Halfords bulb change that requires bumper removal

fletch

Dropped down to Halfords today to get a bulb for a front fog light. While at the till the girl asked did I want someone to install it for me...I think it cost about €2.99. I declined, as replacing the bulb is a bumper off job that takes me about 30minutes to do on a good day.
Had I said yes, what would have happened? I presume they don't remove bumpers for €2.99?

flyingsnail

Most likely they would have checked the computer and your car would have been listed under “Do not attempt”.

sean1141

yup. there are terms and conditions to fitting them. i tried before with the passengers side bulb on the leon and the guy took one look at it and said he would refund me the price of fitting. only reason i asked was because i knew it was hard to get out!!

Syllabus

what car is it?

waratahcam

[fletch;replacing the bulb is a bumper off job]

what type of car is it, as usually there is a removable panel under wheel arch

-Corkie-

I wouldnt let them change the bulb in me fridge..

keithclancy

Bet its a new shape Polo, know of someone that had it taken off him at the roadside by the marechaussee in the Netherlands because it was unsafe to replace on the Motorway.

Jarren

keithclancy wrote: »

Bet its a new shape Polo, know of someone that had it taken off him at the roadside by the marechaussee in the Netherlands because it was unsafe to replace on the Motorway.

No,i'ts not Polo

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=76111620&postcount=3

mickdw

Regardless of cost. would you be happy letting halfords remove your bumper. I wouldnt

Boom_Bap

I think the last model Megane are on the do not attempt list. But Renault do it for a small charge.

flyingsnail

flyingsnail wrote: »

Most likely they would have checked the computer and your car would have been listed under “Do not attempt”.

Indeed, they wouldn't even tackle the likes of a head unit change that requires a bit of trim removal (rightly so of course).

ShadowHearth

That is more often in brand new cars. Later Audi are same. Really stupid way, but I guess it makes people come to dealership and get charged 50eu for bulb change...

Bigtoe107

I work in halford's albeit only part-time until i'm finished college, what would have happened is a guy would have come out realized the bumper had to come off and refunded the price of fitting. We don't generally do fog lights as they take too long.

I really don't see why a leon could not be done though and the system doesn't say anything about the car just what types of bulb it needs.

TrailerBob

I can see the value of the Halfords fitting for bulbs if you have no clue as to what you're doing. but I have to ask what training or experience these people have. No offence to Halfords employees, but those I have met knew sfa about cars, or even the lovely tent I bought last year. So many cars now are awkward to do basics on...

dgt

I'd love to see them try a bulb change on my Bravo....

Because of this...



Worth the €2.50 or whatever it is to change a sidelight bulb :pac:

Bigcheeze

It blows my mind that modern cars require this level of intervention to change a bloody bulb. Is it really that hard to design them so the bulbs can be changed easily.

Del2005

ShadowHearth wrote: »

That is more often in brand new cars. Later Audi are same. Really stupid way, but I guess it makes people come to dealership and get charged 50eu for bulb change...

The best thing is it's illegal to drive with blown bulbs, yet manufacturers are allowed make cars that have to be driven illegally for up to 4 days if you blow a bulb on a Friday of a long weekend.

I've said it before but the EU should make a law that all bulbs can be replaced in 5 minutes without the use of any tools or children. They make enough laws without any proven safety benefits, making bulbs easy to change is a safety benefit.

I've got so used to cyclops cars I'm actually surprised when occasionally it turns out to only have 2 wheels.

bazz26

Bigcheeze wrote: »

It blows my mind that modern cars require this level of intervention to change a bloody bulb. Is it really that hard to design them so the bulbs can be changed easily.

Car manufacturers are squeezing more components under the bonnets of ther cars these days meaning there is feck all room to get your hand in or around the back of headlights. Then there is also the theory that manufacturers want to limit the amount of DIY an owner can do, where even changing a simple bulb requires you to bring it to one of their franchised dealers and of course pay accordingly for it.

Nissan doctor

fletch wrote: »

Dropped down to Halfords today to get a bulb for a front fog light. While at the till the girl asked did I want someone to install it for me...I think it cost about €2.99. I declined, as replacing the bulb is a bumper off job that takes me about 30minutes to do on a good day.
Had I said yes, what would have happened? I presume they don't remove bumpers for €2.99?

You don't have to remove the bumper to change the fog lights bulb, you may have to drop the undertray/sump guard but thats about it.

BostonB

bazz26 wrote: »

Car manufacturers are squeezing more components under the bonnets of ther cars these days meaning there is feck all room to get your hand in or around the back of headlights. Then there is also the theory that manufacturers want to limit the amount of DIY an owner can do, where even changing a simple bulb requires you to bring it to one of their franchised dealers and of course pay accordingly for it.

It certainly seems that's the way they want things to go.

rusty_racer94

Went down to HellFrauds last week to get their 'Custom' mixed paint. I had the code and everything right, but the forced-to-work woman mixed the paint with such laziness that it came out to be darker than it should be and now part of the bumper is bollo*xed!

And the last time when I bought 'Laser Blue' bulbs from them, they weren't exactly what they were advertised as and they just turned out to be ordinary halogens but just a weeeeee bit brighter.

