Cost of installing bulb?

ibarelycare

04 Golf (Mark 5), dipped headlight bulb is gone. I went into Halfords to get a new one and get it installed and they looked at their system and told me they can't install into my car (something to do with the light being in too deep?) and that I'll have to go to a dealer.

Does anyone have any idea how much it would cost? I text my friend who used to be a mechanic and he told me a garage could cost me up to €80! I don't know if he's taking the piss or not Bulb only costs about €12

Plug

ibarelycare wrote: »

04 Golf (Mark 5), dipped headlight bulb is gone. I went into Halfords to get a new one and get it installed and they looked at their system and told me they can't install into my car (something to do with the light being in too deep?) and that I'll have to go to a dealer.

Does anyone have any idea how much it would cost? I text my friend who used to be a mechanic and he told me a garage could cost me up to €80! I don't know if he's taking the piss or not Bulb only costs about €12

Can your friend not do it?
Is it the left or right hand side light(as if your sitting in the car)???

Wile E. Coyote

€80 to install a bulb? I should have become a mechanic.

ibarelycare

Plug wrote: »

Can your friend not do it?

He can't do it until Tuesday at the earliest and I hate driving in the dark with just one light. He's charging me €50 including bulb and calling out to do it for me while I'm in work, which I guess isn't too bad! I was just banking on Halfords supplying and installing for less than €20


It's the right hand light as I'm sitting in the car.

godtabh

can you do it yourself?

I've done it a few times and given that I know nothing about cars it wasnt to bad of a job to do

Plug

ibarelycare wrote: »

He can't do it until Tuesday at the earliest and I hate driving in the dark with just one light. He's charging me €50 including bulb and calling out to do it for me while I'm in work, which I guess isn't too bad! I was just banking on Halfords supplying and installing for less than €20


It's the right hand light as I'm sitting in the car.

Your friend is going to charge you labour to put a bulb in for you? Get new friends!
It can't be that hard. Looks ok to me maybe just remove that black tank, maybe 2 bolts max?

ibarelycare

godtabh wrote: »

can you do it yourself?

I've done it a few times and given that I know nothing about cars it wasnt to bad of a job to do

I actually don't know! I will do some research....

Dymo

Some renaults you had to take a wheel off to get in at the bulbs!

colm_mcm

I'm pretty sure the bumper has to come off to do it. I'd be replacing both bulbs if that is the case.

Big Nasty

Changing bulbs is a bigger job than it used to be on newer models. In some case you have to take out the whole cluster. I reckon your frineds price of €50 is fair enough considering travel and the price of the bulb. Dealers will charge you an hours labour to do it - hence €80.

Eoin

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'm pretty sure the bumper has to come off to do it. I'd be replacing both bulbs if that is the case.

No way! That's pretty bad design. I hope the bulbs don't go as frequently as they did on the Mark IV if that's the case.

bryaner

I know the Polo side light bulb is an absolute tramp.

ibarelycare

Ok just found out it is a pretty straightforward job and found somewhere that will do it for me and just charge the price of the bulb

Wile E. Coyote

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'm pretty sure the bumper has to come off to do it. I'd be replacing both bulbs if that is the case.

Now that really is taking the p*ss. I wouldn't mind removing the cluster but if you have to go to the trouble of taking off the bumper I'd rather strap a torch to the bonnet.

BostonB

Really is a design flaw, pity car reviews never cover stuff like this.

_Kaiser_

The B6 Passat is almost as bad.. the near/passenger side isn't too bad as there's a bit of room behind the light cluster, but the driver's side is a nightmare as some genius in VW's design department figured putting the water bottle right behind it would be a good idea! :mad:

The amount of time I've torn my hands to shreads trying to get at the bulbs - as someone else mentioned too, if a sidelight goes you need to get in behind the wheel arch lining to change it.

