knows how to use this kit I would like to meet up.

[paul.h]

I did a search on HP24w bulb and a few things came up on other forums on LEDs, such as a Peugeot one and a C6 one, but I was really looking at the cost of bulbs. So it would be worth you repeating this. I think a few people on here have replaced side lights with LEDs so you may get a response on this option. I would check in your handbook it is the right bulb.

[dflflack]

Just noticed your post- my post here is directly relevent. you will have to remove the bumper but dont have to fit halogen bulbs -

 

http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/21072-c5-2010-daylight-running-lights-what-a-poor-design-error/

 

I have a 2010 C5 3.0 V6 HDI. Its an excellent car but does have a few last minute design faults. When one of my daylight running lights blew i thought it would be a simple bulb change but not so! It turns out that the Halogen bulb part number 6216F6 costs £38 and the lamp is only accesible when the front bumper is removed, cost approx £100 citroen labour charge!  Citroen Uk (keeping up thir usual standards) could offer no technical advice nor did the parent company in France so here is some advice from me in collaboration with  my excellent local independant garage (French Carnection of Rayleigh, Essex).

 

Firstly the 6216F6 'bulb' actually consits of two parts that can be separated, the holder and a G4 (two prong) halogen capsule. The halogen capsule does not have a long service life so would need replacing with the bumper off at regular intervals.

 

Solution - Replace the Halogen capsule with a G4 LED bulb that has a service life of 15-25 years (I purchased two at a cost of £8 from dealextreme.com). The halogen capsule simply pulls out of the holder and the LED bulbs can be pushed into the socket to replace them. The end result is a much more efficient stylish Daylight running light that will probably never need replacing again and the cost £70 labour and £8 for the bulbs against a citroen dealer price of £100 and £76 for two bulbs that would need replacing several times during the cars lifetime. You would think that Citroen themselves would make the change to at least in part compensate for a ridiculous design fault but no they probably see this item as a cash generator!

[paul.h]

Since this is likely to be a frequent topic I have edited the title slightly so the content is more obvious, pinned the post and linked to it in the Common Problems post.

[seefive]

Hello

 

My 2013 C5 has a strip of LED's inside the headlamp unit, running underneath the main lights, so this fix won't apply to newer cars.

 

Hopefully the LED's really will last a long time, as this is strictly "non-customer replaceable"

[paul.h]

dflflack,

a quick look shows there are many different G4 LEDs on the dealextreme site, do you know which ones you used http://dx.com/s/g4%2bled?category=712&PageIndex=1#sortBar

 

In Morrisons there are standard 20 watt 12 volt G4 bulbs with a 2000 hour life at £4 for 3 in their own brand and Osram ones at £2.49 for 2. If G4 bulbs/LEDs are a suitable replacement for the original 24 watt bulbs they are a good saving. A few recommendations would be good such as are they as bright as the originals, no dazzle, no heat effects on the light unit.

 

Edit 13/2/2014 - I have read elsewhere that G4 halogen bulbs may be too hot so should not be used.

[dflflack]

Hello - I used this bulb, I was attracted to it being waterproof. I provides less light than the halogen bulb but looks rather styish -

 

http://dx.com/p/waterproof-g4-3w-100lm-24-smd-3014-led-white-light-car-lamp-dc-12v-186114#.UuFf9IXFKUk

 

A brighter alternative to consider is

 

http://dx.com/p/g4-5w-v-12v-5w-300lm-6500k-g4-white-light-led-clearance-lamp-bead-silver-yellow-2-pcs-246930#.UuFhqoXFKUk

[dflflack]

I think these bulbs will fit and are four times brighter than those that I have fitted

 

http://dx.com/p/exled-g4-6w-350lm-4-led-white-light-backup-car-light-indicator-lamp-bulbs-12v-pair-246835#.UuRyBoXFKUk

[Manthony.h]

Have you seen this article:

 

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36838&hilit=daylight+running+lights&start=0

 

It seems that you can change the bulb without removing the bumper with a bit of a struggle.

