Number plate bulb

[PMJ1]

Any one got any tips on getting at the number plate bulb, mine has gone and the dash keeps beeping at me... trouble is that the previous owner ruined the screw and no srewdrivers I have will work on it as the screw head is completley knackered...

[Crasher]

An incomprehensibly stupid design that we were discussing on here a few weeks ago. I dread having to do them, the screws rust and are a sketch to remove as they are at a daft angle that will not allow a direct angle of attack, even with a very long screwdriver. I often end up having to remove the complete units from the car so I can work on it on the bench and regularly have to replace the complete unit. Whoever designed it was a knob and should be sent back to engineering school. Either that or made to remove the rusted screws on 8E number plate units all day every day for a year, outside come rain or cold, preferably in Siberia in the middle of winter wearing only shorts and a T shirt. He is probably the same muppet who designed the side engine support on the Golf from 1998.

[PMJ1]

I agree whole heartidly ... and the fact the software keeps the light fault on the DIS and it beeps at me.... I have given up now as I kust cant figure out how the hell i am going to get the cover off to replace the bulb....not without damaging something

[kite]

New unit then Paul, and LED bulbs.....

[Crasher]

I have never tried the LED bulbs on an 8E, doesn’t the lack of current draw trigger the bulb warning or do they have a built in load compensating resistor?

[kite]

Built in resistor.....does look nice and bright....

[PMJ1]

New unit then Paul, and LED bulbs.....

If thats what it takes, but how do i get the old unit out...?

[kite]

I know you hate the site crasher but.....http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audi-LED-Number-Plate-Bulb-Canbus-No-Error-Warning_W0QQitemZ290395427608QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item439cea931 8

Not sure how you get it out,you may have to go in from behind or butcher the old one out....

[PMJ1]

Again. cant see evem how to butcher it without causing furthe damage. to get at it through the back does that mean taking off the boot lid liner...does that just pull off....?

[PMJ1]

This i what i am faced with
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d108/PaulJ_/AUDI/31012010104.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d108/PaulJ_/AUDI/31012010103.jpg

[kite]

I think if you break the lens you may get to the clip that holds the unit in..

[kite]

Seems they have to be drilled


http://www.audi-forums.com/b6-forum/44645-number-plate-light-replacing.html

[PMJ1]

how the hell do you get a drill to fit in there....the agles are all wrong.... ah well will have to but the new light unit then coz I can see i am going to destroy these ones....

[Crasher]

You have to remove the unit from behind and at least drill the screws out to fit new units, I have often had to fit a new carriers as the time taken to rebuild the old unit with new lights is more expensive with hours over parts cost. You have the advantage that if you spend 2 hours rebuilding it with new lights that is cheaper, if I did that it is more expensive than a new complete unit. When you do it for a living, you have to think in a different way, balancing time over parts cost and it is not always an easy decision.

[PMJ1]

Does the internal boot lid cover just pop off then to gain access to the rear of the unit... was sitting here thinking that my little dremel like tool might me able to help me here to drill the screws out from the front

[winnie070383]

Is it not possable to drill the rusty screw head off, remove the clear lens and get the thread remains out with mold grip? its what i would do before buying a new unit. :D

[Crasher]

Once you have the unit out of the boot lid, yes.

[PMJ1]

Sorted now... car was at Audi to have a recirc valve replaced... when i went to pick it up I got in the car and bulb failure came up on the dash. got out the car, had a look at the number plate light with the boot open could not see anything so closed the boot and the light unit fell out... sorted... got the tech to take it in the workshop and take out the screw fit a new cover... job done.... however, did discover that the silver trim around the windscreen has broken clip, and needed to be replaced ( was told the trim needed replacing and not just a clip) at £175 just for the O/S upright....

[sooty]

Glad I read this... I bought some LED one's for my B7... They were listed as cam bus ones for the A5 so I assumed they would work but they keep throwing up the warning so I changed them back.

Now I have messed up the screw head on the plastic holders so looks like I will have to remove it.

[sooty]

I know you hate the site crasher but.....http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audi-LED-Number-Plate-Bulb-Canbus-No-Error-Warning_W0QQitemZ290395427608QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item439cea931 8

Not sure how you get it out,you may have to go in from behind or butcher the old one out....

Kite did these work as they came or did you have to play around with VAG COM?

[PMJ1]

Now been waiting 3 weeks fir my bulbs to be delivered..... not impressed with them at all...

[kodkod.84]

I bought these from Awesome GTI- built in resistor and look good quality, I will let you know how I get on with them.

http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=13289&xSec=154