Now if I could only find someone who'd fit my new xenon kit on a Saturday as that needs to be cut and reterminated to fit through the bracket for the dip bulbs ...

dharn

did it for a friend on earlier model golf left hand side hadent done it before found it difficult cuts the knuckles off ya, got the clip holding bulb in off eventually then getting it back was a bas**** but once i worked it out easier from then on right hand side looked impossible

Alanstrainor

bryaner wrote: »

I know the Polo side light bulb is an absolute tramp.

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'm pretty sure the bumper has to come off to do it. I'd be replacing both bulbs if that is the case.

The easiest way to do this on an 03->05 polo is by taking the whole bumper off and taking the headlight unit out. It's a nightmare. It is possible to get your hands in to change the headlight bulb, but getting it out/in again is infuriating. I just take the bumper off, job done in about 30 minutes. It's still f@*&ing ridiculous though.

Matt Simis

I had previously read up on and seen people complaining about replacing the parking light bulb on an e60 BMW. Even the BMW manual says take to dealer if you have Xenons. I asked a couple of mechanics and a BMW garage and all were talking about taking off bumpers or wheels arches.
One mechanic said those bulbs never fail and they would want to trace the wiring all the way to the bulb as it "must be" a wiring fault.

Anyhow, found a video online from a far less dodgy mechanic than the ones I spoke to, you take the headlamp assembly out which is just 2 screws out and 2 bolts that only need to be loosened, take out bulb and replace. 5min maybe.

What was almost as annoying is BMW place an ordinary 10w bulb in a small reflective "bucket" and then try to sell you the whole bulb and bucket. With a pliers I was able to get the bulb out (they kinda seal it in) and replace it with a 2 Euro bulb from a petrol station.

_Kaiser_

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The easiest way to do this on an 03->05 polo is by taking the whole bumper off and taking the headlight unit out. It's a nightmare. It is possible to get your hands in to change the headlight bulb, but getting it out/in again is infuriating. I just take the bumper off, job done in about 30 minutes. It's still f@*&ing ridiculous though.

I've been told the same about the Passat but I'd worry about either having bits left over or about trying to do it on a driveway (don't have a garage unfortunately) - is it actualyl easy enough to remove the front of the car though?

C4Kid

I'm suprised, The mk4 back and front is a joy to work on when changing bulbs.

Compared to a Citroen C4 anyway:)

Really is a design flaw, pity car reviews never cover stuff like this.

At least I'll know about this issue if I upgrade to the Mk5!

Alanstrainor

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I've been told the same about the Passat but I'd worry about either having bits left over or about trying to do it on a driveway (don't have a garage unfortunately) - is it actualyl easy enough to remove the front of the car though?

On the polo it's pretty easy really, there's only a few screws holding on the bumper and a few plastic clips under the car. I put the car on axle stands to get under it easily to undo some of the clips, but it honestly wasn't a big deal. I'd say the first time you do it, it could take longer than 30 minutes, but not by much.

JoeA3

I've asked my main dealer to change headlamp bulbs on my MKV GTI a couple of times in the past and it took them less than 5 minutes - so it's definitely not a bumper off job!

(I had attempted it myself but gave up after removing the skin from my knuckles :pac:)

Nonoperational

Relax a bit lads! It's a bit fiddley but it took me less than 10 minutes to change the front dipped and sidelight bulbs on a MK5 golf a few weeks ago. It's not that bad.

ibarelycare

ibarelycare wrote: »

Ok just found out it is a pretty straightforward job and found somewhere that will do it for me and just charge the price of the bulb

Get them to show you how to do it as well
(I don't know either so I'm not having a go, it's on the to do list)

Del2005

BostonB wrote: »

Really is a design flaw, pity car reviews never cover stuff like this.

They never change bulbs on test drives. How would they know?

slimjimmc

Dymo wrote: »

Some renaults you had to take a wheel off to get in at the bulbs!