Seriously, they are to be avoided!

sean1141

Bigtoe107 wrote: »

I really don't see why a leon could not be done though and the system doesn't say anything about the car just what types of bulb it needs.

its very tight to do the left hand one on count of the battery being in the way. not impossible to do just very akward. guess it just wasnt worth the guys time doing it

Bigtoe107

I dunno their all fairly awkward these days usually we have to at least attempt it although there is only one car I have ever had serious bother with a new grand scenic (my hands are too big) so I can't really speak from experience.
I have never heard of anyone downright refusing to even try; but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen in other halfords.

Regarding the not knowing stuff about cars, well we aren't paid to be mechanics; we're on minimum wage and get f-all training but most of the parts guys are at least into cars. One guy in our place fully built and prepared his own competition spec track car, so there are good and bad apples.

BostonB

rusty_racer94 wrote: »

...And the last time when I bought 'Laser Blue' bulbs from them, they weren't exactly what they were advertised as and they just turned out to be ordinary halogens but just a weeeeee bit brighter....

Not a fan of those blue lights, they are just blinding.

Stealthirl

bazz26 wrote: »

Then there is also the theory that manufacturers want to limit the amount of DIY an owner can do, where even changing a simple bulb requires you to bring it to one of their franchised dealers and of course pay accordingly for it.

very ture,think it started in the late 90s early 0s

wouldant trust some of the guys in halfods to do anything.
I was away one weekend in the alps and my mother rang to say she'd blowen a bulb.
Told her to pop down to them and get the bulb[told her what to get] and that all she had to do was unscrew 1 platic washer,pull a tab and remove the light unit.
She got them to replace a bulb,the guy spent a solid 20+ min trying to get the bulb in without removeing the unit despite my mother telling him what i told her.
He got it in,but id to do it when i came home anyway as it was upside down and the light beam was pointing very high and to the right :rolleyes:

fletch

Nissan doctor wrote: »

You don't have to remove the bumper to change the fog lights bulb, you may have to drop the undertray/sump guard but thats about it.

It is, see here

To be honest, removing the undertray without a lift is a bigger job than removing the bumper.

I can have the bumper off and back on in <30mins but the first time it took me the guts of an hour.

trishasaffron

Personally, Halfords replacing bulbs has been an absolute godsend for me - otherwise (given that I work long days with no convenient service garages nearby) I'd have been a road hazard for weeks.

Thanks Halforders.

cplwhisper

What car, year etc... didnt see the info in above notes

fletch

2004 Skoda Fabia vRS

trixyben

-Corkie- wrote: »

I wouldnt let them change the bulb in me fridge..

LMAO!!!!!!!

To right, I wouldnt even dream of asking a halfords employee to fit anything to the car not even an air freshener!!

Nissan doctor

fletch wrote: »

It is, see here

To be honest, removing the undertray without a lift is a bigger job than removing the bumper.

I can have the bumper off and back on in <30mins but the first time it took me the guts of an hour.

If you look online though you'll also find videos and how too's telling you it takes the guts of an hour to change a renault megane headlight bulb......a 1-2min job at most when you know what your doing.

L-M

Nissan doctor wrote: »

If you look online though you'll also find videos and how too's telling you it takes the guts of an hour to change a renault megane headlight bulb......a 1-2min job at most when you know what your doing.

Little cover under the arch + **** covered arm = Bulb changed.

mickdw

My audi headlights slide right out - Godsend. One plastic cover, then 3 bolts holding the light unit with one electrical connection. Less than 5 mins all back together.

Third_Echelon

My Focus Mark 2 is straightforward enough as well thank god.... The main headlight unit just unscrews and comes out in one piece. Can change a headlight bulb in a few minutes...

One of my spot lights at lower bumper level has just gone though... It looks like it might be a bit tricky though..

L-M

Third_Echelon wrote: »

My Focus Mark 2 is straightforward enough as well thank god.... The main headlight unit just unscrews and comes out in one piece. Can change a headlight bulb in a few minutes...

One of my spot lights at lower bumper level has just gone though... It looks like it might be a bit tricky though..

Take the headlight out and stick your hand down through the gap.

Third_Echelon

Limerick man wrote: »

Take the headlight out and stick your hand down through the gap.

Nice one! Thanks for the tip....

L-M

Third_Echelon wrote: »

Nice one! Thanks for the tip....

That's €7.95, i can forward on my account details or you can do a postal order?

:pac:

Third_Echelon

Limerick man wrote: »

That's €7.95, i can forward on my account details or you can do a postal order?

:pac:

No problem! Do you have paypal?

L-M

Third_Echelon wrote: »

No problem! Do you have paypal?

Fraid not, if you send me your bank account details and sort code number i'll take it myself :P

Third_Echelon

Limerick man wrote: »

Fraid not, if you send me your bank account details and sort code number i'll take it myself :P

Sounds legitimate enough to me!

positron

When one of the the side bulbs on my Accord appeared less bright, I got both changed with Halfords. Before going to Halfords, I had read up on usual Honda forums, and everyone said it's a lot of work, you need to peel back the lining from under the wheel arch, and you may break a few pins etc. The Halford guy knew exactly what would happen if he peel the lining back, and he with some skill managed it by somehow getting his hand thru the smaller gaps from under the bonnet. Cost me big three quid, and less than five minutes - I couldn't be happier to be honest.

PS: Honda dealer changed them again at next service, and amongst other things like a routine service and an air filter, they charged me over €350 for the pleasure! That just shows the value of Halfords service.

JerCotter7

I just pop the covers off the back of my lights Or the fogs pop out with a screwdriver.