How to change LH dipped beam bulb on A4 MY2009 B8 ?

[headache56]

No worries, fixed it easily today.

My B8 does indeed use an H7 bulb for the dipped beam and the replacment instructions were shown clearly in the Owner's Manual.

The instructions were easy to follow and the only difficult part was re-inserting the bulb holder back into position - when space is tight and it is difficult to see. Still, a few minutes of careful trial and error enabled me to re-insert the bulb holder securely.

Time taken: 30 minutes.

[fat controller]

Can anyone direct me to an instruction guide to do this, as I can't find my owners manual at the moment?

I can only just manage to get my fingers into the hole at the back of the light, so wondering if I am going to have to remove the entire assembly to change the bulb over?

[RichA4]

This job is made much easier if you remove the headlamp unit

[headache56]

Dear Fat Controller,

I can't remember exactly and I don't have the Passat or the Haynes manual any more.

I am sure it wasn't necesary to remove the whole headlamp unit. Probabaly it required perseverance with my fat fingers, plus trial and error.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[fat controller]

Just to update - replaced all four this morning; definitely no way I could have done it without taking the headlights out of the car.

A couple of cautionary notes, however, in the hope that it may help others.

- The clip that holds the wiring plug onto the headlight is crap; the trick seems to be to push the plug in toward the headlight, then depress the clip with a screwdriver and twist to release - then finally, pull the plug off. However, I would suggest that you avoid doing this in the cold weather if possible as the clip will just snap and fly past your ear if it is near-on freezing as it was this morning. I am assuming the temperature is the problem as the first one I undid was fine (on the 'sunny' side of the car), and it was the clip on the other side that failed instantly.

- The inside edge of the front wings seems to be quite sharp; as you 'turn' the headlight assemblies out of the car, you run the risk of scratching the very top part of the plastic (I ended up with quite a nasty wee scratch on one of mine before I twigged); the solution is really simple, just pop a piece of folded kitchen roll around the wee pointed bit of the wing.


Oh, and the Nightbreakers - what a difference to the stock bulbs!