A friend of mine, who also has a MKII Skoda Octavia, bought a few sets of decent bulbs, so we've been fitting them to the cars today. I have an estate, and he has the liftback.

I didn't take too much notice if the lights were flush before I started, but after taking the headlight unit out, replacing the bulbs, and putting them back in - I noticed it sticks out about 5mm just at the inside corner (nearest the numberplate) on both lights. They are flush everywhere except that corner, and I'm confident they are in there securely - as I have just driven 150 miles in the dark no problems.

We then went and replaced his bulbs, and his lights were perfectly flush all the way around, and when I went to slide the headlight units back in, one went in fine. Then the other, which was difficult to get out, also got stuck where mine have and didn't go in flush. But I pulled it out and tried seating it again, and it only went in flush as i leaned on it while pushing the bolt across to lock it in.

So I went back to mine to try that, but nope, won't go in any further or any differently. What the hell am I doing wrong? I know its only a little thing, but it's annoying the hell out of me. I've taken the lights out and put them back in again about 20 times.

This happened to me - I was pulled out the lever too much.

Just push the lever a little in before fitting, and the headlight unit will fit in place.

Will give that a go sometime, cheers.

I had trouble with my lights and I found lubricating the mechanism with white grease helped with re seating the fitting and removal next time round. Spray in the grease while exercising the mechanism.

Also if the tab is pushed in without the lamp in, then it will not come back out unless you push down on a little black tab IIRC

He always has the worst luck, mine worked first time!

Also, check that the wiring loom is not jammed behind the headlamp, guide it in with your hand if you have to.

I've changed mine a few times now (they don't last as long as "normal" bulbs!). This happened me a couple of times too. The light assembly should sit between two guides on the bottom when you are slotting it back in. If you miss one of them, it rides on top of it and also won't go flush on that side. It's all down to getting the angle right when guiding the assembly in. It's a bit awkward if the harness is still connected, but I couldn't release the connector in my case as it was so tight.