Headlight Bulb Change

brownie21 · 9th March 2010, 20:27

Drivers side dipped headlight went tonight. After bobbing my head around the engine bay and much bad language for 20 mins or so I found a flap under the wheel arch giving me some 'knuckle scraping access' with my left hand and little vision. After losing the first bulb in the cavity never to be seen again, I finally got one in by touch and feel. Job well done - 45 mins to change a bulb and a scratched watch, cricked neck and bleeding knuckles. Well done Rover!!

moonstoneboy · 9th March 2010, 20:37

If the bulb retainer is hinged at one end then after a few it is a couple of minutes job.

RHD one - remove water reservoir neck, bayonet fitting

T-Cut · 10th March 2010, 00:06

Mark 1 lamps using bulbs have a wire retaining clip. The important thing here is not to detach it from its lug mounting. Squeeze the sides inwards and unclip it from the lower lugs. It hinges upwards to free the bulbholder flange. Reverse to refit. Here's a photo.

In Mark 2 lamps, the bulbholders have a quarter turn bayonet fitting. Much easier but access is no better than it ever was. Here it is:

TC

Dragrad · 10th March 2010, 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownie21

Drivers side dipped headlight went tonight. After bobbing my head around the engine bay and much bad language for 20 mins or so I found a flap under the wheel arch giving me some 'knuckle scraping access' with my left hand and little vision. After losing the first bulb in the cavity never to be seen again, I finally got one in by touch and feel. Job well done - 45 mins to change a bulb and a scratched watch, cricked neck and bleeding knuckles. Well done Rover!!

I did not discover the wheelarch access until AFTER I had managed to replace the bulb. I bet the air was bluer here in West Wales!!

Took me about 45 mimutes !

Bartonrover · 10th March 2010, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownie21

Drivers side dipped headlight went tonight. After bobbing my head around the engine bay and much bad language for 20 mins or so I found a flap under the wheel arch giving me some 'knuckle scraping access' with my left hand and little vision. After losing the first bulb in the cavity never to be seen again, I finally got one in by touch and feel. Job well done - 45 mins to change a bulb and a scratched watch, cricked neck and bleeding knuckles. Well done Rover!!

1. Drivers side is more easily changed by a LEFT handed person. N/Side by a right handed person.

2. Both sides are easier IMO with the bonnet up so that you can look down (admittedly, limited view) at what you are doing. But yes, it is a fiddle and not really suited to fat stubby fingers - like mine!

baxlin · 10th March 2010, 09:23

I too dropped a bulb while fitting it. I recovered it easily by removing one screw at the bottom of the wheel arch, which holds the arch liner in place. This gives enough access, I found.

HTH

I was tempted to leave it there, but it's slightly more convenient to keep spare bulbs in the boot, alongside the spare wheel............

Malcolm

bramblp · 10th March 2010, 19:34

The good news is that it will get easier the more times you do it, the bad news is you will have to do it more often, I have had my 99 CDT for 5 years and I reckon I have changed about 13 - 20 bulbs

brownie21 · 10th March 2010, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by bramblp

The good news is that it will get easier the more times you do it, the bad news is you will have to do it more often, I have had my 99 CDT for 5 years and I reckon I have changed about 13 - 20 bulbs

That's a lot. I've had mine just over 2 years and it's the first time I had to change a headlight bulb. Would gladly wait another 2. I suppose it depends on the quality of the bulbs and the amount of night-time driving?
Anyway the access point is an absolute joke! I reckon the designers were smoking weed or something.

Tim_Burgess · 10th March 2010, 20:27

Compared to some cars the 75 is a doddle. At least they give us an access hatch. Seat Alhambra apparently requires the removal of the front bumper

Watch out when doing the N/S bulb. Much easier if you unclip the end of the Shannon Tube and move it aside. However this could lead to the tube crumbling away to dust - as in my case.

rrobson · 10th March 2010, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_Burgess

Compared to some cars the 75 is a doddle. At least they give us an access hatch. Seat Alhambra apparently requires the removal of the front bumper

Watch out when doing the N/S bulb. Much easier if you unclip the end of the Shannon Tube and move it aside. However this could lead to the tube crumbling away to dust - as in my case.

alot of german cars require the removal of the bumper, mate at work has a vw golf mk4 (53 plate) and his goes to the garage every time it needs a new bulb! luckily hes a good friend of the owner, so he does it for nowt...

9th March 2010, 20:27	#1
brownie21 Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon 1.8T Club SE Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 521 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Headlight Bulb Change Drivers side dipped headlight went tonight. After bobbing my head around the engine bay and much bad language for 20 mins or so I found a flap under the wheel arch giving me some 'knuckle scraping access' with my left hand and little vision. After losing the first bulb in the cavity never to be seen again, I finally got one in by touch and feel. Job well done - 45 mins to change a bulb and a scratched watch, cricked neck and bleeding knuckles. Well done Rover!! __________________ Wayne [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] We all have mental problems, it's just that some of us choose to show them. Last edited by brownie21; 9th March 2010 at 20:29..

9th March 2010, 20:37	#2
moonstoneboy Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDT Tourer - naturally in Moonstone Green Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Surrey - near Gatwick Airport Posts: 1,316 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	If the bulb retainer is hinged at one end then after a few it is a couple of minutes job. RHD one - remove water reservoir neck, bayonet fitting __________________ Paul Unfortunately for you lot, we are now stuck behind a broken train. We'll be here for quite a while but I don't care, I'm now on overtime. London tube train announcement

10th March 2010, 09:23	#6
baxlin This is my second home Volvo C70 Convertible and JZR 3 wheeler Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tring, Herts Posts: 3,960 Thanks: 124 Thanked 173 Times in 124 Posts	I too dropped a bulb while fitting it. I recovered it easily by removing one screw at the bottom of the wheel arch, which holds the arch liner in place. This gives enough access, I found. HTH I was tempted to leave it there, but it's slightly more convenient to keep spare bulbs in the boot, alongside the spare wheel............ Malcolm __________________ Only my opinion, obviously, so please don’t shoot me if it doesn’t match yours!

10th March 2010, 20:27	#9
Tim_Burgess This is my second home 1999 75 Connoisseur SE 2.5, 2000 75 Classic SE 2.0, 2012 Lancia Delta 3, 2016 Dacia Sandero Ambiance Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kilcreggan Posts: 3,191 Thanks: 334 Thanked 334 Times in 162 Posts	Compared to some cars the 75 is a doddle. At least they give us an access hatch. Seat Alhambra apparently requires the removal of the front bumper Watch out when doing the N/S bulb. Much easier if you unclip the end of the Shannon Tube and move it aside. However this could lead to the tube crumbling away to dust - as in my case. __________________ *The fact there's a highway to hell and only a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers.*.

10th March 2010, 00:06	#3
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Mark 1 lamps using bulbs have a wire retaining clip. The important thing here is not to detach it from its lug mounting. Squeeze the sides inwards and unclip it from the lower lugs. It hinges upwards to free the bulbholder flange. Reverse to refit. Here's a photo. In Mark 2 lamps, the bulbholders have a quarter turn bayonet fitting. Much easier but access is no better than it ever was. Here it is: TC

10th March 2010, 19:34	#7
bramblp Loves to post Rover 75 CDT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 470 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	The good news is that it will get easier the more times you do it, the bad news is you will have to do it more often, I have had my 99 CDT for 5 years and I reckon I have changed about 13 - 20 bulbs