Hi Guys. I thought I had a general bulb kit, I don't !! Is there a generic one I can pic up from GSF or Europarts or even halfords (without going ott with halfords prices). Thanks.

Edit. Sorry it's for the French trip.

They dont check which bulbs you have btw, just that you have bulbs. Just buy a generic kit

Thanks Maxi. I opened the manual (page 134), will pop over to GSF today and get a handful of the common bulbs. Almost there for the MB trip.

Most generic kits don't have the same bulbs that the 500 uses probably better visiting a motor factors with your handbook or a list front bulbs and how to fit are guide s section

I think the only one that you definitely won't get in generic kits are the DRL bulbs and the indicators.

Be warned halfords are not cheap for bulbs

If you have HID lights, then you're not going to be changing them by the road (quickly) anyway.

They turn into strobe lights when they are on the way too - always good

Definitely! Amazon are a good bet for a generic kit, I also ordered DRL bulbs on Amazon as well.

bgunn said:

If you have HID lights, then you're not going to be changing them by the road (quickly) anyway.

They turn into strobe lights when they are on the way too - always good

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iirc Arorat does have HID's as well

I think (but can't remember for sure, I'll look later), that it's a bumper off job to get the light out to change the bulb on a HID lit car.

The only thing I'm a bit annoyed about is how FIAT (and AL) cheaped out a bit and didn't fit a RHD>LHD shutter/lever in the lights on the HID versions (as they're projector lights). There's not a huge amount of space in the light unit though, so that might also be the reason.

I used the beam diverter/blockers and didn't manage to blind any Germans last week, so I must have been OK.

Bulbs are available in most French super markets and their hyper markets rival halfords for car parts too


Ps don't forget a triangle high vis vest. And 2x breathalisers

And the hi vis for *each* passenger and keep it in the car so it's available. You have to be able to put it on before you get out of the car.

Breathalysers are funny, they've repealed the bit of the law that means they can fine you, but you MUST carry them. So, errr, they can't do anything if you aren't. Amazing French logic there

Thanks all, very helpful

3 passengers this year so I do (!) need another vest, its on the list now, bulbs will be from GSF not halfords, I have HID - so can't carry spare.
bgunn in the manual I read "front direction indicators (with xenon gas discharge bulbs) - PY24W" and normal direction indicators are WY21W, does my HID car have PY24W ? looking at a the bulb head on I can't tell.

Not sure as I haven't ever taken the bulb cover off; but if the manual says so, I'd be inclined to go with it!

py24w seems to be LED (google results), I didn't think we had LED indicators, but I agree with you if the book says so.

bgunn said:

Not sure as I haven't ever taken the bulb cover off; but if the manual says so, I'd be inclined to go with it!

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Yeah, I'd echo what bgunn has said, sheesh, the py24w bulbs don't look cheap! Personally I'd just get everything else

I have two of every bulb the 500 uses, sods law of course means that other than one dipped beam bulb, not a bulb has gone yet since I bought all those bulbs.

arorat said:

py24w seems to be LED (google results), I didn't think we had LED indicators, but I agree with you if the book says so.

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Nah, the LED's are just more common than the incandescent bulbs

Cheapest I've seen?

BMW Genuine PY24W Headlight Bulb (07 11 9 905 468): Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

Or if you're one of those who fasturbates muriously at the idea of having a silver bulb rather than an orange one....

Actually, these are psy24w's so are the wrong ones

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-PSY-24W-SV-Silver-Headlight-Bulb-X5-X6-X3-3-Series-63217161306-/190704679708

306maxi said:

Yeah, I'd echo what bgunn has said, sheesh, the py24w bulbs don't look cheap! Personally I'd just get everything else

I have two of every bulb the 500 uses, sods law of course means that other than one dipped beam bulb, not a bulb has gone yet since I bought all those bulbs.

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You really are a spare parts man aren't you?

I have no spare bulbs. If one blows, I go and buy one, after searching through my stash to see if I have an old one floating around.

What's it to you? *holds strut top mount in his hand threateningly*