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How To...Change headlight bulbs

Last post Thu, Mar 18 2010 8:57 AM by Yugguy. 46 replies.
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  • Thu, Dec 20 2007 12:30 PM How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Dale_TDI
    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 AHF 110PS
    • Joined on Fri, Nov 16 2007
    • Location: West Yorks
    • Posts 52
    • Not Ranked
    Dear all,

    I couldn't see a thread,  but numerous counts on how difficult this is!
    After just completing said task, here's my How To guide.

    Right hand side first.

    1.   Flip the silver catch wire to your right, and off the plastic backing. This simply comes away.

    2.   There is a little square brown fixture directly behind where the headlamp bulb is. Pull hard on this, and it comes away revealing the 2 pins on the back of the bulb itself.

    3.   If lighting is good, you willl then see a very small silver wire, which is the second catch. Above the bulb terminals is where you un clip it (this is what took me ages to work out!) Simply push this forward (towards the headlamp unit) then slide it to the left. You will hear and feel this relieve all the pressure on the bulb, which will start to move around.

    4.    Pull it out, place the new one in, and ensure it lies flush (remember the terminals go vertically, not horizontally)

    5.   Snap the clip back over the top

    6.   Connect the brown plug

    7.   Place the plastic cover over it, ensuring the fit the 'sticky outy' bit on it into the gap for them on the left

    8.   Snap back the silver wire catch.

    Left hand side

    1.   Slide out the battery cover using the push in tabs on either side (careful not to catch your fingers as it slides up!)

    2.   There lies a plastic cover with the headlight symbols on it and 2 screws, which you unscrew and slide out.

    3.   There there's the familiar plastic cover and wire clip we saw on the right hand side, and the process is mirrored.

    This just took me around 30 minutes, but after doing it the once, should take 15.

    Hope this helps!

    Dale

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  • Thu, Dec 20 2007 12:39 PM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Pauls1820VTGolf Moderator
    Bora SE TDI 1.9 AJM 115PS
    • Joined on Fri, Feb 17 2006
    • Location: Bristol
    • Posts 8,617
    • Top 10 Contributor
    moved you to the how to section mate Yes
    PD150 ARL engine | fk highsport coilovers | TT 6 spoke alloys | remap to come | 288mm brakes
    My Build Thread - Slowly getting there!

  • Thu, Dec 20 2007 4:23 PM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    wilkie
    • Joined on Sat, Sep 16 2006
    • Location: Wolverhampton
    • Posts 764
    • Top 500 Contributor

    Whenever I changed the bulbs in my old mk4 I would always go for the front bumper off and remove the headlights method. Once you now where all the screws are you can easily do it under half hour and there is no wheres the clip gone moments or bleeding fingers.

    How to remove the front bumper

     

  • Sun, Dec 30 2007 11:55 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    jeallen01
    • Joined on Thu, Jul 14 2005
    • Posts 107
    • Not Ranked

    Left hand side - helps to unbolt the battery (which, I admit, is not the easiest of tasks, but MUST be easier than unbolting the front bumper!)  and then slide it towards the centre of the car. After that, you have pretty clear access to the clip on the rear of the headlamp unit.

    WARNING - on both sides, before you remove a bulb, take very good note of the orientation of the flat connectors on the back of it so that you can put the new back in the correct orientation. I have proved conclusively that you can fit an H7 dip-beam bulb in almost ANY orientation and it will work - but the beam won't point where you want it to! Embarrassed

  • Sat, Jan 5 2008 4:30 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Tasberley
    Golf IV GTI 25th Anni 1.9 ARL 150PS
    • Joined on Wed, Jan 10 2007
    • Location: Midlands
    • Posts 581
    • Not Ranked

    cheers! helped me a lot!!

    anybody been able to change the sidelight bulbs without taking headlights out???

    GTi Anniversary PD No 1706
  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 4:54 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    macspreader
    • Joined on Mon, May 2 2005
    • Location: Northern Scotland
    • Posts 80
    • Not Ranked
    Tasberley:

    cheers! helped me a lot!!

    anybody been able to change the sidelight bulbs without taking headlights out???

    Managed the driver side just yesterday, but the passenger side proved elusive - in the end I undid a couple of the bumper bolts and flexed the light out forwards - you can undo one of the bottom bolts through the headlight washers.