OSI wrote: »

Just count yourself lucky you don't have a Renault Megane

Count your self lucky you didn't get an idiot Greenflag man who has read the owner's manual and despite the pictures on pg 5.09, still doesn't know that all you have to do it turn the steering in (with all 4 wheels still on), pull off a cover in the wheel arch liner, reach in, undo dust cover from headlamp, and replace bulb.
5 mins tops or 10 mins for novice who has to keep referring to the manual.
The only tools needed are the hand on the end of your arm, and a functioning brain.

Nissan doctor

You never have to take bumpers off to change bulbs. EU directives for car design say that bulbs have to be replacable by the average driver at the side of the road. When all cars had flat fronts and square or round headlights it was the same on every car to change a bulb, on modern with the trend for designer lights they can seem more difficult but there almost always a fairly simple way.

People have mentioned washer bottles in the way, if this is the case the bottle almost always just clips out of the way, many cars that appear to have little of no access to the rear of the light from the engine bay(megane II, astra H etc) will have a panel in the wheel arch which pops out to give access to the lights, other cars(vag, volvo, ford) will have a couple of screws or a clip holding the headlamp in place so it can be removed easily.

Fishtits

Nissan Doctor, Your info is rubbish. Post Acts to prove otherwise... you sir are at this time a spoof.

As to the real mechanics out their that have suffered the customer wrath,

Nissan doctor

Fishtits wrote: »

Nissan Doctor, Your info is rubbish. Post Acts to prove otherwise... you sir are at this time a spoof.

As to the real mechanics out their that have suffered the customer wrath,

Well done you, have a lollypop.

I don't think any 'real' mechanics out there would be having any problems worth mentioning with changing a bulb!:rolleyes:


Some bulbs are fiddley, yes, none are hard, certainly not for any competant mechanic and in over 10 years in the business so far I've never had to remove any bumper to change a bulb!:rolleyes:

crosshair1

Corsa d and Renault modus both cannot be changed without bumper off,
this is as described from tis and dialogys.

Nissan doctor

On the corsa D you have remove the fuse box cover, washer funnel and the airfilter housing etc to access the bulbs, they all come out alot easier then removing the bumper IMO

The modus just needs the top retaining screws for the bumper to be removed, it then flexes enough to remove the headlights.


Thats just the way I do them though..others will have their way I guess.

slimjimmc

Fishtits wrote: »

Nissan Doctor, Your info is rubbish. Post Acts to prove otherwise... you sir are at this time a spoof.

As to the real mechanics out their that have suffered the customer wrath,

He ain't spoofing. Here's one for example...
S.I. No. 171/2010 which adopts 2008/89/EC (.pdf) which amends 76/756/EEC in order to reflect changes to UN/ECE Regulation No 48 (L135) which says (.pdf):

5.23. Lamps shall be fitted in a vehicle in such a way that the light source can be correctly replaced according to the instructions of the vehicle manufacturer without the use of special tools, other than those provided with the vehicle by the manufacturer. This requirement is not applicable to:
(a) devices approved with a non-replaceable light source;
(b) devices approved with light sources according to Regulation No 99.

Only non-replaceable and Reg 99 (Gas discharge) bulbs are exempt therefore the regulation applies to replaceable bulbs:

Replaceable light source’ means a light source which is designed to be inserted in and removed from the holder of its device without tool;

In other words, you must be able to change bulbs without tools or any tools you need must be supplied with the car. Ergo, you can change your bulb at the road side.

Nissan doctor

Cheers slimjim, I wasn't going to bother looking it up but its handy to have on here as a referance.

crosshair1

So basically if the vehicle toolkit contains a torx screwdriver and the front of the car and headlamps come away with 20 torx fasteners then legislation is covered.

slimjimmc

crosshair1 wrote: »

So basically if the vehicle toolkit contains a torx screwdriver and the front of the car and headlamps come away with 20 torx fasteners then legislation is covered.

