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Cartech · 19-07-2011, 20:24

Hi all,

Car bulb (main driving bulb) 12V 55W H7 no longer working.

Purchased a replacement bulb a few days ago, but having great difficulty gaining access to rear of lighting unit.

To do it properly on an Audi a4, you apparently have to remove the front bumper to gain access to the lighting unit!

Phoned the Audi dealer I bought the car from last year and they quoted 'between 80 and 90' euro for labour, (Approx 30 mins).

80 euro to change a bulb!!!

Anybody have any better and cheaper ideas??

Thx

*challengemaster* · 19-07-2011, 20:25

haynes manual and do it yourself

fuerte1976 · 19-07-2011, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by challengemaster

haynes manual and do it yourself

& mind that you dont set off the airbags

skyhighflyer · 19-07-2011, 20:30

See this handy dandy pdf guide:

MCMLXXV · 19-07-2011, 20:33

This is one of the many reasons I'm sticking with pre' 02 cars. Seeing as I do pretty small mileage I may even go to driving a classic as a daily at some stage in the not too distant future.

tossy · 19-07-2011, 20:38

OP what year A4?

Cartech · 19-07-2011, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by tossy

OP what year A4?

2006 A4 .... Purchased June 2010.

I would refer to the "Owners manual", but over a year since buying the car from a main dealer, I'm still waiting on that....

Excuse after excuse they have, been told that it can take "a long time" to have a new manual printed. (The original owner didn't hand the manual into the dealership when he sold it to them.

15 months and still waiting... must be an antiquated printer...

johnos1984 · 19-07-2011, 20:51

How many miles had it on it when you bought it?

Ex uk?

kippy · 19-07-2011, 20:52

I thought these cars were the best built cars in the world - jaysus so well built the bulbs are hard to access.

Removing the bumper to replace a bulb - surely that cant be correct?

Run_to_da_hills · 19-07-2011, 20:55

On the A4 you can get access to the light unit if you cut a hole in the bumper big enough to get your hand through. A similar trick use to be done with changing the timing chain in the Renault 4 by cutting a hole in the bulkhead.

corkonion · 19-07-2011, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by kippy

I thought these cars were the best built cars in the world - jaysus so well built the bulbs are hard to access.

Removing the bumper to replace a bulb - surely that cant be correct?

thats the way all car manafacturers operate now, make simple tasks impossible to do yourself so that the main dealer can screw you on bits 'n bobs

kippy · 19-07-2011, 20:56

Jaysus, cutting holes in the car, isnt that for the manufacturers to do?
This thread has completely put my off an Audi A4!

**delly** · 19-07-2011, 21:02

If you think thats bad, you should check out youtube and how to change a bulb on a megane II.

**biko** · 19-07-2011, 21:03

New cars are just primadonnas with bulbous pieces of plastic stuck to them and computer ports in weird places. You have to be a German engineer to change the smallest little thing.

My next car will be a '80s Volvo tank held together with duct tape and willpower.

C.D. · 19-07-2011, 21:12

To their credit, bulb change could not be easier on an 07 Volvo C30- one simple pin (no tools required) needs to come off, pull out the headlight, detach the connectors and away you go. Volvo still recommends only a main dealer to change Xenons though due to the "high voltage"..

19-07-2011, 20:24	#1
Cartech Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 8 Adverts \| Friends	80 Euro to change a car bulb!!! Hi all, Car bulb (main driving bulb) 12V 55W H7 no longer working. Purchased a replacement bulb a few days ago, but having great difficulty gaining access to rear of lighting unit. To do it properly on an Audi a4, you apparently have to remove the front bumper to gain access to the lighting unit! Phoned the Audi dealer I bought the car from last year and they quoted 'between 80 and 90' euro for labour, (Approx 30 mins). 80 euro to change a bulb!!! Anybody have any better and cheaper ideas?? Thx

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19-07-2011, 20:25	#2
challengemaster Subscriber Join Date: May 2006 Location: End of girlfriend's whip Posts: 10,842 Adverts \| Friends	haynes manual and do it yourself

19-07-2011, 20:33	#5
MCMLXXV Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ticknock, D18. Posts: 11,680 Adverts \| Friends	This is one of the many reasons I'm sticking with pre' 02 cars. Seeing as I do pretty small mileage I may even go to driving a classic as a daily at some stage in the not too distant future.

19-07-2011, 20:38	#6
tossy Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kildare Posts: 3,915 Adverts \| Friends	OP what year A4?

19-07-2011, 20:51	#8
johnos1984 Closed Account Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6,017 Adverts \| Friends	How many miles had it on it when you bought it? Ex uk?

19-07-2011, 20:52	#9
kippy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Galway Posts: 9,667 Adverts \| Friends	I thought these cars were the best built cars in the world - jaysus so well built the bulbs are hard to access. Removing the bumper to replace a bulb - surely that cant be correct?

19-07-2011, 20:55	#10
Run_to_da_hills Banned Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 19,805 Adverts \| Friends	On the A4 you can get access to the light unit if you cut a hole in the bumper big enough to get your hand through. A similar trick use to be done with changing the timing chain in the Renault 4 by cutting a hole in the bulkhead.

19-07-2011, 20:56	#12
kippy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Galway Posts: 9,667 Adverts \| Friends	Jaysus, cutting holes in the car, isnt that for the manufacturers to do? This thread has completely put my off an Audi A4!

19-07-2011, 21:02	#13
delly Radiator Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 5,199 Adverts \| Friends Mod: DIY, Electrical, Gardening, Home security systems, Louth	If you think thats bad, you should check out youtube and how to change a bulb on a megane II.

19-07-2011, 21:03	#14
biko Percolator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galway City Posts: 36,860 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Blogs / Wikis / Social Networks, Galway City, Nordic, West, Motoring	New cars are just primadonnas with bulbous pieces of plastic stuck to them and computer ports in weird places. You have to be a German engineer to change the smallest little thing. My next car will be a '80s Volvo tank held together with duct tape and willpower.

19-07-2011, 21:12	#15
C.D. Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cubicle Land Posts: 638 Adverts \| Friends	To their credit, bulb change could not be easier on an 07 Volvo C30- one simple pin (no tools required) needs to come off, pull out the headlight, detach the connectors and away you go. Volvo still recommends only a main dealer to change Xenons though due to the "high voltage"..