Headlight removal

[hazlad24]

just done mine and took about half an hour thanks to that vid. I used an iphone in video mode with torch on and i could angle screen and see what I was doing. made it much easier, didn't have to remove air cover but it was a lot harder on drivers side because of this. I hope there is no way of coking this up as im not sure how old bulb sat but the new ones dont seam to be 100% central to that metal grill that covers around them??? is this normal? does it depend on how dipped they are?

 

[Pauly]

I found the metal shield thing has a bit of movement and can wiggle around a bit, as long as it's fully covering the front of the lamp I imagine it would be ok ?

 

[hazlad24]

cheers, another thing I notices was if a door was left open the drivers fog light comes on when headlights are on. Not sure if its meat to but wasn't until i shut the back door it went off. how odd.

 

[D42MAT]

Thanks to the previous posts by CRD and Pauly I was able to change both my bulbs. Thank you.

I used the GE 130% Megalight Ultra bulbs, as recommended and tested by autoexpress above other brands.

Using the previous post I've added a few extra notes BELOW to make it real easy for the novice (like myself) and some pictures that may help.

I can notice a bit of an improvement. I can't say it looks 130% brighter at all. All I know is that it saves me £2500+ in yearning after the proper VW LED headlights.

Cheers.

• For the driver's side I just removed the top half of the air box to get access, much easier.
• Remove the 2 air flow sensor plugs (they don't just pull off, there is a push catch on each that you need to release to allow them to be pulled off).
• Slacken the large jubilee clip. A pipe wrench is good for this as it is a large metal spring/clip that holds it together. Gently push the air pipe to the right, away from the box, whilst gripping the spring/clip open.
• Flip up the couple of catches (one in front and one behind) that attach the top half of the air box to the bottom half.
• With a bit of jiggling, the top half of the air box will come off. DON'T force it, it is tight but will come out. There are a series of hooks on the left hand side of the box that need unhooking from the bottom left half.
• You will then get good access to the bulb cover and lamp.
• Be careful never to touch the glass of the bulbs with your hands as this will shorten the lifespan of them.

For the passenger side headlight.. Use a 13mm socket and loosen (not undo) the battery retaining clip. Once loose push the battery backwards as far as it will go and this should give you just enough room to replace the bulb.

 

[liam hockey]

Doesnt show you how to do it in situ but gives you an idea of the mechanism that you cant see properly when its in place, FWIW it can be done without removing anything else, very fiddly but possible, you dont have to remove sidelight bulb i did it to move wires out of the way for clarity and it simply pulls out

View attachment 3899

Thanks for this Vid , took me about 2 mins per side, after faffing about for half an hour b4 i saw this, cheers!!

 

[Grainfoot]

Just got a couple of GE megalight ultra bulbs. After looking at previous posts can't say I am looking forward to fitting them. Sure the posts and videos will help though will have a go in the next couple of days.

 

[Grainfoot]

Thanks for videos and photos bulbs in now.

 

[GARY Doe]

Doesnt show you how to do it in situ but gives you an idea of the mechanism that you cant see properly when its in place, FWIW it can be done without removing anything else, very fiddly but possible, you dont have to remove sidelight bulb i did it to move wires out of the way for clarity and it simply pulls out

View attachment 3899

Thanks for this as l now have the most of my skin still attached to my knuckles

 

[Slw66]

Thanks to the previous posts by CRD and Pauly I was able to change both my bulbs. Thank you.

I used the GE 130% Megalight Ultra bulbs, as recommended and tested by autoexpress above other brands.

Using the previous post I've added a few extra notes BELOW to make it real easy for the novice (like myself) and some pictures that may help.

I can notice a bit of an improvement. I can't say it looks 130% brighter at all. All I know is that it saves me £2500+ in yearning after the proper VW LED headlights.

Cheers.

• For the driver's side I just removed the top half of the air box to get access, much easier.
• Remove the 2 air flow sensor plugs (they don't just pull off, there is a push catch on each that you need to release to allow them to be pulled off).
• Slacken the large jubilee clip. A pipe wrench is good for this as it is a large metal spring/clip that holds it together. Gently push the air pipe to the right, away from the box, whilst gripping the spring/clip open.
• Flip up the couple of catches (one in front and one behind) that attach the top half of the air box to the bottom half.
• With a bit of jiggling, the top half of the air box will come off. DON'T force it, it is tight but will come out. There are a series of hooks on the left hand side of the box that need unhooking from the bottom left half.
• You will then get good access to the bulb cover and lamp.
• Be careful never to touch the glass of the bulbs with your hands as this will shorten the lifespan of them.

For the passenger side headlight.. Use a 13mm socket and loosen (not undo) the battery retaining clip. Once loose push the battery backwards as far as it will go and this should give you just enough room to replace the bulb.

