How do I get the headlights out to change them for continental ones?

Perm change or for a short visit (as in flat beam)

Permanent change in the forces living in Germany

On the facelift all you need to do is to undo the white plastic nut, press the tab and tug the lever until you can feel the mechanism disengage. Then the headlight just comes straight out. Easy as pie.

Probably similar on the pre-fl.

Spot on cheers, just changed the lights can't remember if when you select side lights on all that happens is the day light running lights just dim down nothing else comes on. Is that correct ?

Spot on cheers, just changed the lights can't remember if when you select side lights on all that happens is the day light running lights just dim down nothing else comes on. Is that correct ?

Yes, on a FL vRS putting the sidelights on just dims the LED DRLs (and puts the rear lights on )

See here for a full guide with pictures...

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/64315-howto-new-octavia-headlight-bulb-change/

It features the pre-facelift but the process is all but identical for the facelift.

And whatever you do, don't drop that nut into the engine bay.

I didn't know those headlights existed, btw. Every pre-FL octavia I've ever seen without xenons has had reflector headlights, not projectors like that.