General LED Driving Lights

[Vanders]

Can anyone suggest a LED replacement globe to replace the hallogen DRLs?

 

[s130]

Well I was resisting posting as I recently had to do this myself, NOTE reluctantly.

I used/chose: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09X46HBYY?th=1

I bought, on risk, two packs (4 off) for obvious reasons in that ideally lamps should be paired and thus I have supplied for 2 failures.

These work, look natural, deliberately chosen to be lower power. They also dim when the headlamps come on which is a DRL requirement.

I also changed just one to test against the bulb for obvious over brightness, dazzle/glare points and could not find any. Also note there are frost/opaque so the direct LED light emissions are dispersed.

Also fitted new holder I had in stock after many previous holder burnouts.

I can tell you that bulb warning failures on the dash on the 500X also repeat as you come to slower speeds (around 25 mph). Absolute pain in Wales as you want to hit 20mph accurately on the digital speedo (not that easy the analogue bumping around the bottom of the range). The warning comes up and remains for around 20 seconds where you are effectively normal speedo use blind!

 

[Vanders]

Interesting, thanks for the post (very helpful as usual)!

So warning lights come up on the dash do they? Can they be permanently cleared?

 

[s130]

Interesting, thanks for the post (very helpful as usual)!

So warning lights come up on the dash do they? Can they be permanently cleared?

The DRL / any bulb failure on the 500X and all other Fiats I have owned will automatically clear down when the fault is removed. This is how it should be and thankfully Fiat and other manufacturers have not gone totally silly requiring trips to a dealer/garage every time a bulb fails.

On the 500X with normal P21W bulbs for the DRLs these are 21Watt devices enclosed withing a small housing and run all the time unlike the P21W brake and indicator bulbs. This continuous heat melts the bulb holder resulting in poor electrical connection. The other annoying thing is that sometimes they will work and then stop. You can fiddle with the holder, bend the contacts etc. and all will be fine again till the next time. May work for ages, stop on a bump in the road, start again on another bump in the road.

Ideally if sticking with the P21W bulbs then the holders need replacing every so often. They are know to melt and most Fiat dealers carry the holders as a stock item, P/N:

Fiat 77367320 0 500X Electrical DRL Bulb Holder - 21W

That said a genuine Fiat/Mopar part costs £22 or more. There are some alternatives on eBay for £10.

Why Fiat have not got the original manufacturer to change the material I don't know. Possibly because later 500Xs have LED DRLs and in the meantime they make money from bulb holders.