Followed your guide and changed bulbes (xenon) a couple of days ago - difference like night and day Old bulbs has been used for 135K km /3years and had so low output that they were outshined by an old Nissan Micra with halogen and streetlights.

As I'm returning the car in a month or so I went for the standard Osram Xenarc bulbs.

 

Biggest concern was the fuse box, it's a really tight fit both for the hand (Size 10) and to get the bulb in and out. I was afraid of damaging the bulb so it took roughly 20 minutes for the left side (left hand drive), right side took 3 minutes.

 

Thanks for a really good guide!

Have removed bulb but struggling to refit. It's the type with a metal spring clip.

 

Is the bulb meant to come out on its own with no plastic add-on? Any tips on getting the spring to reseat properly with the bulb in position? Thanks.

 

Edit. Used needle nose pliers on the spring clip. This gave me enough purchase to push forwards to engage it properly.

 

Edited 23 November, 20223 yr by anewman

I can't get the bulb in either. It has the metal clip. The bulb just doesn't seem to seat properly at all, and there's so little space I can just about get my hand in to manoeuvre the clips. I've tried for an hour now and scratched my hand to shreds!

 

Should the bulb feel like it's seated into a certain position when it's in the right place? Power socket facing down, right?

 

Is there a knack to putting the clips back into position whilst keep the bulb in the right place?

 

I feel so incompetent that I can't even replace a bulb!

1 hour ago, bjh77 said:

I can't get the bulb in either. It has the metal clip. The bulb just doesn't seem to seat properly at all, and there's so little space I can just about get my hand in to manoeuvre the clips. I've tried for an hour now and scratched my hand to shreds!

 

Should the bulb feel like it's seated into a certain position when it's in the right place? Power socket facing down, right?

 

Is there a knack to putting the clips back into position whilst keep the bulb in the right place?

 

I feel so incompetent that I can't even replace a bulb!

One trick I've used on other cars was to raise the rear of the car, if working outdoors put a back wheel up on the kerb the bulb will stay in place better while you're making that split second move to grab the eye of the spring clip. I never managed to change mine it was ridiculously difficult so I left the original bulbs in place. 

Took the wheel arch liner out earlier.  A bit better access but STILL wasn't able to fit it properly! Then ended damaging the bulb 😡. I think I'm just going to swallow my pride and take it to my local mechanic.  God knows how much a Skoda garage would charge. I can't believe how awful the design is. 

20 hours ago, bjh77 said:

Took the wheel arch liner out earlier.  A bit better access but STILL wasn't able to fit it properly! Then ended damaging the bulb 😡. I think I'm just going to swallow my pride and take it to my local mechanic.  God knows how much a Skoda garage would charge. I can't believe how awful the design is. 

I brought mine to a local garage and they couldn't do it🫣. They were wanting to take the headlights out but were giving me no guarantee I wouldn't have problems with front sensors etc after removing the front bumper, I told them to leave it and I sold the bulbs on FB marketplace. 

Took it to my local indy in the end. They replaced the bulb with the headlight unit on a bench. Annoyingly though, the same bulb has gone again 🤬.

 

This time, I thought I would go to Skoda Dartford and have them do it, for peace of mind. However, it turns out they have less of a clue than the posters on this thread. The technician insisted the bulb was seized, and we had an argument about how it came out. My car has the retaining clips. He was trying to twist it. He bet me a million pounds too and was a bit more humble once we both went over to the car and I showed him. Don't think he'll pay the million quid though. I said I knew how to do it as I'd read the workshop manual. He said "oh, I don't read those"!

 

Having taken the car to Skoda for the expertise (it certainly wasn't for the price of the £140 bulb!) I just left after that. They are clueless. I'll go back to my indy.

Replaced both of mine recently with Osram 'LED equivalent colour 6K' units. Mine are the two metal ear types. I ended up taking the bumper and liners off and the headlamps out of the car to do it. was a super faffy job. Took the opportunity to replace the fogs with some Osram LED units of the same colour temp as the HIDs. really pleased with the improvement in light output and consistent colour temperatures.

Incidentally in the process I discovered why my 280 has such a small washer fluid reservoir up in the scuttle panel - the place where the 'normal' one would go has some kind of cooler dangling in it. Presumably engine or gearbox oil cooler?

 

today i was able to replace both xenon bulbs for bevinsee d3s leds in 30 minutes without removing wheels/arches or jacking the car which i initially did not hope for

 

thank you @dstev2000 for this fine guide which helped me

 

I changed the bulbs on my 67 L&K a 2 weekends ago knowing that I had a long drive across mid wales at night yesterday.

 

The near side light was definitely the hardest even with the wheel and arch removed. Car was on a jack for safety.

 

I bought a pair of nightbreakers and the improvement in light was incredible. Full beam was stretching out at least 300m on straight unlit roads. 
 

Once I realised my bulbs didn’t need to be rotated to remove it was just a case of the fiddly clips and my big hands.

 

By the time I was finished it was quite dark which explains why I have a spare screw that I have find the correct spot for.