[Citrofreak]

Have you seen this article:

 

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=36838&hilit=daylight+running+lights&start=0

 

It seems that you can change the bulb without removing the bumper with a bit of a struggle.

Hi.

Yes it's possible. I did it myself, but it's a nasty and painfull job. Don't do it unless you have a hand of a surgeon.

[Citrofreak]

Hello - I used this bulb, I was attracted to it being waterproof. I provides less light than the halogen bulb but looks rather styish -

 

http://dx.com/p/waterproof-g4-3w-100lm-24-smd-3014-led-white-light-car-lamp-dc-12v-186114#.UuFf9IXFKUk

 

A brighter alternative to consider is

 

http://dx.com/p/g4-5w-v-12v-5w-300lm-6500k-g4-white-light-led-clearance-lamp-bead-silver-yellow-2-pcs-246930#.UuFhqoXFKUk

Hello. How did you fix the bulb in the holder? the pins of such bulbs are way to short and thicker than original bulb so it's needed to prolongue them.. any photos?

[Norwear]

Yes. How did you change them. I am from Norway and they will carge me 250£ to cange them. I have a C5 from 2009 the Exclusive. 03.09.14.

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

dflflack has not been on the forum since 12 May 2014 so we may never find out how it was done.

[Norwear]

As mr Paul said. Its many bulbs to choose from at that site. As it is for now I will order 4 different G4 bulbs. I wonder hom many lumen the original bulb holds? The key thing is to get as close as possible to the original. I'm thinking 500 lumen. But thats just a thought. To cange the bulb i wil do it the hard way, down with the bumper. I belive it's important to cange the daylight bulb. Or else the xenon light will be woren to fast and those bulbs ar NOT cheap.

[The Zedhed]

Hi All,

 

Thanks for a great forum, I've only used it to sort the DRL bulb issue but very isefull thanks.

WRT the DRL I got the LED option but whilst waiting for the bulbs to arrive I appear to of rather succesfully lost the holder for bulb!!!!!!

So is my only option to have to buy a ridiculously expensive bulb and holder from Citroen or does anyone have or know of spare holders?

 

Many thanks

Ian

[nevcco]

DRL replacement on a 09 C5 Tourer 2.0 HDi Exc-I did mine with a cut down cheap ebay Torx 45 key,it fits into corresponding hole in bottom centre of lamp holder.Access is improved by removing cap from rear of headlight and headlight wiring connector on left and right units ,I did not remove battery or any trim/bumper etc.Intriguingly ,there's a small removable panel on front bumper each side,which could be for somehow removing these units,but i reckon it would need a special right angle Torx 45 tool.I have fairly big wrists and stubby fingers but still managed it - did bruise and scrape my wrists .

Lampholder is fitted from under headlight shell ,its not quite on the flat and undoes by turning the base 90deg anticlockwise.Inserted T45 tool helps wiggle base out of hole.Helps to locate if you try to spot the bulb looking into the headlight glass while hand dives underneath-not easy but possible .A cloth placed under Headlight catches dropped tool/light!

First tried LED replacements "from Hong Kong"but not very bright and one started flickering so redid as others have done with domestic 12v 20w G4.Note these lamps pins will need bending slightly but still work .

Later models 2012? on have LED strip "German car" stylee lamps so don't require this proceedure

Photobucket link http://s796.photobucket.com/user/nevcco/library/C5%20Tourer%20driving%20lamp%20replacement?sort=3&page=1

Nevcco

[paul.h]

Thankyou for this, the photos also help explain everything. In an earlier post a T40 bit was mentioned so this may have been a loose fit. I had read elsewhere that halogen bulbs may be too hot so I would keep an eye on the lamps to make sure nothing suffers from the heat.

[tangerinetractor]

Just to wake this one up...

 

I bought a set of led bulbs to go in, but got one in the driver's side and it was just not bright enough - don;t be fooled by photos at night, these things are designed to be seen during the day, and th bulb is deep at teh back of the unit, so needs to be bright.

