Log 16: When 3 becomes 4 again.
A continuation from the previous log.
Picking up where I left off on the last log, I eventually pulled up to Edge Performance Services in Mount Austin. Where after the butt-clenching nail-biting journey, I expected much fanfare and adoration from the assembled crowd.
Nothing of that sort was provided though, which was a shame, but instead the good people at Edge Performance Services had given me something better — a prompt inspection that it was indeed the ignition coil that was kaput, but more importantly these following words that sounded like angels have descended from heaven and personally delivered them: "We have all the parts in stock and it’ll only take an hour max.”
Praise be to whoever is currently residing up there.
This log being not a DIY tutorial on how to change the coil pack (as I didn’t actually do it), I don’t have much to say on this topic although the nice people at Edge Performance Services didn’t tell me to buzz off when I was watching them change it. Changing the coil pack did look relatively simple so it could be considered a DIY job as especially for the 1.2 TSI the ignition coil is in a relatively easy to reach location on top of the engine behind the plastic engine cover.
Apparently ignition coil failure is also relatively common on the Polo, especially with the TSI engines so to those Polo owners out there, you have been notified.
A continental car with the bonnet up. It’s the first time I’m seeing this view and I hope it will be the last.
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t. Not by a long shot.
While I was there, I also got them to change the headlight bulbs from the Polo to uprated units I bought off Lazada (the internet is surely wonderful). Now being all German of course the Polo isn’t compatible with the cheaper more common H4 bulbs but instead the more expensive rarer H7 bulbs.
A bit of bulb knowledge: H4 bulbs are twin filament bulbs, meaning that the one bulb is used for main-beam and dipped-beam applications. H7 bulbs on the other hand only contain a single filament meaning they are just used for main-beam applications. Note that main-beam consists of the high and low beam applications while your dipped beam is essentially your parking light.
Both bulb types are roughly the same when it comes to their intensity as both are high-intensity discharge light bulbs. The biggest difference between the H4 and the H7 bulbs are its fitting as the H4 bulb has a three-pronged attachment whereas the H7 bulb has only a two-pronged fitting.
The H4 bulb. Note the three prongs. Photo: powerbulbs
The H7 bulb. See now its two pronged. Photo: powerbulbs
I presume the H7 bulbs cost more than the H4 variants although the H7s are a simpler design is mainly due to supply and demand as the H4 bulbs are the more common variant of bulbs.
A little bit more bulb knowledge for Polo owners: TSI models run H7 bulbs while 1.6 MPI models run H4 bulbs. They just use different headlight clusters.
Anyway back to the story, I had bought some Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited off Lazada for less than RM100 to replace the glow worms currently masquerading as the Polo’s headlights. Another one of those QoL improvements that just makes driving at night just a tad brighter (and safer).
My original goal was to fit it myself because if I can’t even change a headlight bulb I will be the most mechanically inept petrolhead known to man, but Volkswagen being Volkswagen, changing a headlight bulb isn’t the simple matter of removing a cover, twisting the bulb out and replacing it with another bulb like in any other car. To change the headlight bulb in the Polo requires you to remove the entire headlight assembly, and to do that you need Torx head screwdrivers, which being a university student without a full toolkit at my disposal, means that it cost me 20 bucks for the shop to do it for me. A rip-off sure but at least the new bulbs came in handy on my journey back.
Ah don’t you just love Malaysian weather.
Being serious for a moment, changing the OEM headlight bulbs on one’s motor to a better quality set is not only a QoL improvement but a safety one as well. I can go all technical on how better quality bulbs have greater light beam length and a greater brightness compared to OEM, but it goes without saying that better bulbs = greater night-time visibility = safer night-time driving. Furthermore, better quality bulbs are not bank-breakers in terms of cost as one can easily pick up a really good set of OSRAMS only about RM100 regardless of the variant. What is RM100 for peace of mind when driving in the dark? So if anyone is considering spending some money on their motor, maybe just splash a little bit of cash on their bulbs. It makes for a better and safer driving experience.
The car is black as night, but the lights now shine as bright as day.
Back to my experience at Edge Performance Service, all in all it took just over an hour to change the ignition coil and the cables, not to mention the bulbs as well. The service was professional and they didn’t mind me watching them while they work. The price was also reasonable considering my situation and they did have the parts in stock. I called an authorised VW service centre while I was getting the work done and it was a tad more pricey at the authorised service centre. So I will definitely recommend any VW (or VAG) owner who wants some work done to their motor to pay them a visit.
They also do decarbonising if that’s something you wish to lavish on your motor. Something to consider for the Polo as well, but that maybe a story for another time.
0 — 100:
My woes have been sorted, for a reasonable price too.
Some of my pride and self-worth is lost because I couldn’t change a simple bulb…
… but I put the blame on VW for making it so darn complicated to change a simple bulb.
RM20 bucks soon solve my problems though, a rip-off but ah well at least I get greater night-time visibility sooner.