Lightbulbs H7 WTF!!

[CanadaA3wales]

Hey


I had to replace my W5W lights as the warning came on and had no issues at all.

I thought to myself, hey I have a brand new set of Phillips Xtreme racing lights that are still in the box, so lets put those in.... Even though my H7 lights were fine.... What was I thinking !!

Anyway, I could not get the H7 bulbs back in, and on youtube, people are saying you need to remove part of the FREEKING !! bumper just to change a damn light.

I could get my hands in that tiny little hole, but they would not seat at all. I sat there for over a hour before I have given up.

Anyway, should I take it to Audi to put the bulbs in for me, Cant imagine they would charge more than £15.00.

I really cant understand why make something so hard that needs to be replaced quite a bit.

Any advice as I have my H7 just sitting in the holes, and will not be able to drive at night until they get fitted properly.

I was there for over 2 hours and still could not get them in.

 

[NHN]

Audi will charge you allow more than £15 I can assure you.

WhatsApp me & they can be resolved when the grills installed.

 

[Dubjam]

Lol, you think its bad on an 8V, try on an 8P, one of the most ridiculous designs ever.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Just messaged
I need to get the lights installed by tomorrow so cannot wait until the grill is removed unless I find someone to change my grill for cash tomorrow in bridgend LOL

I Got my girly hands into the tight hole, but they would not seat into the holder so they are just loose sitting in the hole

 

[Gazwould]

I've had many a 'Benny' at the ridiculous access of headlights .

Last experience was some cornering bulbs , got one in but the other side wouldn't seat , a waste of my life and grazed hands .

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Bud, my fingers are killing me lol

I managed to access the W5W and DRL no problem, but the H7 main lights.... Audi are having a laugh, so dangerous.

One second I thought it was seated, then I moved my hand and it fell out again.

I think I am going to have to take it some where tomorrow, well I am going to have to, but what a joke.

My golf was so easy, open cover out and in within 5 minutes.

2 hours later and I still do not have the main lights seated and a driving a car with a failed MOT unless I find someone to sort it.

 

[Dubjam]

Bud, my fingers are killing me lol

I managed to access the W5W and DRL no problem, but the H7 main lights.... Audi are having a laugh, so dangerous.

One second I thought it was seated, then I moved my hand and it fell out again.

I think I am going to have to take it some where tomorrow, well I am going to have to, but what a joke.

My golf was so easy, open cover out and in within 5 minutes.

2 hours later and I still do not have the main lights seated and a driving a car with a failed MOT unless I find someone to sort it.

Take a breath, have some tea, then reattempt it later or in the morning. Try a mobile mechanic possibly ?

Halfords do a 'bulb fitting' service, would be funny watching them do it for a fiver.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

LOL I was thinking of watching them do it and fail, I think its about £10.00 to fit.
I am calm now.

I have my car being mapped tomorrow, finally the time has come, so wont be able to do it as the appointment is at 9am

I may drive to my mate even though he is busy to see if he can put them in for a tenner.

 

[pburv]

Does this help?

I think he's still a member on here??

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Thanks for that. I've seen that video but it's not like mine, I have halogen and the connection is different.
I can get my hands in to put the bulb in the housing, but it won't connect or seat properly.
Looks like I may have to pay someone to do it.
Maybe they can install my grill at the same time lol

 

[traindweller]

you need to look at the positioning of the lugs and the holes they go into. I eventually took a phone picture of the lens and then could make sense of how the holders go into the retainers. I think they go in at about one oclock and turn back to 12 from there. Any deviation either way and you miss them all together. I also did them without taking the bumper off.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

OMG why the hell did I not think of that.
Stupid Stupid Stupid

Thanks mate, really appreciate the tip!

 

[Fatbloke]

I wonder how much Audi would take.

Was shocked and stunned when a local Landrover dealer took £80 off my father in law to change a rear fog light bulb in his landrover a couple of years back.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

I wonder how much Audi would take.

Was shocked and stunned when a local Landrover dealer took £80 off my father in law to change a rear fog light bulb in his landrover a couple of years back.

WOW And those are easy bulbs to change.
Goes to show how dealers rip off the public, yet people think they are the best and still pay their prices.

