Mk3 Key with little light...

**The_Hawk** · 09-06-2008, 02:31 PM

Anyone happen to know if replacement globes for the stock VW key are available anywhere in Australia? It's a 1.5V 0.09W incandescent bulb, the closest I can find is on UK website:
http://www.autolamps.co.uk
and it looks like this:

I have emailed the UK site asking if they ship to Australia, I have also emailed Osram hoping they have the same bulb.

So two questions for you lot...

1. Have you ever got a replacement bulb for your own keys??
2. If I can get them, who wants one?

On a side note, I thought about using an LED instead, but at 1.5V it's just not enough power to run even the smallest yellow LED I can get.

**VW VR6** · 09-06-2008, 03:10 PM

That is good question. I am looking for replacement too. Any help. Please.

**JET-28L** · 09-06-2008, 04:32 PM

yes u can buy them u can get them from VW dealers my old man got two for 15 bucks at the Volkswagen dealer after Brighton airport tunnel not sure on the area

**The_Hawk** · 09-06-2008, 05:53 PM

If I have to I will spend $15 on two bulbs, but when they should be about $3each I'll look around first. At the end of the day I would rather spend $50 and import a box before paying VW Aust $15 for two.

Will wait and see if I get any emails back.

**Jarred** · 09-06-2008, 06:44 PM

I wonder, have you tried Jaycar, D icksmiths etc, for a "generic" replacement? They always seem to have various bits of electrics, maybe they'd have some bulbs too

**The_Hawk** · 09-06-2008, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jarred

I wonder, have you tried Jaycar, D icksmiths etc, for a "generic" replacement? They always seem to have various bits of electrics, maybe they'd have some bulbs too

Yep and yep... again. today

I even bought a 3mm yellow LED today from Jaycar that has a minimum 1.5V to run... no dice. Seems it really is 1.5V minimum, where a 1.5V button cell only puts out 1.4xxV and wont light it up, two batteries work well though

On the upside, I got to play with the multimeter again, something I don't get to do as often as what it cost me

There is one servo I know that usually has odd bulbs in a cupboard I will try sometime this week, but failing that I might become the Australian distributor for Mk3 key bulbs

**Tim** · 09-06-2008, 11:32 PM

i replaced one of these on my vr6 years ago. was only a couple dollars from VW. At the end of the day they dont really give off much light. Do an LED conversion. Much cooler

**The_Hawk** · 10-06-2008, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Tim

i replaced one of these on my vr6 years ago. was only a couple dollars from VW. At the end of the day they dont really give off much light. Do an LED conversion. Much cooler

Maybe with some modification you could get a CR2032 3V button cell working in there and then get a 1.5V LED working, just don't know how long the battery would be good for. (or even how much more light you would really get).

All that aside, I always found the amount of light the key put out enough, hell I could use it to see the stairs at home at night

Still looking at options.

**Tim** · 10-06-2008, 09:49 AM

havent done it myself. But my friend did it on his porsche 968 which was a similar setup. He used one of those super bright LEDs a battery from jaycar and some form of resistor. It put my VR6 one to shame.

But yeah. Its strange you have been quoted so much on the globe. A few years back i got mine from the dealer for like $2 or $3! Thats some serious inflation!