  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 5:17 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Tasberley
    Golf IV GTI 25th Anni 1.9 ARL 150PS
    • Joined on Wed, Jan 10 2007
    • Location: Midlands
    • Posts 581
    • Not Ranked
    thanks. ended up taking bumper off and doing it that way.. just allows so much more room to change the bulbs.
    GTi Anniversary PD No 1706
  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 6:26 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    bouncerMk4
    Golf IV TDI 1.9 ATD 100PS
    • Joined on Mon, Apr 30 2007
    • Location: Wales
    • Posts 3,035
    • Top 100 Contributor
    Tasberley:

    cheers! helped me a lot!!

    anybody been able to change the sidelight bulbs without taking headlights out???

    Nope - but if you can train a 2 week old baby to do it.......!

    2003 Mk4 TDi 130ish ps -
    2005 A3 SE 2.0TDi 140 ps (the wife's!!)(but mine from Monday) - (but she didn't say which Monday
    I'm VAGnostic - thank God
  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 6:37 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    bigbrutha
    • Joined on Wed, Sep 27 2006
    • Location: Bristol
    • Posts 226
    • Not Ranked
    Tasberley:

    cheers! helped me a lot!!

    anybody been able to change the sidelight bulbs without taking headlights out???

     Yes! This is entirely possible, just awkward.

    Leon Cupra TDI
  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 7:43 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Paddym
    • Joined on Wed, Jan 17 2007
    • Posts 1,274
    • Top 500 Contributor

    i really dont no what the big fuss is about changing bulbs on golf is, ok it is a little tricky, but aren't all cars.

    if u start with the drivers side just look at what u are doing it is handy enough.

  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 7:51 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    j12src
    Golf IV GTI 25th Anni 1.9 ARL 150PS
    • Joined on Mon, Jul 19 2004
    • Location: North Yorkshire, England
    • Posts 165
    • Not Ranked

    Definately possible, i usually have problems with the MOT bloke moaning about my clear LED sidelight bulbs showing a slight tinge of blue so he makes me change them.  I now have the sidelight bulb changing down to about 10 minutes...................practice makes perfect they say !!!

    I admit it is very fiddling and i have to take off my watch etc, roll my sleeves up to squeeze in and still manage to take some skin off the arms but it saves dropping the bumper.

    Its a good job MOT's are only once a year !

    25th Anniversary, Superchips custom remap to 195bhp, Privacy glass, R32 Bra, S2000 stubby Aerial, MFD Sat Nav, Comfort Indicators, Colour Parrot Kit, Aero Wipers, MkV Rear Wiper, Miles-To-Empty, Forge Quick Shift, Illuminated Dials......& Most Of All UK-Mkiv's Rear Window Decal's !!

    Weekend Ride - Mk1 Cabby On Polished RM's
  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 7:55 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    golferdan
    Golf IV GTI 1.9 ARL 150PS
    • Joined on Wed, Dec 6 2006
    • Location: Scunthorpe
    • Posts 189
    • Not Ranked
    Paddym:

    i really dont no what the big fuss is about changing bulbs on golf is, ok it is a little tricky, but aren't all cars.

    if u start with the drivers side just look at what u are doing it is handy enough.

    2nd that! Never had a problem either and ive got big mitts! Their fiddly but thats it, for me the toughest is the passenger side but i take the battery out thats just unclipping the plastic bits and three bolts.

    gt tdi 150, re mapped, bmc induction kit, short shift and more to come!
  • Mon, Jan 7 2008 8:25 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    bigbrutha
    • Joined on Wed, Sep 27 2006
    • Location: Bristol
    • Posts 226
    • Not Ranked
    j12src:

    Definately possible, i usually have problems with the MOT bloke moaning about my clear LED sidelight bulbs showing a slight tinge of blue so he makes me change them.  I now have the sidelight bulb changing down to about 10 minutes...................practice makes perfect they say !!!

    I admit it is very fiddling and i have to take off my watch etc, roll my sleeves up to squeeze in and still manage to take some skin off the arms but it saves dropping the bumper.

    Its a good job MOT's are only once a year !

     Do you mean the light or the bulb itself? I just put some in new bulbs in which are HUGELY better than standard and they all look blue when switched off but give off a brilliant white light. I would like to stress that they are not chavvy bulbs that light up blue!!!!

