Does anyone have any hints or tips on changing headlight bulbs on the Mk1 Octy? I've got to do my first one but since I don't have a garage or driveway to work in off the road I want to get things right first time. The handbook makes it look straightforward, but is there anything to watch out for in your experience, like clips prone to springing off? I'm a bit of a novice so no tip is too basic!

It's my dipped beam on the passenger side that's out (full beam is fine, so is sidelight) so I need an H4 - that's right isn't it? I'll do both sides at once, though.

I don't do much night driving on unlit roads so don't need anything too powerful. Are these basic Bosch ones a fair choice for the money?

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/bosch-car-headlamp-bulbs-472-h4-x-2

eurocarparts will do you something standard far far cheaper

Very simple to change, 2 mins a side.  Also I would look at Osram nightbreaker or  Philips Extreme vision.

 

H4 is the correct bulb type

Would recommend Osram Nightbreaker bulbs:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BREAKER-UNLIMITED-64193NBU-HCB-Halogen-Headlamp/dp/B00EPLCP3U/ref=sr_1_1?m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1447179431&sr=1-1&keywords=h4+osram+nightbreaker

 

Noticeably better than standard bulbs and reasonably priced.

 

Very easy to change on the Octy. You can't lose the clips. Only three tips which hopefully you knew already:

• Hold the plug not the wires when disconnecting the old bulb.
• Don't touch the glass of the bulb.
• Make sure the unit is properly sealed when putting it back together.

Philips X-treme Vision +130% H4 (Twin Pack) Features and benefits:

• Up to 130% more light on the road in comparison to a standard headlight bulb
• A superior light beam of up to 130 metres allows you to see much more of the road ahead
• Up to 45m longer light beam than standard increases reaction time by up to 2 seconds
• Up to 20% whiter light than standard for a more comfortable and safer driving experience
• A colour temperature of 3700K helps your eyes focus better for a more comfortable driving experience at night
• The Philips patented gradient coating technology produces a more powerful light
• X-treme Vision +130 delivers more Light without compromising on lifetime
• Philips X-treme Vision bulbs offer up to 450 hours lifetime
• Increased safety – see potential hazards sooner
• Fully road legal -  ECE certified
• Optimized high-precision fillament geometry
• Up to 13 bar high pressure gas filling
• High precision coating and high quality UV-Quarz glass

 

Use Code: GAMEOFBULBS to get 20% OFF

• Free worldwide delivery
• Free 12 month warranty
• Free W5W sidelights

 

Enjoy!

Other hint - You can get a useful amount more space to work in by taking the battery cover off.

I have daybreakers in mine but be careful if you have xenons and auto levelling lights because anything but the stock unit seems to break that feature.

Nightbreakers

 

And also dont touch the glass of the new bulbs...

Osram Nigjt breaker Plus in mine at the minute, waaaaaaay better than standard and worth it.

Iirc a few people said the the light is a little better with the philips, but they burn out quicker and used to be a bit more expensive the NBs..

Oh yeah - dont touch glass and wear gloves in case of a slip..

H4 bulb will only fit one way so cant make much of a balls of it - unlike a H7 which will fit upside down in a Peugot 206... :/

Edited 13 November, 201510 yr by mac11irl

Big thanks everyone, just done them and it turned out to be a nice easy job. Wanted to be prepared after hearing so many horror stories of bulb changes needing contortionist skills, ramping and pulling bits of bodywork off, spring clips flying off and getting lost on the engine bay etc.

On your recommendations I decided to ditch Halfords and make a trip to Eurocarparts instead, plus spend a little extra and go with the Philips +130%. Although after waiting in the massive queue and handing over my cash found that their stock numbers are buggered up and the part number for the +130% gives you a different Philips xenon effect bulb at my local place, which baffled the sales guy. So had to get those refunded and ended up going with Osram Nightbreakers. And they wouldn't do the click and collect price so paid over the odds for them, bah!

Still, very impressed with the Nightbreakers now they're in. In the end it took just a few minutes each side to do the job... plus a good half an hour faffing about at eurocarparts!

They are sneaky as the prices online unless ordered arent the prices in store.