Mk4 golf headlight bulb fun

latercomer2

latercomer2

latercomer2

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12 Feb 2009
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Anyone familiar with Mk4 Golfs (and probably most modern cars) will know that the headlight bulbs are a pain to fit. I've had to change the bulbs a couple of times on mine (TDI PD130) and its always been a struggle. Having worked for a number of years in a car spares shop I've changed a lot of bulbs of all shapes , sizes and locations but never had problems like this.

Yesterday with the prospect of having to fit another drivers side bulb even googled to look for a guide. All very straight forward and as expected - wire clip locates behind hook - push to side and back.

Lunchtime today - fought with it for 30 mins and finally gave up. navigated my phone in and took a pic. Too bright to get a good view so go back to desk and upload to PC. Quick comparison with pic from guide and all is revealed.....


bulbfun.jpg



Anyone spot the obvious flaw here? Pic on the right hand side is mine.....
 
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Try the Ibiza PD engined side lights. Takes easily an hour for two poxy 501 bulbs!
 
Can't be hard to get something down there to drift it back into place, Socket extension bar ?? Anything long & Hard Oooo Missus.
 
I'd be attmepting to brutally manhandle that back into shape first too

In saying that as long as it's original then the bumpers are dead easy to drop on the mk4, literally a 5 minute job. Couple of screws in the wheelarch, pop clips along the top then you're laughing. Even if it's got an undertray still on by some miracle you shouldn't need to bother taking it off you only need to get access to the screws at the bottom of the light unit.
 
latercomer2 said:
Last time I bought bulbs it had to be Halfords (which I object to on principle but had no choice that day) and the fitting cost was £6 or £7 each side - which I declined and then struggled away until I was successful.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, never used them for bulbs myself. Didn't realise they were that expensive.
 
I'm all too familiar with the mk4 Golf headlight, and I'm failing to see what is bent in that picture? Its difficult to be certain from that photo, but that clip is exactly how it should be isn't it? Its just come unclipped - its designed to be 'sprung' over the lug at the top of the picture to keep the bulb fixed in place.

Perhaps I'm just missing what you are seeing as bent?
 
Just for reference - VW Dealers will fit al bulbs for free.

Granted its about £6 for the bulb but it's still better than messing about with it yourself for the sake of £6.

i.e. on the New Beetle it requires taking the whole headlight unit out which itself takes around 20 minutes so its worthwhile just getting the dealer to do it for £6.
 
disfunktion said:
Just for reference - VW Dealers will fit al bulbs for free.

Granted its about £6 for the bulb but it's still better than messing about with it yourself for the sake of £6.

i.e. on the New Beetle it requires taking the whole headlight unit out which itself takes around 20 minutes so its worthwhile just getting the dealer to do it for £6.
Click to expand...

Now thats something worth knowing - I suspect that bulbs are a lot more than £6 though.

Mind you if I sort out the bent lug and am then able to use the wire clip as designed there might be no need to get someone else to do it for me :)
 
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