     

    Leon Cupra TDI
  • Tue, Jan 8 2008 4:25 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    j12src
    Golf IV GTI 25th Anni 1.9 ARL 150PS
    • Joined on Mon, Jul 19 2004
    • Location: North Yorkshire, England
    • Posts 165
    • Not Ranked

    The big problem i have is the sidelight bulbs, last year i had some "hyper white" bulbs that are actually blue coloured but are bright white when lit, he said that they would be a fail as they are blue bulbs.  This year i bought some white quad LED sidelight bulbs, these are clear in colour but he said that when they were lit they had a hint of blue ? ! ?   After reminding him of what he said last year he decided to give me the benefit of the doubt and just passed it regardless.

    Seems to me that you can't win sometimes, goodness knows how the "boy racer nugget brigade" get their's passed with the green sidelight bulbs, 4 foot deep sunstrips and 10" diameter back boxes !!!!

     

    25th Anniversary, Superchips custom remap to 195bhp, Privacy glass, R32 Bra, S2000 stubby Aerial, MFD Sat Nav, Comfort Indicators, Colour Parrot Kit, Aero Wipers, MkV Rear Wiper, Miles-To-Empty, Forge Quick Shift, Illuminated Dials......& Most Of All UK-Mkiv's Rear Window Decal's !!

    Weekend Ride - Mk1 Cabby On Polished RM's
  • Sat, May 17 2008 4:24 PM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    ben_
    • Joined on Thu, Sep 7 2006
    • Posts 14
    • Not Ranked

    Thanks for the guide.

    I've just fitted the following on the front:
    Dipped beam - Osram Silverstar (H7),
    Indicators - Osram Diadem (PY21W)
    Sidelights - Philips Blue Vision (W5W).

    I fitted all three bulb types without taking the bumper off.

    The Dipped beams were reasonably easy to fit. You need to push the clip towards the front of the car, then towards the side of the car, depending on which headlight you are working. Hurt my poor fingers doing this.

    The indicators and sidelights were a bit more interesting, since you can't see the mechanism that is holding the bulb in place at all, unlike the dipped beams.

    Indicators -  Rotate anti-clockwise to release.

    Sidelights - has two clips which you need to squeeze together towards each other.  I don't have particularly large hands and I found this VERY hard. I lost a lot of skin doing this. It's hard to reach.

    I'm slightly dissapointed i managed to fit all the bulbs this way. I was quite looking forward to taking the bumper off.

  • Sat, Dec 6 2008 6:12 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    jimmyboy
    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 AHF 110PS
    • Joined on Sat, Jan 13 2007
    • Location: Bristol
    • Posts 22
    • Not Ranked

    I also found it useful to remove the battery, or at least unbolt it and slide it to the left. It gave much easier access if you don't want to remove the bumper.

    If you can't see the passenger side bulb silver clip, I used my camera on my mobile and took a photo, then I figured out which way I was supposed to be pulling what!

    GT TDI 110... about as standard as they come
  • Sat, Dec 6 2008 7:19 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Boravw
    Bora Sport 1.9 AJM 115PS
    • Joined on Sun, Feb 3 2008
    • Posts 534
    • Not Ranked

    Excellent post, very useful

  • Mon, Dec 8 2008 6:24 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    jimmyboy
    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 AHF 110PS
    • Joined on Sat, Jan 13 2007
    • Location: Bristol
    • Posts 22
    • Not Ranked

    If you turn the image 90 degrees anti-clockwise (so the striaght bit of the clip is at the top of the image) this is what you'd find behind the passenger side head light, this is the pic I took to enable me to know what the hell I was doing! As you can see the silver clip needs pushing in and towards the centre of the car.

    GT TDI 110... about as standard as they come
  • Mon, Dec 8 2008 6:38 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    mattytdi
    • Joined on Mon, Jan 9 2006
    • Location: East London
    • Posts 1,116
    • Top 500 Contributor

    Having tried both methods I find it too awkward to do without taking off the bumper cover.

    I had to take the bumper cover off last week and I did it in 7 minutes including changing torx bits and removing the grill (inc metal clip over bonnet pull). I reckon with power tools and a second person (so I don't have to remove the grill properly) I can get down to quite a low time - Perhaps this should be an Olympic event in 2012!

