Cabriolet headlight removal

P

pbarlow0032

Registered User
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
168
Reaction score
2
Points
18
Location
Stanley, County Durham
Hi all,
was hoping someone could confirm that there is only 1 back screw to loosen per headlight when removing them from a cabriolet. I've read various guides and watched a vid on YouTube that all say to remove 2 Torx head screws on top and 2 Torx head screws to loosen per headlight, but when I've looked and removed my air box feed, I can see only one back screw to loosen. I then saw a very brief comment on another forum saying there is only one screw to loosen when doing the job on a cabriolet ( which seems to back up what I've seen!). Has anyone done this, and can you confirm?

i need the answer specifically for a cabriolet please

thanks,
Paul
 
I can't remember exactly but it's deffo either two or three, there down the back of the headlight, possible one on the crossmember as well. Been a while since I did it but I managed it easily, only took max 10 mins per side, unbolt then they slide out without having to remove the bumper.
 
Put some low tack tape or plastic film on top of the bumper to prevent scratches too.
 
Thanks guys, that really helps! I was stumped, as every guide mentioned 2 screws on top to remove, 2 at the back to loosen off, but it seems that's only saloons/avants!

j88ner - what do you mean by multiplug (sorry if I'm being thick!)
 
Hi all, finally got round to looking at this today (needed a T30 Torx!). Managed to get the light unit out ok, but can't work out how to remove the multiplug, and having seen the link to how many broken ones there are, erred on the side of caution. Can anyone help a numpty with how to do it please? Not sure what needs to push in or pul?

also, I can get the flap off the back and it seems easy to replace the main beam bulb, but how do you get at the side light and dipped bulb? Are there further screws to remove once inside the light unit?
 
The sidelight is on a white plastic slider beneath the centre projector,you pull it back and the lamp is on the end of it. I think my dipped beam lamp (hid) needed to have a plastic ring unscrewed to get the lamp out.
 
audi upgrades
pbarlow0032 said:
Hi all, finally got round to looking at this today (needed a T30 Torx!). Managed to get the light unit out ok, but can't work out how to remove the multiplug, and having seen the link to how many broken ones there are, erred on the side of caution. Can anyone help a numpty with how to do it please? Not sure what needs to push in or pul?

also, I can get the flap off the back and it seems easy to replace the main beam bulb, but how do you get at the side light and dipped bulb? Are there further screws to remove once inside the light unit?
Click to expand...

perhaps reading this and my last post will give you a help - Broken Tabs. How do I remove headlight harness plug?
 
So I think I'm pushing it in, then using a flat head screwdriver in the tab thing to lever it out?
Am i right in saying that I have to remove the main beam bulb to get at the others? Are there any detailed guides on how to replace each bulb?
 
Well, the saga continues... I've had another fiddle at lunchtime, worked out how to remove the wiring plug.
Can anyone give me a link to, or information on, how the different bulbs are accessed? When I had a look yesterday, main beam seems obvious, but the bulbs for sidelight and dipped don't seem obvious? Am I removing screws, or just unscrewing bulbs etc?
Any help appreciated,
Paul
 
2012 12 18 145652

You slide the white plastic bit out of the back of the headlight unit to replace the sidelight. The dipped beam is removed on mine in the photo but you can see where it sits. You need a small torx bit to remove the three screws holding it in.

Just had my headlights out looking for a solution to my poor xenon performance, quite obvious now but not sure how I'm going to repair them.
 
Look at the area above the bulb holder, its burnt out , all of the reflective surface inside is black/ burnt and there's a big crack on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JasonS
Ahhh, yes. it's obvious now.

That's not going to be helping your xenon light output.
 
Doing my head in now, might just take it to Halfords! Got light unit off, managed to change main beam and sidelight, but can't seem to get dipped out? Rudedaubin, mine looks different to yours, I can see 2 T20 Torx screws which i've removed, but there seems to be a white plastic ball clip arrangement round the back side which I can't seem to shift? The dipped bulb unit looks like it might just twist out, but when I tried there was no real give so I didn't want to snap anything off! Any ideas? Picture below shows the block with 2 torx screws (one of which is removed) and although the other crew was loose, I couldn't shift the block. The dipped bulb is the one to the right of the photo with a blue plug in it.

Lights2
Also, replaced the side light with a LED and it just doesn't light up, but also doesn't throw up any warnings on the DIS - is it likely to be a one-off dud? I never had chance to try the other LED sidelight in it to see if it was just a dud as I ran out of time.

Miffed to say the least. On the plus side, I'm a wiz at getting the light unit in and out now!

Related question - has anyone used toothpaste to refresh their lights? Saw it on youtube and wondered if it worked? If it does, do you need to put anything else on the lights afterwards?
 
Last edited:
You have halogen lights, not Xenon, so are different.

Workshop manual says to turn dipped beam bulb anti-clockwise and pull out.

Toothpaste works as a mild abrasive, just buff off.
 
Thanks Jason, I really appreciate the help. Can you just confirm please, I rotate the full silver circle anti clockwise, or just rotate the blue plug which is in the middle of the circle? Should I be able to do it without removing the central square block with the Torx screws in it?
 
Does anyone know if its the full silver circle I turn, or just the blue plug?

also, does anyone know on the led sidelight bulbs, is there a right way and a wrong way to fit them? They slot in with a flat connector, is there a positive and negative, or should they work either way?
 
Well I've finally worked out how to get the dipped bulb out, which contrary to everything on here is not a H7 bulb, it's a H9! Ring don't seem to do a 120% H9 bulb, so can any cabriolet owners who've changed all their bulbs recommend a crisp white H9 bulb please? I'm guessing the cabriolet is different to saloon/avant?
 
Well, finally managed to fit all 3 bulbs to driver's side (most fiddly because of the air intake), just need to fit the final bulb to passenger side today (dipped H9 bulb). Will try and take some photos later. Most impressed with the sidelight bulbs, look fab :)

Could do to sort out rear number plate LEDs now. Best to speak to t8ups?
 
Why the post dislike? The information I gave you is correct.

I have bulbs from Trups in my rear plate lights, they've been in a year or so and have had no issue's, good price too.
 
audi upgrades
Hi quattrojames, definitely wasn't an intentional post dislike, sorry if it offended. You've been really helpful, thank you. I'm posting from an iPhone with a broken screen so I could have hit anything! Can't fault anyone on this forum, everyone on here genuinely seems to want to help.

i hope my trials and tribulations will help someone else if they come to change their cabriolet headlights. I'll try and put up some pictures tomorrow when I'm back in work showing a halfway shot and then a final finished photo.

quattrojames, I meant to ask, are your rear number plate bulbs Led ones or just clearer halogen bulbs?

thanks again for your help
 
BlackBerry trackpad ftw :)

Mine are and LED upgrade, the only pics I have are of the previous bulbs, not the one's Trups supplies unfortunately, although they look the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Cabriolet rear headrest removal
Replies
5
Views
6K
passat16v
P
JasonS
Cabriolet headlight / bumper adjustment
Replies
2
Views
713
JasonS
JasonS
C
Cabriolet rear seat removal
Replies
3
Views
2K
cold_guppy
C
JohnnyRob
Cabriolet dash insert removal
Replies
2
Views
1K
JohnnyRob
JohnnyRob
A4 TC
Diagram for headlight removal
Replies
3
Views
754
Caesium
Caesium
Top
Back