DC-TDIWagon
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2002
- TDI
- 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon, Reflex Silver
I searched for this but couldn't find any discussion about it so I thought I'd share. I have the OEM HIDs in my Jetta A4. The city lights burn out a lot (every year and they are the only bulbs to be changed in the headlight module in 8 years). They are expensive and the only place I know locally to get them is a MB dealer for about $12 each. In a quest to save money I found a cheaper replacement. I went to Advance auto parts and bought some 3893 bulbs (2 for $5) and modified them a little. The city lights are H6W bulbs and the two knubs are just barely offset from being 180degrees from each other. The 3893 bulbs are 4W and are 180 degrees offset from each other. So I dremeled off a little (about half) of the knub on the side that won't be making contact with the wiring and then used a small wood chisel to take a thin layer of the plastic that forms the guide channel in the socket for the bulb and made the channel a bit wider. I broke one bulb when I didn't use the chisel first. I now have both sides replaced (to pass stupid inspection) and made a couple of extras while I had the dremel out. So the bulbs cost me closer to $2.50 rather than $12.50 and I can buy them much closer to my house. Maybe someone else will find this information useful.
One note, when I said I dremeled half the knub I don't mean I just flattened the knub to half its height. I cut off half the knub on the side that needed more space to fit in the guide channel.
One note, when I said I dremeled half the knub I don't mean I just flattened the knub to half its height. I cut off half the knub on the side that needed more space to fit in the guide channel.
