Things that should be easy.

Mint Sauce

So had to change one of the bulbs on my number plate today, thought straight forward enough. So got the bulbs, dug out the car manual, a screw driver and off I went, job done in few minutes.

Then the other bulb went as soon as the new one came on, no problem I thought. Just to remove the 2nd bulb housing from the bumper, took longer than it took me find the manual, a screw driver, remove the first bulb housing, remove and change over the bulb, put the housing back in the bumper, and check it was working. 5 to 10 minutes fiddling with a clip, and it getting darker and darker, holding a pocket torch with my teeth.

Dont even get me started on the headlight, and side bulbs.

biko

It depends on model. Last time I had to do the reg bulbs it was a 2 min job outside Halfords - BMW E36.
Thankfully headlight bulbs are a breeze in that too.

Some cars require a hell of an effort for stupid stuff like headlamps. Designed badly imo as standard stuff should be made simple.

Wibbs

In areas like this the older cars tended to shine(no pun. well..). In many cases no tools required and easy to access. Particularly when it came to headlights.

Supergurrier

Nissan 350z, access to headlight bumbs involves either removing a wheel and entire wheelarch lining or removal of bumper

Voodoomelon

Changing the angel eye bulbs on my 740 a few years ago was fun:

elperello

It's way past time that standards should have been set to force manufacturers to make all bulbs easily accessible.
It's a safety issue.

jca

Same as that with my 02 octavia. Removed cap with screwdriver, pulled out blown bulb with long nosed pliers, pushed new bulb into fitting.... Fitting slides back into the tailgate, getting dark when I started removing plastic inner liner, got it pulled away enough to slide my arm in to finally get it pushed back into its correct place. Massage right arm to get blood back into it, turn on sidelights to admire my handy work..... yep, you've guessed it, I'd changed the wrong bulb... Went to the Polish chap the next day and got him to change it...

mickdw

elperello wrote: »

It's way past time that standards should have been set to force manufacturers to make all bulbs easily accessible.
It's a safety issue.

Agree but they tend to claim that xenons are not a wear and tear item and any renewal should be carried out at workshop. All bull**** of course.
I get that it can be hard to design a lamp that allows perfect access for all bulbs within a packed engine bay. It takes little thought or design to make a headlamp easily removable though.
My current car allows the lamps to slide straight out. Brilliantly done. Take 3 minutes to have lamp off the car. Replace bulbs in comfort and back on.
I'd have that any day besides struggling blind in cramped engine bay.

Del2005

elperello wrote: »

It's way past time that standards should have been set to force manufacturers to make all bulbs easily accessible.
It's a safety issue.

It's the one thing that the EU should force through. Change any bulb in a vehicle within 5 minutes without the use of tools or contortions.

I wonder how it works in countries where you are required by law to carry spare bulbs, you've spare bulbs put can't change them without dismantling the car at the side of the road in the rain and dark.

donegaldude

Changed the dip bulbs on my 93 at the weekend. Honestly the easiest bulb change I've ever had to do. No stupid clip around the back of the bulb top unhook on and off. Rubber cap off, twist build holder 90degrees and out they pop. Both done in under 2 minutes.

_Brian

elperello wrote: »

It's way past time that standards should have been set to force manufacturers to make all bulbs easily accessible.
It's a safety issue.

Have to laugh at the likes of France where it's compulsory to carry spare bulbs in case you need to replace a bulb.
I was feeling lazy last time a bulb went in my wife's car and dropped into the garage, it took them 30 minutes in a nice cosy well lit garage, imagine fumbling around in the dark along the road in the rain.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

fancy pigeon

I once had to take a HVAC unit and 2 vents from the dash of a 1999 Lexus GS300.

