Changing headlamp bulbs

[grpar]

I was tempted to change the dipped & main bulbs in my 2004 C-class for those new +80% H7 bulbs that Philips have released. Access to the lamp units looks like a specialist / dealer job though, as the lamp units look like they have to come completely out first.

Anyone done it themselves, per chance ? And if I did decide to let my local MB dealer in Brentford have a go, any ideas on how much labour would be needed ?

 

[television]

Are you sure that you cant get the rear cover off

 

[grpar]

No work room

Unfortunately there's no work-room behind the lamp unit to get your hand(s) in, so whilst the manual gives you a lovely picture on how the remove the access cover, presumably the lamp unit needs to be nowhere near a car to achieve it .... !!

 

[television]

You may have to lift out the water bottle,but it is possible.

BMW to change a bulb £450 remove bumper etc

 

[Phil D]

I've done the dip beams on mine & I'm pretty handless at these things
The black plastic cover is held in by a clip at one side and simply hinged in at the other with 3 or 4 little hinge thingys - all you have to do is depress the clip and ease the cover backwards from that side and it comes away easily. the bulbs themselves are a twist fit in and out so you can't fit them wrongly - the cover then goes back in by locating the hinges in the respective holes and then clip shut - hope this helps - I'll try & attach a picture
I was shown how to do this by one of the guys at the indie that I have been using recently - he even said that if I got stuck he'd do it for me (free) as it is literally a 2-3 minute job if you know what to do
all the best
Phil

 

[grpar]

Thanks Phil D

Didn't see an attachment on your reply there, Phil D, but thanks for the advice. Once I've had a go with these new Philips +80% bulbs (recommended in Auto Express recently) I'll let everyone now whether they are any good or not.

 

[Phil D]

I was going to attach a picture later but my camera has decided to act up - I put the +80s in the dip and am very pleased with the outcome - too mean to pay for two sets and the main beam performance is good enough I think (especially when you don't get to use it too often) if I can get the camera to work I'll try again with the pictures, but the clip which you need to depress is very obvious and is at the inside edge of the cover towards the centre of the car - the hinges are at the outside (hidden away under the wings)
it really is an odd fact of life that modern cars, fantastic as they are, seem designed to try and make idiots of us
in years gone by I did all my own maintenance - even to the extent of changing a clutch on one car - but couldn't fit headlamp bulbs to a ford focus!

 

[wireman]

Why do you need brighter head lamps?

 

[bernardtam]

I was tempted to change the dipped & main bulbs in my 2004 C-class for those new +80% H7 bulbs that Philips have released. Access to the lamp units looks like a specialist / dealer job though, as the lamp units look like they have to come completely out first.

Anyone done it themselves, per chance ? And if I did decide to let my local MB dealer in Brentford have a go, any ideas on how much labour would be needed ?

Not sure that will help or not but please refer to the photo I took from my manual. Please note that if it is the same in your car, press the lever down as per the red arrow then pull it to the rear side of the car and you should have the cover out, I believed that there is a H7 and also a H1 - Fog Lamp right underneath it, also, another clamping bracket for H1 main beam. If you want to change all of them, you needs 4 x H1 and 2 x H7 !

Best to do is refer to your manual

Hope these info help !