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Hi, is there a video of this process? I'm not sure I undertsand which is which in this step "Slacken the large jubilee clip. A pipe wrench is good for this as it is a large metal spring/clip that holds it together. Gently push the air pipe to the right, away from the box, whilst gripping the spring/clip open." Many thanks

 

[Slw66]

Ok, trying to get the air box lid off, theres a wire bit plugged into the top, see pic, I can flick the little grey T up but it won't come off at all....and any help on how to get the giant clip off the air pipe and then how to get it back on after woud lbe hugely appreciated....

 

[St4n99]

That connection was a bit hard to come off last time I changed my bulbs , as long as the wee grey tab is up then it's unlocked , it will come off eventually . Your air box looks cleaner than mine lol

 

[St4n99]

If I remember correctly your engine light will come on with that disconnected with ignition on but went off once reconnected

 

[St4n99]

Ok, trying to get the air box lid off, theres a wire bit plugged into the top, see pic, I can flick the little grey T up but it won't come off at all....and any help on how to get the giant clip off the air pipe and then how to get it back on after woud lbe hugely appreciated....View attachment 46934 View attachment 46935 View attachment 46935

Infact I have just realised your air box is different from mine and has what looks like a pipe going into , hopefully someone will be along with same airbox as you , is this a euro 6 engine ?

 

[Slw66]

That connection was a bit hard to come off last time I changed my bulbs , as long as the wee grey tab is up then it's unlocked , it will come off eventually . Your air box looks cleaner than mine lol

You are right. Needed some persuasion but when I got that off it was straight forward, much more room and I was able to put the wee clip back on to hold the bulb in place. Thank you all sooooo much, I hope I’ll be able to help someone eventually rather than always asking for help ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Still no dog. If the little mirror that fell down by the light assembly but small victories for me for now Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[Slw66]

Infact I have just realised your air box is different from mine and has what looks like a pipe going into , hopefully someone will be along with same airbox as you , is this a euro 6 engine ?

No it’s petrol but the pipe is rubber so I could take the air box top off without disconnecting the tube/pipe. All good now, thank you!

 

[wilson]

Hi All - just upgraded my lights to the new Transporter HQ units with the dynamic indicators I also fitted the xenon kit from ABD (Hids4U) - I have fitted these to several cars and vans and found them to be fantastic with projector units (I have fitted the Stealth 55W lamps which give a superb output and at 5000k are not too blue and look OEM, I fitted the xenons when the light units arrived and was still waiting for my H1 nightbreakers to arrive but impatience got the better of me!
When they did arrive I though it should be straightforward to fit the H1's after reading this thread and watching a couple of vids on Youtube I felt confident that it should be possible with the lights in situ (big mistake) I could not see into the back of the housing but after some fiddling I successfully unclipped the retaining spring only for it to fall out of its retainer and fall into the light unit!!!!.
The moral of the story is that unless you have fingers like an African tree frog I would suggest removing the bumper and lights and fitting them out of the van (test them before you refit the bumper) It is not a long job (particularly if you have previously removed the bumper (10 torx screws and 4 push clips plus a couple of other fixings should see the bumper free of the van - it is recommended to have someone help pull the bumper off but it can be done if you are careful)
I now have xenon projectors for dipped beam and Osram Nightbreakers for main beam (I had the garage program Vagcom so dipped units stay on with main beam) this gives me great lighting on the road and the units have a sharp cutoff on the beam patter with no stray light - Happy Days

 

[Ads_Essex]

Hi All - just upgraded my lights to the new Transporter HQ units with the dynamic indicators I also fitted the xenon kit from ABD (Hids4U) - I have fitted these to several cars and vans and found them to be fantastic with projector units (I have fitted the Stealth 55W lamps which give a superb output and at 5000k are not too blue and look OEM, I fitted the xenons when the light units arrived and was still waiting for my H1 nightbreakers to arrive but impatience got the better of me!
When they did arrive I though it should be straightforward to fit the H1's after reading this thread and watching a couple of vids on Youtube I felt confident that it should be possible with the lights in situ (big mistake) I could not see into the back of the housing but after some fiddling I successfully unclipped the retaining spring only for it to fall out of its retainer and fall into the light unit!!!!.
The moral of the story is that unless you have fingers like an African tree frog I would suggest removing the bumper and lights and fitting them out of the van (test them before you refit the bumper) It is not a long job (particularly if you have previously removed the bumper (10 torx screws and 4 push clips plus a couple of other fixings should see the bumper free of the van - it is recommended to have someone help pull the bumper off but it can be done if you are careful)
I now have xenon projectors for dipped beam and Osram Nightbreakers for main beam (I had the garage program Vagcom so dipped units stay on with main beam) this gives me great lighting on the road and the units have a sharp cutoff on the beam patter with no stray light - Happy Days

Let’s have a looksie, then

 

[wilson]

Will post some pics tomorrow when back home - watch this space

 

[dubber36]

@wilson Is there room to fit the HID ballast inside the headlight?

 

[wilson]

dubber - I didn't try as there is plenty of room behind the unit - my ballasts are fitted to the inner wing - I will post a piccie tomorrow if it helps