The unit was okay to remove. The 2 vents required the dash out to remove... 1 screw each :mad:

Blazer

On my BMW F10 you need to go through the wheel arch to change the dims.
Changed them recently and ended up popping to my local garage to get one changed I was having a problem putting in. After much cursing the garage guy managed to get the bulb in securely.
There's no way in hell if I was carrying a spare and my light went that I'd be pulling over the side of the road to change it.

filbert the fox

Renault clio.........ffs

Contortionist is not the word. Consult your Renault dealer :mad:

Teddington Cuddlesworth

filbert the fox wrote: »

Renault clio.........ffs

Contortionist is not the word. Consult your Renault dealer :mad:

Renault in general. Try doing a 2006 era Scenic passenger side headlight bulb, without damaging the leveller... Even with the battery and cowling removed you still need micro sized hands.

purpleisafruit

Teddington Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Renault in general. Try doing a 2006 era Scenic passenger side headlight bulb, without damaging the leveller... Even with the battery and cowling removed you still need micro sized hands.

Own a 05 Megane and have finally figured out how to change the dipped headlights without too much fuss. Still takes a good 10 mins and a fair amount of swearing and scrapes to the arms.
By contrast, the wife's Skoda Superb is the most straightforward car I've ever had to change a bulb in.

Red Kev

Teddington Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Renault in general. Try doing a 2006 era Scenic passenger side headlight bulb, without damaging the leveller... Even with the battery and cowling removed you still need micro sized hands.

2005 Renault Modus. Bumper and front grill combined unit has to come off as well as a few other parts to change any front bulbs. A pain in the arse, you think until you realise it takes two people to get the bumper back on properly. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I mean look at the size of the fcuking thing you have to manouvere into position whilst lying on your back. It beggars belief.




The odd things is that the rear bulbs couldn't be any easier.

Spare wheel holder mechanism was designed by somebody who was very obviously stoned. No other explanation.

(It's actually a brilliant car apart from that).

Black_Knight

Awhhh, bliss. Dipped beam went on the drive yesterday, but i've a set of bulbs in the car. Hardest part of changing the bulb was figuring out which way to turn the cover on the back of the headlight to open it. 5 minute job, and i'm back on the road!

demanufactured

Mk4 mondeo is a pig...whole lamp unit has to come out...undo 2 screws...easy peasy you think......unit doesn't come out easily...needs to be wrestled out and same going back in....

porsche boy

_Brian wrote:

Have to laugh at the likes of France where it's compulsory to carry spare bulbs in case you need to replace a bulb. I was feeling lazy last time a bulb went in my wife's car and dropped into the garage, it took them 30 minutes in a nice cosy well lit garage, imagine fumbling around in the dark along the road in the rain.

The damn irony on this, try do a headlight bulb on a Renault Modus on the side of the road... socket set, trim removal tools, someone to hold the bumper while it's off the car, plans to the death star.... the requirements are endless.

Red Kev

porsche boy wrote: »

The damn irony on this, try do a headlight bulb on a Renault Modus on the side of the road... socket set, trim removal tools, someone to hold the bumper while it's off the car, plans to the death star.... the requirements are endless.

Aaannnnddd a set of axle stands or car ramps. Or else you need to weigh under 7 stone to be able to fit under the bloody bumper.

It's a brilliant car in every other way, ours has over 290,000 km on it. Replaced one water pump, one electric steering motor and one window regulator in 6 years and 140,000 km of driving (apart from perishables & self servicing). But that just drives me nuts along with the spare wheel.

PCeeeee

Integra type r, HID bulb in the headlights requires the from bumper off and headlight removed....

pablo128

You could change a clutch on some older 80s and 90s Opel's without even taking the gearbox out. Try that on a newer yoke.

jca

pablo128 wrote: »

You could change a clutch on some older 80s and 90s Opel's without even taking the gearbox out. Try that on a newer yoke.

The only caveat was that you could depress the clutch to put on the 3 clips. It was a great setup I wonder why other manufacturers never took it up.

MyStubbleItches

pablo128 wrote: »

You could change a clutch on some older 80s and 90s Opel's without even taking the gearbox out. Try that on a newer yoke.

Jesus that brings back memories of me holding a piece of baler twine wrapped around the gear box while the oul lad slipped the clutch back in.