Yes in hindsight, but then it’s finding a good quality bulb. 

32 minutes ago, penguin17 said:

TBH I was thinking that 8000k bulbs don't sound like they'd be Osram or Philips and subsequently "how long will those bulbs last?".  It would have no doubt been soul destroying to have a bulb out warning in a few months only to have to repeat the whole process! 

Yep these were low to mid range, doing more research they were boxed up more premium brand like which was misleading. 

 

I had had same thoughts when that bumper was off! The Osram I know obviously are more tried and tested. 

I swapped to Osram cool blue intense and they are much improved over the standard fitment bulbs. They’ve also become better over time; I thought ‘burn in’ was a myth..

 

 

 

Yes I was strongly tempted with them but read they are quite white.  

 

The itch has been scratched now anyway, albeit a very combersone experience. 

I replaced mine with 16€ Chinese 6000K. The quality doesn't seem bad, the bulb it self, color is great except the light output it self is not as strong as OEM Osram. I was hoping for at least same as OEM. So I have to change, again...

Didn't have to take off the right side wheelhouse liner but the left one. I'm very much thinking to really go LED as I wrote few times before on these forums, but that means removing bumper as there is no other way to disconnect ballast and connect LEDs. I found few "OK" replacements, so I was wondering @aldouk how long did it take you to remove the bumper? Of course without issues you had when things went bad?

The wheelhouse liner removal on one side took me about hour and half =/ There is soo many bolts, its crazy.

I'm really mad at my self for never being happy enough. Always wanting more and more...

Just to underline, that removing the inner wheel arch is enough to gain room for replacing the bulb

 

I replaced the passenger side (LHD) inner wheel arch due to a crack. It took me approx. half an hour with a jack on the garage floor. So, if I was to replace a headlight bulb, I would go down that route.