I tried to follow the instructions for fitting the bulbs which appear elsewhere on this forum.

But as I obviously have 'hands the size of Germany' (read: normal sized hands rather than hands the size of a four year old girl) I cannot physically get into the back of the dipped beam box to replace the bulbs myself.

I've just spoken to an ex-dealership mechanic, who claims that replacing the dipped bulbs is a 'horrendous' job, that should only be carried out at a Skoda garage. He has no vested interest in sending me to a dealership anymore, and by the sounds of it, replacing Superb dipped headlight bulbs was one of the most dreaded jobs.

Which sounds expensive.

I can't believe that with an engine bay that size, Skoda weren't able to leave a bit of room behind the headlight cluster so that end users could get in to replace the bulbs themselves. I think it's a bit suspicious that all the other components are squeezed up right behind the headlight clusters. Funny that you need to pony-up and get a dealer to replace a consumable for you?

Is there an easier way to replace the bulbs? It looks as though it's almost going to be easier to remove the whole front bumper and pull the clusters out that way?

I take it you have undone all the screws etc and "pushed" the components out of the way? It is a pain, and you will graze your hands and swear lol! I lost a screw in my air filter to the turbo, and it took me an hour to get it out again!!!

If not I beleive you can do it by removing the front bumper, which again is a mission, but if you really don't want to go to the dealer, that is an option.

I would have thought the dealer would charge half an hours labour...or find an independant?

It can be done ....but the mutilation to hands and all the swearing and cursing do get some funny looks from the neighbors.

Agreed it is possible, but if you do have big hands then removing the bumper is the easiest way.

You will need a couple of torx bits to remove the bumper, there are (3 IIRC?) in each wheelarch, a couple of big ones where the grill covers and a few under the front lip of the bumper.

The first time you take it off it will take about 20 mins (due to looking for the screws) but it can be done in 5 - 10 mins when you know what to remove.

HTH.

Briefly - for RHS remove cover over air cleaner - remove air inlet pipe to air cleaner - remove top bolts from aircleaner and tilt aircleaner towards engine and support it.

remove cover at rear of lamp and change bulb - be careful not to damage tilting mechanism. To refit; reverse above

for LHS, this is easier, remove cover over PS tank and remove cover off lamp - replace bulb - again mind the tilting mechanism

Hope this helps - I've done it a few times.

While your in there why not put in +50% bulbs - big help and legal

Agree with above - if you remove the air filter box bolt and put a spacer in there to keep it positioned towards the engine, there's no real problem. To remove the cover over the PAS reservoir, put your fingers under the cover around the neck and release the two clips.

When replacing the H7 bulb, I found it much easier to fit the metal retaining clip and the connector to the bulb itself before offering these up to the lamp housing. There's enough spare wire to do this and it avoids having loose clips flying off. The wiring connector latches onto the retaining clip, so if you pre-assemble this lot first, it all bayonets into the lamp housing without any problems.

I renewed a headlamp bulb on my partner's Peugeot 106 the other day. 2 minute job without any other dismantling - and the 106 is a lot smaller than the B5.5..

Well done again, VAG.

rotodiesel.

i replaced both my dipped beam bulbs last week. they blew within an hour of each other! i followed a guide posted on here and it took me about half an hour. i put halfords extreme brilliance bulbs in (h7) £23.50 each:eek: but luckily they are on offer buy one get one free at the moment. i must say im quite impressed with how much brighter they are over the standard bulbs. well worth the extra cost in my oppinion.

i replaced both my dipped beam bulbs last week. they blew within an hour of each other! i followed a guide posted on here and it took me about half an hour. i put halfords extreme brilliance bulbs in (h7) £23.50 each:eek: but luckily they are on offer buy one get one free at the moment. i must say im quite impressed with how much brighter they are over the standard bulbs. well worth the extra cost in my oppinion.

I agree with that, they're working very well for me.

Still as for the hand size issue... yes, well, my hands are not exactly the smallest but unfortunately I'm fairly stubborn and refuse to pay for things I can do myself - and I've got the scars to prove it