Looks like that's the case, nobody said it had to be easy

harry21

OSI wrote: »

Just count yourself lucky you don't have a Renault Megane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCZ2v-nIF4

My OH has one of these and I can tell you that its a ten min job max. No need to take of the wheel, just turn it to one side. You do need patience and have to be able to visualise what your doing, but it not as difficult as made out in the video.

dharn

Fishtits wrote: »

Nissan Doctor, Your info is rubbish. Post Acts to prove otherwise... you sir are at this time a spoof.

As to the real mechanics out their that have suffered the customer wrath,

i am not a mechanic, and i find nissandoctors posts very helpful and informative i hate to see post like yours on any forum calling peolpe spoofers esp now that you have been proved wrong

Fishtits

Fishtits wrote: »

Nissan Doctor, Your info is rubbish. Post Acts to prove otherwise... you sir are at this time a spoof.

As to the real mechanics out their that have suffered the customer wrath,

College lecturer strikes again :pac:

slimjimmc

harry21 wrote: »

My OH has one of these and I can tell you that its a ten min job max. No need to take of the wheel, just turn it to one side. You do need patience and have to be able to visualise what your doing, but it not as difficult as made out in the video.

Yeah, sensationalist TV at it's best. Kind of casts doubt over other Fifth Gear "revelations".

Plug

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Well done you, have a lollypop.

I don't think any 'real' mechanics out there would be having any problems worth mentioning with changing a bulb!:rolleyes:


Some bulbs are fiddley, yes, none are hard, certainly not for any competant mechanic and in over 10 years in the business so far I've never had to remove any bumper to change a bulb!:rolleyes:

Well fcuking said bud!

Mint Sauce

Nissan doctor wrote: »

You never have to take bumpers off to change bulbs. EU directives for car design say that bulbs have to be replacable by the average driver at the side of the road. When all cars had flat fronts and square or round headlights it was the same on every car to change a bulb, on modern with the trend for designer lights they can seem more difficult but there almost always a fairly simple way.

People have mentioned washer bottles in the way, if this is the case the bottle almost always just clips out of the way, many cars that appear to have little of no access to the rear of the light from the engine bay(megane II, astra H etc) will have a panel in the wheel arch which pops out to give access to the lights, other cars(vag, volvo, ford) will have a couple of screws or a clip holding the headlamp in place so it can be removed easily.

Does this apply to all bulbs. I had to replace the rear fog light unit on my 03 corsa. To do so I had to locate several pins inside the wheel arch and underneath the bumper, even after all this I still had to bend my arm in unnatual positions between the bumper and the body work to get at it. Even to get at the bulb its self would have required the same effort. Took a couple of hours in all.

Thankfully the dips and sides was only a five minute job.

slimjimmc

irish-stew wrote: »

Does this apply to all bulbs. I had to replace the rear fog light unit on my 03 corsa. To do so I had to locate several pins inside the wheel arch and underneath the bumper, even after all this I still had to bend my arm in unnatual positions between the bumper and the body work to get at it. Even to get at the bulb its self would have required the same effort. Took a couple of hours in all.

Thankfully the dips and sides was only a five minute job.

Rear fog lamp is mandatory so yes you should be able to change the bulb without needing any tools not supplied with the car but that doesn't mean it has to be simple or comfortable. From a quick web search you should be able to get reach in through/behind the wheel liner and feel your way to the bulb (probably lose a bit of knuckle skin on the way).

Nissan doctor

irish-stew wrote: »

Does this apply to all bulbs. I had to replace the rear fog light unit on my 03 corsa. To do so I had to locate several pins inside the wheel arch and underneath the bumper, even after all this I still had to bend my arm in unnatual positions between the bumper and the body work to get at it. Even to get at the bulb its self would have required the same effort. Took a couple of hours in all.

Thankfully the dips and sides was only a five minute job.

The problem is that its only a directive, not a law. There are no legal obligation on manufacturers to make bulbs easy to change. Fog lights are also not mandatory in some European countries(Ireland included).

Also saying that the bulbs should be able to be changed 'without special tools' is open to a fair amount of different interpretation, what are considered special tools? Just because something can be changed using only a screw driver doesn't mean it will be easy to change.