MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 05:04:34 pm

Title: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 05:04:34 pm
Has anyone done this?

The orange looks a bit naff especially now i've put a clear fog reflector in (red bulb so still passed MOT)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fw468%2Fjedi-knight83-2%2Fe8b696be.jpg&hash=a3c6904b39c1bd50a5c6751104f511b636dde581)

But trying to strip down my outer lights and you cant get to the orange reflector without splitting the lens off the front which I dont want to do to my new ED30 lights....

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.tapatalk.com%2Fd%2F12%2F09%2F11%2Fhevu2a2u.jpg&hash=2f905fc6b23f1deb4eec4e47bf67dd94c165e64d)
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: E30Dom on September 10, 2012, 05:11:34 pm
I'd say no go... and also need reflectors for mot.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 05:20:23 pm
I'd say no go... and also need reflectors for mot.

there is a clear reflector there. it just has an orange filter behind it. I can see through the hole that the orange filter clips off separately... its just getting to it without breaking the light.

Oh and I've found orange flashing bulbs so that base is also covered.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 05:21:16 pm
didnt people split these units to fit those valeo LED bits like on the golf plus?
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: Jonny on September 10, 2012, 05:25:48 pm
Just slightly off topic, how hard was it to switch the fog reflector and replace with a reverse reflector? Looks a neat mod if it's not time consuming :)
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 05:27:15 pm
Just slightly off topic, how hard was it to switch the fog reflector and replace with a reverse reflector? Looks a neat mod if it's not time consuming :)

That bit comes out easy and is easy to get to when you unscrew the bulb holder. And the red bulb doesnt show through so it doesn't look stupid but its still legal.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: vRSAlex on September 10, 2012, 06:48:07 pm
I used to remove the orange inserts from the mk3 ibiza tail lights.  Just used a soldering iron to make a cross in the plastic then snap the quarters off and pull them out.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 07:15:58 pm
I used to remove the orange inserts from the mk3 ibiza tail lights.  Just used a soldering iron to make a cross in the plastic then snap the quarters off and pull them out.

Oh I see what you mean...

doesnt that risk damaging the clear reflector behind it..

and also if then the source of orange bulbs dries up then your left a bit high and dry.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: RedRobin on September 10, 2012, 07:38:44 pm

didnt people split these units to fit those valeo LED bits like on the golf plus?


....Not that I'm aware of. Folks buy the whole Valeo units instead - They are 'OEM'.

Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: vRSAlex on September 10, 2012, 07:40:14 pm
I used to remove the orange inserts from the mk3 ibiza tail lights.  Just used a soldering iron to make a cross in the plastic then snap the quarters off and pull them out.

Oh I see what you mean...

doesnt that risk damaging the clear reflector behind it..

and also if then the source of orange bulbs dries up then your left a bit high and dry.

Always a risk, just take care while doing it.

Not sure we would ever run out of orange or silvertech bulbs.  Every other car needs an orange bulb.  :P
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 07:46:03 pm
I used to remove the orange inserts from the mk3 ibiza tail lights.  Just used a soldering iron to make a cross in the plastic then snap the quarters off and pull them out.

Oh I see what you mean...

doesnt that risk damaging the clear reflector behind it..

and also if then the source of orange bulbs dries up then your left a bit high and dry.

Always a risk, just take care while doing it.

Not sure we would ever run out of orange or silvertech bulbs.  Every other car needs an orange bulb.  :P

You've never seen the mk5 rear indicator bulb then.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.donsbulbs.com%2Fbulbs%2Fg623%2Fib%2Fh6w-6w-12v-bax9s%7Eece.jpg&hash=db8b6d46ba328d3cf9b759497e57881da52e9498)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wak-tt.com%2Ftt_bulbs%2Fh6wb.gif&hash=fd679af713d1e486b24c903220fa1d5d32e86b77)

I've found a guy that has some LED bulbs that flash amber and are also canbus safe.... but he had to get them specially made... and having looked around the net I can believe him.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 10, 2012, 07:58:00 pm
I used to remove the orange inserts from the mk3 ibiza tail lights.  Just used a soldering iron to make a cross in the plastic then snap the quarters off and pull them out.

really want to try this now... just nervous on my ed30 lights.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: RedRobin on September 10, 2012, 07:59:47 pm
^^^^
Because the Mk5 GTI rear indicators are so naff (poor visibility) is partly why I swopped them for Valeo LED units:  http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4469.0.html
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: daboy3000 on September 11, 2012, 10:53:06 am
I did the same with my Boxter, they call it an amberectomy!  Soildering iron into the cluster, then some bottle nosed pliers.  I was sh*tty myself when doing it but it came out fine, you just need some silvertec bulbs to finish it off.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 11, 2012, 11:29:33 am
^^^^
Because the Mk5 GTI rear indicators are so naff (poor visibility) is partly why I swopped them for Valeo LED units:  http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4469.0.html

Understand your reasoning for doing it but I'm not a huge fan of the look and the centre LEDs dont match the outer ones perfectly and it would bug the hell out of me.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: jedi-knight83 on September 11, 2012, 11:30:59 am
I did the same with my Boxter, they call it an amberectomy!  Soildering iron into the cluster, then some bottle nosed pliers.  I was sh*tty myself when doing it but it came out fine, you just need some silvertec bulbs to finish it off.

I get the theory now (although like you I'd be worried about damaging anything else in there with the soldering iron)... but the bulbs are an issue as it needs a small H6W bulb and getting an amber flashing one of those is alot harder.

I'll only try this when I know there is a steady source of amber flashing bulbs I think.
Title: Re: removing the orange reflectors from rear lights
Post by: trs888 on September 16, 2012, 03:00:10 pm
Quote

I get the theory now (although like you I'd be worried about damaging anything else in there with the soldering iron)... but the bulbs are an issue as it needs a small H6W bulb and getting an amber flashing one of those is alot harder.

I'll only try this when I know there is a steady source of amber flashing bulbs I think.

Ive been using the ones i got for at least 6 months now, and theyre great. I have 2 complete sets (2 front and 2 back) bulbs for sale. I can get more but would have to order them from the manufacturer. its not a problem. its just that i only know of the MK5 that uses these bulbs. All other cars ive had use standard indicator bulbs.

the benefit of these bulbs is that they have canbus built right in, and you dont have to mess about with resistors, which could potentially melt your light units which they did to my old audi a4!     thats why i went to the trouble of sourcing these ones.