Even if I had a brand new RS3, I would still take it to my mate as I know he is very good, great prices and has fixed our family cars for 10 years.

 

[george forbes]

needed fingers like ET to change the bulbs on my old A class especially on the passenger side where the ECU cage blocked access. ended up making a tool from a tooth brush handle with a slot cut in it to be able to turn the back of the bulb to lock it, those were H15's and needed a good quarter turn . some times found it easier to look from the lens side whilst locating it so you had a better idea of how you were lining up.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Yeah I was looking on the front as well, the light was seated properly but it would not screw in place and kept falling out.
My fuse box is blocking my access, but yeah I do have small hands and am able to get into the hole.

I really didnt think of taking a picture of the housing and then placing the light in looking at my phone.

Will have to give it a try.

For something that needs to be changed possibly every year or 2, they sure make it hard to do a simple job.

As I said, with my golf, it was in and out in 5-10 min

It was like I was trying to do brain surgery today.... Impossible

 

[steverobertsbbc]

The H7's are a right pain, but once you get the knack they're really easy. You have to put them in with the tab facing about the 5 o-clock position and then give them a small turn to lock them in. First time I did it it took me half an hour, much swearing and skinned knuckles. Last time it took me five mins to do both.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

Ah right so the singular metal tab needs to be towards the bottom, not the top?
The poster above seems to think it went in at 1 o'clock and then back to 12 to screw in. (Which is the top)

Looks like its going to be raining all day tomorrow, hopefully I get a bit of dry weather to get out and sort it out.

I hope I can get my camera in there for a clear look so I know how to position it.

Cant beleive there is nothing in the manual for such a painfully frustrating job which should only take 5 minutes, Shame on Audi

Really appreciate the tip

 

[Booti]

Just checked my manual and it’s covered on page 256/7

says the lug on the bulb should be the opposite way to the one on the connector.
Insert the bulb with the lug on the connector at around 4 or 5 o’clock and then turn until it stops.
Check fitment through the lens, then replace the cover and test

 

[traindweller]

Not 100%sure it is 1- o -clock and the idea with the phone is not to try to work from that, but to see the lugs and the slots, 5 or 1-o-clock position.
The problem with looking through the front is the tendency to just get the lug in the slot but they are then not locked as you have found.
Easy once you have done it once!

 

[george forbes]

Hey


I had to replace my W5W lights as the warning came on and had no issues at all.

I thought to myself, hey I have a brand new set of Phillips Xtreme racing lights that are still in the box, so lets put those in.... Even though my H7 lights were fine.... What was I thinking !!

Anyway, I could not get the H7 bulbs back in, and on youtube, people are saying you need to remove part of the FREEKING !! bumper just to change a damn light.

I could get my hands in that tiny little hole, but they would not seat at all. I sat there for over a hour before I have given up.

Anyway, should I take it to Audi to put the bulbs in for me, Cant imagine they would charge more than £15.00.

I really cant understand why make something so hard that needs to be replaced quite a bit.

Any advice as I have my H7 just sitting in the holes, and will not be able to drive at night until they get fitted properly.

I was there for over 2 hours and still could not get them in.

Sorry for this but trying to relieve the stress for you with a bit of light hearted humour I came across,
-- How many
Canadians
-- does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Twelve. Four to form a Parliamentary study committee to
decide how to solve the problem, one Francophone to complain
that I didn't translate this joke into French, one Native
Canadian to protest that the interests of Native Canadians
have been overlooked, one woman from the National Action
Committee On the Status Of Women to say that women have been
underrepresented in the process, one to go over the border to
the Niagara Falls Factory Outlet Mall and buy a new bulb and
not pay duty on it on the way back, one to actually screw it
in, one to collect taxes on the whole procedure so the
government can afford it, one to buy a case of Molson for
everybody to drink, and one to drop the puck.

 

[rafletcher]

I wonder how much Audi would take.

Was shocked and stunned when a local Landrover dealer took £80 off my father in law to change a rear fog light bulb in his landrover a couple of years back.

Half an hour labour plus the bulb. Welcome to main dealer pricing.

 

[CanadaA3wales]

When I got my car mapped today there was a Audi specialist around the corner. told him the story, they started laughing and said lots of people come into them saying the same thing.
Charged me £10.00 - Better them than me, it took them 5 minutes.