So I had to change two bulbs yesterday, a brake light and a front side light. First I tackled the brake light, quite technical job that. Using an advanced tool I like to call hands, I pull the carpet back, pop out a bulb and put a new one in. Must have taken me the best part of 25 seconds (including resetting bulb holder and carpet, again using hands). DODDLE! On to the front then... WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?! Obviously who ever designed the back light cluster got sacked for making life too easy before he did the fronts. After realising it's not a simple sprung clip at the back of the headlight unit it was on to here to find a very useful guide. Undo screws, undo fiddly screw behind indicator, wiggle (the light unit)...wiggle more...yank it. Undo more screws, remove cover, undo two more screws, pull out bulb...reverse. Half an hour. A lot of things can be done in half an hour.

 

Anyway, big thanks to the forum, theres always someone who has done something before, and usually someone who has taken the time and effort to do a step-by-step for what ever it is you are doing! I like this place.

I know my limits on car DIY but found the headlight and sidelight bulb change really easy compared with other (typically newer) cars I've had. 30 minutes must have been on Lake District time !  

takes me 5 mins to pop out the indicator and headlights- how did it take you 30 mins? lol

Twas a doddle compared to my old V40.

Take it you've got xenons so you need to remove stuff?,normal bulb changes are easy.....

Im with Mr G...

I change Octy Bulbs in under 5 mins.

Takes about 20 just to get the cover off and out of the way on SWMBO's 206.

and usually costs at least 3 cut knuckles and a lot of swearing..

I don´t knok but I think is very easy to change any bulb on these cars.

Yeah, I echo the "5 minute" comments. I've had my headlights and bulbs out at least half a dozen times over the past 12 months and it's always been a quick job.

 

You must be talking about HIDs?

Do you have xenons ? Normal sidelights are just a case of pull back clip, remove cover, take bulb out and put new bulb in.

You want to try changing bulbs on the new shape Honda Jazz.  It's almost an engine-out job...

Many cars now require front body panels to be removed to change headlamp bulbs.  The owners' manual for my wife's 2010 Clio has no information on changing a headlamp bulb, just states it is a job for the dealer - I was quoted £45 + cost of bulb to change one!

 

I changed all four headlamp bulbs on my Octavia FL vRS in less than 15 minutes and that was the first time I had attempted it.  A  month later I adjusted the lever inside both headlamps to change to left-hand drive in less than 5 minutes. The Octavia system is much, much simpler than most modern cars.

That is because if the Clio is like the Megane, Renault say it is a bumper off to do it. There is a hatch in the wheel arch, but good luck with that if it is the main beam bulb you need - nowhere near the hatch.

Xenons yeah, maybe it was just that they weren't done in a long time. Seemed to be tricky getting the unit out too, guess I'll learn the knack one of these days! Next task is getting the washer bottle out to replace the pump...

"How to change a headlight bulb" on my sister's old shape Jazz.

 

1) Put steering on full lock (left for RH bulb and right for LH)

2) Remove wheel arch liner.

3)...

 

At which point I decided to not give her my old +50% headlight bulbs.

FFFFFAAAAAAAAKKKKKKK that Ken.....

Xenons yeah, maybe it was just that they weren't done in a long time. Seemed to be tricky getting the unit out too, guess I'll learn the knack one of these days! Next task is getting the washer bottle out to replace the pump...

 

There is a stupid hiddden bolt down there....After I took it out the first time I didn't replace it. I think my washer bottle is held in with just the top bolt and is doing just fine. 

That is because if the Clio is like the Megane, Renault say it is a bumper off to do it. There is a hatch in the wheel arch, but good luck with that if it is the main beam bulb you need - nowhere near the hatch.

Damned if I could manage Megane indicator bulbs through that hatch, let alone headlight bulbs. After 20 minutes of headscratching I gave up and told the boss to take it to the dealer since it was a company car anyway and the dealer was 5 minutes up the road. He needed it with a couple of hours and I had too much to do anyway.

Edited 15 February, 201412 yr by demonufo

changing megane bulbs is stupid,is like was designed to be a pain in the ass job

But changing a fuse is even worst,you have to remove the battery witth tray and all cables,remove the confort module...is imensly supid

changing megane bulbs is stupid,is like was designed to be a pain in the ass job

But changing a fuse is even worst,you have to remove the battery witth tray and all cables,remove the confort module...is imensly supid

It's French mate everything's awkward and pi$$ poorly designed.

I did a headlamp bulb on a MK2 Fabia diesel the other day, that wasn't a quick job and it drew blood as well, ended up have to unbolt and move the fuel filter over.

I did a headlamp bulb on a MK2 Fabia diesel the other day, that wasn't a quick job and it drew blood as well, ended up have to unbolt and move the fuel filter over.

 

I did a headlight on a work mates mk1 fabia - nearside one seemed to require the battery to be removed and then you could access the back of the headlight assembly. though a trapdoor in the battery 'surround'.  I wasn't best pleased.... but then I was thanked with a nice donut, so all was right with the world again.

 

However a mk1 octy with normal headlights, it is very quick.

I did a headlight on a work mates mk1 fabia - nearside one seemed to require the battery to be removed and then you could access the back of the headlight assembly. though a trapdoor in the battery 'surround'.  I wasn't best pleased.... but then I was thanked with a nice donut, so all was right with the world again.

 

However a mk1 octy with normal headlights, it is very quick.

 

It's possible to do a headlight on a MkI with the battery in situ but it's bloody tight!

 

MK1 Fabia headlamp bulbs are easy, on the nearside you can unclip and slide out the part of the battery cover that's immediately behind the headlamp, the extra 15mm of space that this creates makes all the difference.