avtur Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 A few weeks ago older daughter turned up at home asking if I could check the lights on her Mk 1 Ford Ka. The o/s dipped headlamp had blown, there are separate bulbs for dipped and main beam but both sit in the same housing. A quick look under the bonnet revealed that access was very poor, what was required was a hand the size of a 5 years old's with the strength and experience of an adult mechanic. After several attempts and scraped knuckles I realised I needed a plan B. An option I've used on several cars over the years has been to remove the complete headlamp unit, so I decided to try this. I then found that removing the headlamp requires that half the front bumper and the wheelarch trim have to be released; and even then access to one of the three headlamp mounting bolts is still extremely difficult. I did manage it but it took over 90 minutes start to finish. Yesterday we discover the recently replaced bulb has blown ...aaargh! After some searching on Google (where this problem is well documented) I found another suggestion; to jack the car up, remove the front wheel and plastic wheel-arch liner and approach the headlamp unit from below. I decided to give this a try and much to my surprise it worked and I had the job completed in 30 minutes. From what I've read the subject of replacing headlamp bulbs on many cars is riddled with similar examples where it's very difficult, certainly not a roadside job. It's strange because in some European countries carrying spare bulbs is mandatory, not much use if you have part dismantle the car to fit the bulb. Edited By avtur on 11/02/2015 02:34:55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Price 2 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Avtur. Laws are not always designed to make sense or make the world a better place. They are, often, specifically to provide many years of secure, superannuated employment for the grey suits framing them. Dont believe me? Ask your local friendly HGV driver about the driver CPC!! Just saying like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted hughes Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 This Guardian columnist agrees:**LINK** He paid £90 for a bulb change. Halfords will do it for about £7 I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy.I Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 My wife's Nissan Micra suffered a blown headlight bulb last week, and I then discovered the parking bulb on the other side had gone too. After lifting the bonnet I discovered that there was no room for my hands which are not that large, and my wife couldn't get her hands in either. I then had a brainwave! I drove to Halfords and paid them to do it. It cost £7 for the headlamp and £3 for the sidelight, but I sat in the car nice and warm and by the time they were finished the car was covered in over an inch of wet snow. Bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugbear Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Welcome to the world of modern cars. A bit of a side-track but in France we have to carry spare bulbs to replace, if stopped by the Gendarmes, at the roadside. If you state that you don't know how to do it they are obliged to assist you In reality, of course, after taking a look, it will probably end up with a "get it fixed at the next garage" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I have always said that aircraft designers should be made to work on aircraft for at least two years before they are allowed to start designing. The same would apply to car designers. Maybe then they would think about ease of access to all parts. I know that I try to design my models so that I can get at everything reasonably easily. Edited By Peter Miller on 11/02/2015 08:33:28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted hughes Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 There is of course an upside to having non-user serviceable parts! When I was a child, my father used to do monthly maintenance, which included using a grease gun around each wheel ( I think it was something to do with the brake linkages), and topping up fluids etc. My car just gets an annual service along with its MOT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangster Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Certainly not limited to the KA avta. When I was at work the process to get bulbs changes,even simple ones like rear likes was to call the AA The poor fellow ended up looking at two on line manuals and making a couple of phone calls before embarking on the task which involved serious dismantling go the vehicle. Was it a complex,expensive specialised machine.? No it was a Corsa. If manufactures are going to make changing bulbs so impossible they should fit bulbs that last longer than a year Another AA man gave up changing a sidelight bulb on a Vauxhall combo . I also spoke to a guy the other day who paid £160 for a bulb change on a Lexus Not sure about having a spotty youth at Halfords do it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyAndJo Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Same here Renault Scenic II, absolute nightmare to change the bulbs (but superb for carrying models!), what makes it worse is that when one goes the other normally feels sorry for it and follow suit within a day or two.... This time however I took it to Halfords, nice young chap did them both.. £3 a pop! Worth every single penny.... Halfords all the way from now on for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 +1 for Halfords. My Mondeo Mk4 is a headlamp unit out job... which means some dismantling of the front grille etc. £7 a bulb and it took them nearly half an hour to do both. Money well spent. .... [gangster... they have spotty youths at the Ford main dealer too, but there they charge you £50 an hour plus for their time. The lad at Halfords changes a lot of bulbs!] I miss my krypton units on my Skoda Octavia L&K! Now they were headlamps! Edited By GrahamC on 11/02/2015 09:34:32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangster Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Ok faith restored in Halfords. But!, are we talking about the branches that have proper service bays as well as those who send out whoever is available to the shopping centre car park. As they as good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingCrust Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Any one that has a parking space outside. Ours has a garden awning they use when its raining. Ours is in a shopping centre. Good service from them for me. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Posted by gangster on 11/02/2015 08:47:59: . I also spoke to a guy the other day who paid £160 for a bulb change on a Lexus I could believe it. My Lexus required bumper &/or wheel arch liner removal. But in fairness to Lexus my Main Dealer replaced the blown bulb as part of a fixed price service (£210ish) at no extra cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Posted by ted hughes on 11/02/2015 05:53:36: This Guardian columnist agrees:**LINK** He paid £90 for a bulb change. Halfords will do it for about £7 I believe. I believe Halfords are selective about what they will fit. I researched several Ford owners forums and there were many comments that Halfords refused to touch Mk1 Ka headlamps; there were several comments to the effect that Halfords have a 15 minute time limit. I suppose its understandable that they have a limit, after all £6.99 can only buy so much time. I'm just surprised that headlamp bulb change such a simple car as the Mk1 Ka is not as straight forward as I had expected. Given that I cut my automotive teeth on the likes of the Morris Minor, Austin A35 and A40 I guess I'm just showing my age! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Changed the O/S dip head lamp bulb in my Mk 4 Mondeo recently - headlamp out job as has been said, but it's only three screws and a little bit of manouvering past the wing and front trim. Went to a local carspares shop and they wanted £10 for a bog standard halogen lamp - non branded as well. No chance! Found a branded (Ring Auto) bulb from a spares shop on Ebay £3.50 including postage and delivered next day. Not just the modelling world suffering from inflated prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 As for the first time in my life nearly 9 years ago I had some spare money I bought myself a one year old Jaguar X-Type estate which is ideal amongst other things for transporting model planes. This week a small cover plate on the front bumper disappeared. However I had not realised that the car had headlight washers and that the cover plate (there are two) pops out when the washers operate. The washers only operate if the side lights are on and you hit the screen wash button. They will not work again until you press the screen wash button six times afterwards or you re-start the car. Of course I have never seen the washers operate and am now left with the task of re-fitting a cover plate once it arrives in the post. You have to pull out the washer unit which is spring loaded and trap it in position and then fit the cover plate I hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Fledermaus Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 On a Renault Megane the easiest way to get at the headlight bulbs, is to take the wheel off and the wheel arch liner out. Don't ask me how I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 It's been said that modern cars are becoming more complex - true. They're also much safer (for instance) because of the design of crumple zones, which the manufacturers claim is often the reason for light bulbs being difficult or impossible for the owner to change. Sounds like a lame excuse to me and really more to do with sloppy engineering from the outset - or could it simply be a nice little earner for the dealer networks? (same issue with cam belts, when a decent chain drive is more or less indestructible). I would certainly check on access to lamps etc when I eventually change my vehicle, and My choice would be influenced if I found that it cost a silly sum of money to change a consumable item like a bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin b Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Headlamps ? Piece of cake ! Some of the current range of VWs have a camera in the front bumper. This appears to be connected to just about everything on the car. So if the track has to be adjusted, then the camera needs resetting. Ok. but this can only be done at a main dealer as the equipment is mega-expensive and the software is not available to the trade. We have recently repaired 3 of these and each time it costs £470.00 +VAT !!! That is just for the reset. Anybody who disbelieves I am happy to send a copy of the bills. Looks like every time you catch a kerb it will be an insurance claim. Just wait until they are all equipped with automatic parking ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Thanks for the info................VW won't be on my new car list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avtur Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Posted by Cuban8 on 11/02/2015 10:23:16: Went to a local car spares shop and they wanted £10 for a bog standard halogen lamp - non branded as well. No chance! A couple of years ago I started using Euro Car Parts, they have a counter just 4 miles from where I live and they have an extensive range of parts The prices are generally excellent (they knock spots of Halfords), typically they offer budget and branded options on most parts. They have a very good website which leads you directly to parts for your car when you enter the registration number. Once you've found the parts you need there is a click and collect service. Order the part online and its ready for collection within minutes, which works fine for me since it usually takes just 15-20 mins to drive there. They have counters around the country, well worth a try if you happen to life near one. Money saved on car parts can then be spent on models Oh, and I don't work for them, I'm just a very satisfied customer and happy to recommend on that basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Crook Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I was asked by a neighbour for help in changing a Ka headlight bulb last year. I failed! The Megane 2 (like the Scenic) is a pig for headlamp access. However, I've got a Megane 3, and you pull up a locking bar, undo two readily accessible screws, and the headlight unit can be slid forward to give full access. It shows that, just sometimes, manufacturers respond to owners poor feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Yeap we have a Euro Car Parts in Exeter. I've almost always found what I needed in there. Though I recently wanted exhaust and inlet valves and springs for a Vauxhall and ended up at Kenny's Motor Spares who are local only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Posted by Andrew Price 2 on 11/02/2015 03:06:51: Avtur. Laws are not always designed to make sense or make the world a better place. They are, often, specifically to provide many years of secure, superannuated employment for the grey suits framing them. Dont believe me? Ask your local friendly HGV driver about the driver CPC!! Just saying like. Murphy's law always makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 There's definitely something to be said for classic cars. Nice styling, easy to maintain, terrible fuel consumption. BUT, once you have a healthy, rust free, classic, the day to day costs are likely to be realatively low. I fancy something like this. Edited By Chuck Plains on 11/02/2015 13:31:29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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