    It's also a good idea to clean up the bolts regularly as they're prone to corroding - my brothers did and it snapped the metal plates that they screw into off and turned into a nighmare job.

    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 AJM 115PS
    Golf IV V5 2.3 20v AQN 170PS
    Golf IV 1.8T AGU 150PS - Brother's
    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 ASZ 130PS - Mum's
  • Mon, Dec 8 2008 6:45 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Yan
    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 ASZ 130PS
    • Joined on Fri, Mar 23 2007
    • Location: (¯`• Surrey •`¯)
    • Posts 2,184
    • Top 150 Contributor

    A fella from my local garage (non VW) changed my passenger side headlight bulb in 10 seconds flat as if he had all the room in the world. He was a fairly small chap so I'm assuming his hands were of a similar size :) Very impressed anyway from what I'd read about how difficult it is 'supposed' to be :)

    Black GT TDI 130 - No Smoke, No Poke :)
    40mm drop | 17" TT Ronals on Michelin Pilot Sports | W8 Light | Delocked | Aero wipers all round | sunglasses holder :) | roof bars with U.S fairing

  • Mon, Dec 8 2008 8:40 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    bouncerMk4
    Golf IV TDI 1.9 ATD 100PS
    • Joined on Mon, Apr 30 2007
    • Location: Wales
    • Posts 3,035
    • Top 100 Contributor

    Well if you have hands like shovels like me you will have no chance 

    2003 Mk4 TDi 130ish ps -
    2005 A3 SE 2.0TDi 140 ps (the wife's!!)(but mine from Monday) - (but she didn't say which Monday
    I'm VAGnostic - thank God
  • Sun, Jan 11 2009 8:21 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    s2frw
    Golf IV GTI 1.8T 20v AUM 150PS
    • Joined on Sun, Sep 7 2008
    • Location: Perth, Scotland
    • Posts 23
    • Not Ranked

    i just did mine and it was rather easy. i dont have small hands either ,didnt even move the battery.

    Golf GTI 1.8 Turbo
  • Sun, Jan 11 2009 8:32 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    boranik
    • Joined on Wed, Mar 12 2008
    • Location: bored in work usually
    • Posts 5,368
    • Top 50 Contributor

     I've got big hands (size 12 glove) and can do it on a Golf and Bora fine without taking the bumper off, VW charge 0.1 of an hour to change a bulb which is 6 minutes, I doubt their mechs can get a bumper on and off in that time!

    NIK Yes

    Link to DFT laws on illegal HID conversions CLICKY CLICKY CLICKY
  • Sun, Jan 11 2009 10:49 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    jeallen01
    • Joined on Thu, Jul 14 2005
    • Posts 107
    • Not Ranked

    I think  a lot depends on how big a battery is fitted!

    The normal one in a petrol-engined car like my wife's Mk IV "GTI" may be OK , but the big B****r you need in a diesel like my TDI makes it a lot more difficult !

  • Sun, Jan 11 2009 11:16 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    wilkymk4
    Golf IV Match 1.9PD ATD 100PS
    • Joined on Mon, Oct 6 2008
    • Location: Newcastle
    • Posts 1,682
    • Top 200 Contributor

     Im gonna have to take my bumper off to do my sidelights,tried n failed to get in n its just to tights,changed my dipped n indicators ok tho,my sidelights now look poo next to my dipped!

    Got some Anni lights on the way so gonna have to take the bumper off anyway,gonna get an HID kit n do it all at the same time.Smile



    Smooth sides,wheels,coilovers and ARBs next.........Yes
  • Thu, Jan 15 2009 2:32 PM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    adamd
    • Joined on Sat, Oct 20 2007
    • Posts 14
    • Not Ranked

    Having tried for over an hour, I just can't get the silver bail release on the bulb to release! I think I might have to take off the bumper! Looking at the picture above (thanks Jimmyboy) of the passenger side, I think both silver bails need pushing towards the drivers side of the car (as my drivers side feels like Jimmyboys passenger photo looks!)?

  • Sun, Jan 25 2009 7:01 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Mattgeezer
    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 AJM 115PS
    • Joined on Thu, Aug 21 2008
    • Location: Berkshire
    • Posts 1,067
    • Top 500 Contributor

    can you move the battery without haveing to disconnect it?

    Cheers.

