defever
12-11-2015, 01:53 PM
Hello fellow B5 Avant drivers,
Today, I finally got around to replace few light bulbs on the high level third brake lights (the one at the top of the boot window). I've been putting it off because it just looked more effort for what it is... but I've done it and here's a little quick guide on how to do it!
First, you will need to lift the upper trim panel of the boot where the brake light cluster is located (#11 on the image):
29160
Be gentle with the trim; use gradual force to lift it, don't yank it. You'll risk snapping the trim. Find where the metal clips are by feeling where the most resistance is by pulling the trim. I got the two clips by either side of the light cluster, and that gave me enough space to access the light so I left it at that rather than removing the whole trim (you can see the whole for the metal clip below, just to the right of the cluster):
29163
Then undo the metal Philips screw on the light cluster. There's only one screw. You should be able to get a small ratchet in to unscrew it. Wiggle the cluster to and it should come out.
Then remove the red casing by gently prying the plastic clips using a small flat blade screwdriver. There are four of these, two on each side (one by the screw on the picture):
29164
The inside looks like this. There are ten tiny light bulbs:
29165
The light bulbs comes out straight off quite easily. Make sure you wear a glove or use a clean cloth to remove/insert bulbs. Grease and dirt on your fingers will shorten bulb life.
The light bulb part number is N 900 510 02 on VAG catalogue. It's a "capless" (i.e. no plastic casing) wedge bulb.
I got mine from ECP, Lucas LLB284 12V 2.3W (around £1.25 EACH!).
I hope this helps; I now these tiny bulbs die eventually and if you are still driving B5 Avant then one or two bulbs are likely to be dead on your car!
Today, I finally got around to replace few light bulbs on the high level third brake lights (the one at the top of the boot window). I've been putting it off because it just looked more effort for what it is... but I've done it and here's a little quick guide on how to do it!
First, you will need to lift the upper trim panel of the boot where the brake light cluster is located (#11 on the image):
29160
Be gentle with the trim; use gradual force to lift it, don't yank it. You'll risk snapping the trim. Find where the metal clips are by feeling where the most resistance is by pulling the trim. I got the two clips by either side of the light cluster, and that gave me enough space to access the light so I left it at that rather than removing the whole trim (you can see the whole for the metal clip below, just to the right of the cluster):
29163
Then undo the metal Philips screw on the light cluster. There's only one screw. You should be able to get a small ratchet in to unscrew it. Wiggle the cluster to and it should come out.
Then remove the red casing by gently prying the plastic clips using a small flat blade screwdriver. There are four of these, two on each side (one by the screw on the picture):
29164
The inside looks like this. There are ten tiny light bulbs:
29165
The light bulbs comes out straight off quite easily. Make sure you wear a glove or use a clean cloth to remove/insert bulbs. Grease and dirt on your fingers will shorten bulb life.
The light bulb part number is N 900 510 02 on VAG catalogue. It's a "capless" (i.e. no plastic casing) wedge bulb.
I got mine from ECP, Lucas LLB284 12V 2.3W (around £1.25 EACH!).
I hope this helps; I now these tiny bulbs die eventually and if you are still driving B5 Avant then one or two bulbs are likely to be dead on your car!