Sidelight Replacement - Headlight Removal

[raving_dave]

OK, so my offside sidelight has blown and needs replacing. I first tried to change the bulb as per the manual i.e. through the flap in the wheelarch, but I have not been able to supply sufficient twist to release the bulb holder. Tried using various implements in the bulb holder to get more leverage, but still no joy.

 

Did a search on this forum and found that removing the headlight could be an easier option. So taking advice from various posts I have loosened the front grill, loosened but not removed the torx screw at the bottom of the headlight and pulled out the securing tag, removed the two torx screws at the top of the headlight. So now I can feel that the headlight is loose, but I still can't seem to generate enough free movement to get the headlight out - there doesn't seem to be enough free movement to get the bottom of the headlight over the lip of the front bumper.

 

Any tips gratefully received.

 

I can't believe it's this much hassle to change a standard bulb - makes a mockery of the laws in France which state that you must be able to replace a blown bulb at the roadside!

 

thanks

[JohnR]

I had the same trouble. In the end, I got a piece of timber about 38mms x 19mms and cut a notch in the end. I then managed to get the 1/4 turn twist and remove the thing. Took an hour though!

[raving_dave]

...so the story continues....Plus a solution

 

I've now found out there is a second torx screw at the bottom of the headlight at the outside edge, which explains why I couldn't get the headlight out - doh! However, position of screw means that I need a long thin extension to get the torx bit down to the bottom of the headlight - so got one on order from eBay for

Edited July 22, 2008 by raving_dave

[Audiman]

Try changing the nearside bulb - you need to take the damn battery out.

Try topping the brake fluid - need a damn pipe to pour it through.

Makes you wonder if this car was designed by a 12 year old on a Sunday night!........I'd like to get hold of his b*llocks and squeeze the hell out of them!

[Taliska]

I've now found out there is a second torx screw at the bottom of the headlight at the outside edge, which explains why I couldn't get the headlight out - doh! However, position of screw means that I need a long thin extension to get the torx bit down to the bottom of the headlight - so got one on order from eBay for

[mcshane]

I had to change the dipped beam headlight as it went last week. I got a pair of 'philips x-treme power' bulbs from powerbulbs.com. Arrived in two days with a free pair of sidelight bulbs. The screwdriver you need is the torx T25 size, my local tool shop (Mackays in cambridge) had a 30cm version, which was perfect for reaching the bottom two screws. I guess once I had all the right bits it took about 30min to do - a torch is essential for seeing where the bottom screws are. Driving last night, the headlights do seem a lot brighter than the previous ones I had.

 

All good really - thanks to everyone else that posted details of how to do this.