 

Anyhow, it's not a T40, it's a T45 you need... I got a set of allen-key type right angle ones. The driver's side is relatively easy to reach in and turn 45 degrees, then jostle the holder out.

 

The passenger side one is much of the same, but tighter. It can be done - take of the plastic cover over the headlamp, disconnect the multi-connector for the headlamp to give yourself some room. Feel for the hole with your hand then try and get the torx in blindly.

I wasn't going to bother after trying the LED in the drivers side, but by a bizarre coincidence the passenger side failed a few days after. I got a pair of original bulbs via ebay shipped over from Germany for £35 and replaced them both. After wasting a tenner on LEDs that weren't bright enough, I wasn't prepared to risk wasting any more.

Edited October 12, 2015 by tangerinetractor

[jim_e_jib]

Hello All,

 

Thanks to the useful information on this forum and others, I have just changed the DRLs on my 2010  2L HDi to LEDs. As others have said, a right angled T40 torx key and a towel placed under the headlamp assembly to catch the bulb and holder were all that was required. A quarter turn of the torx key, a little wiggle and the bulb and holder came out quite easily. On my car it was possible to do it without removing the bumper as there was enough room to reach under the headlamp. You can feel for the circular bulb holder with it's torx socket in the middle under the headlamp assembly to help locate it.

 

The parts I used are here:

 

 http://www.screwfix.com/p/long-arm-hex-torx-key-set-9pcs/49554

 

http://www.miniinthebox.com/marsing-g4-silicone-seal-5w-500lm-3500k-48x-smd-3014-led-warm-white-light-bulb-lamp-ac-dc-12v_p4427117.html

 

 

The LEDs aren't quite as bright as the original bulbs but they seemed to have the best spec I could find.

 

Thanks again to the folks who posted on this topic as it made the job so much easier!

[gravyrobson]

Hello im new here,I just replaced mine today,I used a stubby torx screwdriver and a pair of long nosed pliers, you will find it located under the headlight on the car have a feel around underneath where the bulb should be,you should find it,give it a turn anti clockwise and use the pliers to jiggle it out,the bulbs I bought from boyes(2.50 each)I replaced with g4 LEDs with no errors coming up on the dash,quite happy with the result about the same brightness as factory ones,hope this helps anyone.

[Marc1]

I've replaced my C5 X7 DRLs with LEDs after a Filament bulb failed.  Contrary to what has been said in some earlier posts, I certainly would not recommend any sort of domestic Halogen bulbs!  They are not suited to the fitment and application of the DRL housing and plastic, as they will generate far too much heat.  People who have done this have ended up paying for a new light housing as it melted!

 

As the DRL had not been changed before, the fitting was very tight and I paid Citroen to remove them for me at a cost of about £40.  I ordered some LED 7.5W bulbs, which are the brightest ones available and have the 2 prongs.  I carefully removed the old bulbs from the bulb housing and inserted the new LEDs.  I amply greased the plastic seal at the base of the bulb holder and also drilled a small hole through the blade of the bulb holder.  Through this, I threaded a small plastic cable tie and made a ring.  Placing my finger through the cable tie loop, this ensured that the bulb and holder remained in position and would not fall down into the housing.  I manoeuvred the bulb into the housing and then used the cable tie to turn the thread a quarter turn - the grease now making it very easy to do without the torx.  Job done.  Because of the ring pulls I made, if I ever want to replace or change them again, it will be very easy to do so. :)

[milleplod]

That's a good idea regarding the cable ties. Can you post a link to the bulbs you used - how does the brightness compare to the originals? I bought my one-owner C5 around 6/7 weeks ago, the DRLs had never been activated previously, I switched them on via the dash options, hopefully they'll last a while before needing replacement, but it would be handy to have alternatives on standby!

 

Pete

[Richiejh]

I've just changed both of my DRL bulbs for LED bulbs from eBay. It took me about 20 minutes in the dark on the side of the road and cost less than £20. It's definitely worth doing, the passenger side was the worst one but no dismantling of the front end at all. I can't believe Citroën charge so much for this.