Shamrockez
30th August 2008, 16:58
Model: 08 TDi - other engines will be the same headlight wise, but access to the bits might be easier or harder. I did the driver's side on RHD Beetle.
Tools needed: 5mm socket, lots of extension bars and a ratchet. Screwdriver - doesn't matter what type, it just needs to be long. If you don't have a long screwdriver, then a thin bit of wood, plastic - whatver, will do fine.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0020ui.jpg
Make sure you do this when the engine isn't too warm as you'll be sticking your hands and head everywhere trying to find where bits are! First of all you need to locate where the diagram of the little padlocks are - next to that is a weird bolt thing. You need to turn it clockwise to undo and anticlockwise to do up. It looks like this:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0024ui.jpg
To remove the headlight you need to turn the bolt clockwise until it goes no further - don't force it past where it doesn't want to go.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0026ui.jpg
Once you do this you'll notice the headlight has shifted position. It'll be a little wobbly too. Now get your long screwdriver and push down on the shiny lever - it was impossible to take a pic of this due to stuff being in the way - but here's the end of it:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0028ui.jpg
Get your assistant to hold the lever down whilst you gently wiggle the light and it will come out. The device for holding it in is very different to the earlier Beetles. It's held in by a bar at the bottom (which is connected to the padlocky bit you turned earlier) which sits between brackets in the light unit.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0032ui.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0031ui.jpg
The light will also unplug itself.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0030ui.jpg
To get to the bulbs you need to pull the silver clip down and the top comes off:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0033ui.jpg
You then need to pull the wiring plug off the bulb(s) you want to replace and then remove the bulb. The dipped and main are both H7 bulbs and the side is 501.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0037ui.jpg
We were changing the full beam bulb... to remove it you had to pull the little tabs down and out:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0035ui.jpg
Old H7 bulb:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0036ui.jpg
Putting them back in is very easy. Just line the light up in the position it should sit at, then gently push it in all the way. You may need to twist it anticlockwise slightly (driver's side). Whilst still firmly holding the light in, you need to turn the little padlock thing round anticlockwise all the way. The light should then stay flush with the bodywork.
Tools needed: 5mm socket, lots of extension bars and a ratchet. Screwdriver - doesn't matter what type, it just needs to be long. If you don't have a long screwdriver, then a thin bit of wood, plastic - whatver, will do fine.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0020ui.jpg
Make sure you do this when the engine isn't too warm as you'll be sticking your hands and head everywhere trying to find where bits are! First of all you need to locate where the diagram of the little padlocks are - next to that is a weird bolt thing. You need to turn it clockwise to undo and anticlockwise to do up. It looks like this:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0024ui.jpg
To remove the headlight you need to turn the bolt clockwise until it goes no further - don't force it past where it doesn't want to go.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0026ui.jpg
Once you do this you'll notice the headlight has shifted position. It'll be a little wobbly too. Now get your long screwdriver and push down on the shiny lever - it was impossible to take a pic of this due to stuff being in the way - but here's the end of it:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0028ui.jpg
Get your assistant to hold the lever down whilst you gently wiggle the light and it will come out. The device for holding it in is very different to the earlier Beetles. It's held in by a bar at the bottom (which is connected to the padlocky bit you turned earlier) which sits between brackets in the light unit.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0032ui.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0031ui.jpg
The light will also unplug itself.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0030ui.jpg
To get to the bulbs you need to pull the silver clip down and the top comes off:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0033ui.jpg
You then need to pull the wiring plug off the bulb(s) you want to replace and then remove the bulb. The dipped and main are both H7 bulbs and the side is 501.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0037ui.jpg
We were changing the full beam bulb... to remove it you had to pull the little tabs down and out:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0035ui.jpg
Old H7 bulb:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/How%20Tos/DSC_0036ui.jpg
Putting them back in is very easy. Just line the light up in the position it should sit at, then gently push it in all the way. You may need to twist it anticlockwise slightly (driver's side). Whilst still firmly holding the light in, you need to turn the little padlock thing round anticlockwise all the way. The light should then stay flush with the bodywork.