Hi all, 

I've just upgraded my high beam bulbs and now I’m trying to upgrade my Dip beam bulbs. But there isn’t a rubber cap to come off? I’m I really being that stupid or is there an issue? Advice needed please. Thank you 

 

 

Is the dipped (low beam) headlights on your car, Fiesta ST Line X, not already fixed LED ?

Post some photos of the headlights so we can see which ones you have.

I won’t lie to you i’m new to the car scene, been on motorbikes for 12 years this is the second car I’ve ever owned so I’m learning as I go. Fixed LED I’m assuming you mean can’t be changed? 

5 minutes ago, unofix said:

Is the dipped (low beam) headlights on your car, Fiesta ST Line X, not already fixed LED ?

I won’t lie to you i’m new to the car scene, been on motorbikes for 12 years this is the second car I’ve ever owned so I’m learning as I go. Fixed LED I’m assuming you mean can’t be changed? 

1 minute ago, Papa717 said:

Fixed LED I’m assuming you mean can’t be changed?

Fixed as in they are not active LED lights which are electronically controlled to move the beam pattern. However Fixed or Active, you can't service/replace the LED units within the headlights.

Just now, unofix said:

Fixed as in they are not active LED lights which are electronically controlled to move the beam pattern. However Fixed or Active, you can't service/replace the LED units within the headlights.

Right ok makes much more sense now sorry for such a stupid question. So will be a complete new headlight unit if I want to muck around with changing bulbs? As asked for picture below. 

You can't just change headlight units for something else. Firstly the cars Body Control Module (BCM) and the Headlight Control Modules (HCM) will both go crazy and throw up many DTC's. Second your car will fail it's MOT because the lights are not as the car was built.

There is a chance if the MOT tester is paying close attention that they could still fail your car for changing the high beam lamps to LED (it is part of the MOT check) although in practice they generally don't bother too much when it's only the high beam.

14 minutes ago, unofix said:

You can't just change headlight units for something else. Firstly the cars Body Control Module (BCM) and the Headlight Control Modules (HCM) will both go crazy and throw up many DTC's. Second your car will fail it's MOT because the lights are not as the car was built.

There is a chance if the MOT tester is paying close attention that they could still fail your car for changing the high beam lamps to LED (it is part of the MOT check) although in practice they generally don't bother too much when it's only the high beam.

Oh right ok fair enough then, makes loads of sense then. I won’t change the headlight unit. And keep it OEM. So another silly question, when (if) then low beam goes and stops working assuming a complete new OEM unit will be needed? 
 

ok then I’ll double check with the guy who MOTs my car before I get it booked in next if he’ll fail it I’ll put it all back. Thank you for you time in educating an old dog lol 

3 hours ago, Papa717 said:

when (if) then low beam goes and stops working assuming a complete new OEM unit will be needed? 

Yes, the whole headlight assembly requires replacing if you are unlucky and the LED's fail. They are intended to last the lifetime of the car, but sometimes the odd one does fail. Depending upon the exact light the cost is usually between £700 and £1200 per headlight.

7 minutes ago, unofix said:

Yes, the whole headlight assembly requires replacing if you are unlucky and the LED's fail. They are intended to last the lifetime of the car, but sometimes the odd one does fail. Depending upon the exact light the cost is usually between £700 and £1200 per headlight.

Ok thank you for the heads up. And again thank you for your knowledge and time to explain this to me. Fingers crossed they last a lifetime. Thank you Unofix

6 hours ago, Papa717 said:

Right ok makes much more sense now sorry for such a stupid question. So will be a complete new headlight unit if I want to muck around with changing bulbs? As asked for picture below. 

 

They looks like a headlight unit which has normal halogen bulbs both in main and dipped beams. The DRLs/sidelights are LED and can't be replaced. As mentioned above, there are legal issues around retrofitting LED or HID bulbs into these halogen units. So were you originally asking how to change the bulbs to a brighter (halogen) ones, eg nightbreakers, Xtream visions, etc? 

3 minutes ago, Jim H said:

They looks like a headlight unit which has normal halogen bulbs both in main and dipped beams. 

They do indeed - it fooled me earlier as well.

During 2020 the projector light clusters switched from halogen to LED on the Fiesta...but they look identical from the front.

8 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

They do indeed - it fooled me earlier as well.

During 2020 the projector light clusters switched from halogen to LED on the Fiesta...but they look identical from the front.

I did wonder if that was the case, but wasn't sure. I know in earlier models LED units and Halogen units look totally different. 

1 hour ago, Jim H said:

 

They looks like a headlight unit which has normal halogen bulbs both in main and dipped beams. The DRLs/sidelights are LED and can't be replaced. As mentioned above, there are legal issues around retrofitting LED or HID bulbs into these halogen units. So were you originally asking how to change the bulbs to a brighter (halogen) ones, eg nightbreakers, Xtream visions, etc? 

Well weirdly you should say that as I’ve replaced my DRL light unit to ambient no issues at all. And I can alway change my High beam and indicator bulbs if needed. I just can’t access my dip beam bulbs and yes I was asking how to change the low beam (dip beam) bulbs turns out I can’t and can only change DRL, high beam and indicators

1 hour ago, TomsFocus said:

They do indeed - it fooled me earlier as well.

During 2020 the projector light clusters switched from halogen to LED on the Fiesta...but they look identical from the front.

It’s just annoying how you can’t change your low beam (dip beam/side lights) but you can change all the other bulbs it’s so strange