Anyone done this? Like a numpty, I chipped a big piece of the red plastic off the lighting cluster when I was heaving something heavy into the boot the other day and don't want to pay hundreds to my local dealer to get a fairly simple part replaced.

I can get the part from Euro Car Parts (Hella lamp cluster) for about £60. It gives me a choice of two - LH or RH.. anyone know which one of these is nearside?

Cheers

Mark W

Left and right of the car are usually taken to be what you consider the left and right while sitting faced forward in the driver's seat. I find nearside and offside a lot more confusing...

Nearside is the kerb, so you want left side/hand or LH.

Removing the rear light cluster is extremely easy and very quick.

You don't mention whether your car is the hatch or estate but it shouldn’t matter as the light clusters are very similar.

Inside the boot there will be a little flap cut into the boot lining, opening this gives you direct access to the back of the rear light cluster.

Firstly you need to unclip the wire harness from the bulb holder. There are little lugs that need depressing before they will pull off.

Once these are unclipped and tucked out of the way you can then get your fingers either side of the bulb holder and release the little clasps that secure it on to the back of the cluster. Once unclipped it can be a little fiddly trying to negotiate it back out of the hole.

Now all this is out you get a much clearer view of the back of the cluster. You should be able to see four threaded bolts which secure the cluster to the body of the car. These again are fiddly but shouldn't cause you any big issues, 8mm I think, just be careful not to drop the nuts in to the bottom of the cars body when teasing them off the ends of the threads.

I have an estate and it helped by actually climbing into the boot!

Once all four nuts are off the cluster can be removed. Just can just pull the cluster away from the car by hooking your finger nails in between the cluster and the paint work, on mine it was still quite firmly attached to the car by a foam pad that runs all around the cluster which I guess prevents water ingress.

Once it begins to pull away from the car there are two 5W bulbs that are independent of the bulb holder that will be still attached to the cluster, these simply pull out once you are able to get your hand behind the cluster but be careful as their wires aren't very long.

Replacement is simply as above but reversed. Simples!

I updated my rear light clusters to the new type:

I should also mention that don't assume buying brand new from your dealer is cost prohibitive.

I bought two face lift rear light clusters from my local Skoda dealer for less than £80 inc. VAT.

Then sold the old ones for almost £60 on eBay