    GT TDI115, 6000k Hid Kit, Leds, K&N Panel, JOM anni valance.
  • Wed, Feb 4 2009 3:28 PM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Andy Tang
    • Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005
    • Location: Surrey/SW London
    • Posts 52
    • Not Ranked

    I wish I read this thread before spending an hour trying to contort my fat fingers into claw like shapes to fit both bulbs!!

    Jazz Blue Mk4 GT TDI PD150 with tints and 17" Audi TT wheels - 178bhp & 256lbs/ft @ Power Engineering [with a clogged air filter and faulty MAF sensor!!]
  • Tue, Mar 3 2009 9:59 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    jimmyboy
    Golf IV GTTDI 1.9 AHF 110PS
    • Joined on Sat, Jan 13 2007
    • Location: Bristol
    • Posts 22
    • Not Ranked

    @adamd... that photo was of the pasenger side but it was at an angle. Do what I did and take a pic of it with your phone or camera then you can see what you need to unclip.

    GT TDI 110... about as standard as they come
  • Tue, Mar 3 2009 10:14 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    ABM
    Golf IV GTI 1.8T 20v ARZ 150PS
    • Joined on Fri, Jan 30 2009
    • Location: Taunton, Somerset
    • Posts 3,295
    • Top 75 Contributor

     I find changing the dipped beam bulbs pretty easy, same with the fogs and indicators. But when it comes to the sidelights and full beam, I struggle. I'm going to be honest, I can't see/feel where the sidelight bulb is. Anyone got any pics or pointers?

    - Chris

    <<Flickr>> <<My Car>>
  • Tue, Mar 3 2009 10:14 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    bouncerMk4
    Golf IV TDI 1.9 ATD 100PS
    • Joined on Mon, Apr 30 2007
    • Location: Wales
    • Posts 3,035
    • Top 100 Contributor

     I've got LED sidelights to go in - my interior LED looks blue but that's because it's so white - how will the new Audis fair when a MoT becomes due because they are ultra bright

    2003 Mk4 TDi 130ish ps -
    2005 A3 SE 2.0TDi 140 ps (the wife's!!)(but mine from Monday) - (but she didn't say which Monday
    I'm VAGnostic - thank God
  • Tue, Mar 3 2009 11:04 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    ABM
    Golf IV GTI 1.8T 20v ARZ 150PS
    • Joined on Fri, Jan 30 2009
    • Location: Taunton, Somerset
    • Posts 3,295
    • Top 75 Contributor

    bouncerMk4:

     I've got LED sidelights to go in

    Same here, and it's annoying me that I can't get them in

    - Chris

    <<Flickr>> <<My Car>>
  • Tue, Mar 3 2009 5:30 PM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Boravw
    Bora Sport 1.9 AJM 115PS
    • Joined on Sun, Feb 3 2008
    • Posts 534
    • Not Ranked

    Side light bulb went on Bora, cost of replacement bulb from main dealer was a wallet busting £1.00, and fitted free of charge in 5 mins, very happySmile

  • Thu, Mar 5 2009 12:30 PM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    Chris_4536
    Golf IV GTI 1.9 ARL 150PS
    • Joined on Fri, Mar 14 2008
    • Location: Sutton-in-Ashfield
    • Posts 320
    • Not Ranked

     Just like to add that I too have changed dipped beam bulbs and sidelights on both sides of my car (150PD)

    Only thing I removed was the little 'inspection cover' (with a picture of a bulb on) and the battery cover - both on the n/s.

    Took a bit of effort to get a hand in - but by no means the most difficult bulb change I have ever done. I used to work for Halfords, and have fitted bulbs into numerous cars. The most difficult (in situ) would be a Citreon C3 and Ford Ka as a close second!

     

    Lotsa Love,

     

    Chris lol!



    Swirl free since 08/08/08
  • Mon, Nov 9 2009 3:51 AM Re: How To...Change headlight bulbs

    The_allstar
    Golf IV 1.4 16v AXP 75PS
    • Joined on Wed, Nov 4 2009
    • Location: "The Sticks", nr. Oxford
    • Posts 472
    • Not Ranked

    I've decided it's actually impossible to replace the sidelights and full beams. I just spent a good 45 mins trying. Will have to learn how to take the bumper off or go ask my dealer. 

    Oh, and I've got a 1.4 - enough room to swing a cat, still couldn't do it. 

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