I'd seen various posts on the forum with people having difficulties changing these bulbs. Just wanted to balance these by saying that on our 2008 1.4 petrol, it was the easiest change on any car I've worked on! Literally a few minutes to change both.

 

With the petrol engine there's loads of room behind the headlight covers. This model year has the 'projector' units where a shutter covers the H7 bulbs to dip the beam. After removing rubber cover, just twist the black plastic bulb holder anti-clockwise so that metal tangs are freed from the mounting in the headlight. To remove the old bulb from the holder, shove a screwdriver tip under the black plastic base of the bulb from side of holder, and twist so that it pushes the bulb contacts (two contacts on H7) out. Replace with new bulbs (I've installed Osram Nightbreaker Laser), locate holder in mounting then twist clockwise so the locating tangs are seated.

 

I can see how job can be frustrating if you don't know to twist the holder, or can't see how to separate bulb from holder, but using above method it's very fast and easy.

How do you find the new bulbs? I replaced mine a couple of weeks ago (petrol also) with Philips Xtreme vision for £18. Although still not amazing, they are better than standard bulbs and MOT legal.

It’s my son’s car, and no opportunity to assess since fitting during daytime today.  Will keep you posted!

 

Coincidentally, a few weeks back I fitted Philips Racing Vision into my ‘hobby’ car Porsche 928. Haven’t tried difference yet in real world, but the light meter in headlight beam setter I had showed big improvement over the old bulbs. 

Edited 6 January, 20197 yr by Stratfordade

I've read some bad comments on the Philips Xtreme vision bulbs, but personally I think people's expectations were too high! I'm happy with them for the price. 

It’s all relative though. My daily driver is a Saab 9-3, and one of my favourite features is the Xenon HID lights. Superb, crisp dip beam illumination giving great confidence in night driving. They’re not a silly blue colour either!