Anyone with ideas how to accomplish this? Mine haven't blown but I have some extra bright H7 knocking about which I would like to fit. Having looked in manual and pushed clip down, it now looks like I either need very small and strong hands or must remove light unit to get a grip on plug fastened to rear of bulb. Anyone tried this?
Technical changing h/light bulbs on 500
- Thread starter padgman
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Technical changing h/light bulbs on 500
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When Ollie put my HIDs in he had to take my whole bumper off and take light fittings out, as it's not easy like other cars where you can just plug them straight in.
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Fitting new bulbs was very easy for me, 5 min job. Open the bonnet, pull the rubber covers off, take the bulb units out (just a clip and some wires), take the old bulbs out and replace them then put it all back in.
The rear of the lights are very easy to access
The rear of the lights are very easy to access
I thought there was an acces hatch in the front wheel arch liners
I thought there was an acces hatch in the front wheel arch liners
Fitting new bulbs was very easy for me, 5 min job. Open the bonnet, pull the rubber covers off, take the bulb units out (just a clip and some wires), take the old bulbs out and replace them then put it all back in.The rear of the lights are very easy to access
The Dip Beam ones are accessed from under the bonnet
I thought there was an acces hatch in the front wheel arch liners
The Main Beam ones are accessed from under the wheel arch.
I've just ordered my Osram Nightbreakers H1 & H7 so I will let you know if small hands are the order of the day or if normal sized hands are OK! lol.
I was assuming that's what the poster meant since they said they had some H7 bulbs
I replaced my dipped beams using H7 bulbs and they were accessed from under the bonnet!
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I was assuming that's what the poster meant since they said they had some H7 bulbs
I knew that Lloyd it was MEP who mentioned the access panels so I just clarified it for anyone else who wasn't aware. I know you have fitted H1 & H7 bulbs so the question now is ... do you need really small hands to fit the H1s. Ha! Ha!
I haven't fitted H1s. Just H7s. Going to order some of the 'wedge type' ones for the DRLs soon too.
Excuse my lameness, but will changing the lights make the lights appear to go further..
As the main lights are at the moment, I have to slow down, i feel unsafe driving at night, unless i have my full beams on - which are great, but the main beams only seem to go about 2 feet in front of my car.. So my night time driving is spent with my hand on the full beam stick. On. Off. On Off.
I have them adjust all the way to 0 too - they won't go any further.
As the main lights are at the moment, I have to slow down, i feel unsafe driving at night, unless i have my full beams on - which are great, but the main beams only seem to go about 2 feet in front of my car.. So my night time driving is spent with my hand on the full beam stick. On. Off. On Off.
I have them adjust all the way to 0 too - they won't go any further.
How easy is it to change the bulbs via the wheel arch? Is this a simple five minute job, or a pain in the @rse. I'd like to know because this could influence my decision making. I have sworn never to buy another car where the bulbs are a pig to replace.
changing high-beams via access in wheel arch is a bit fiddly (but I've found that most modern cars are!) but using small mirror to check alignment of springclip helps. OK for big hands too! agree re high-beam effectiveness so will be trying 50% brighter jobs! Will report back (when snow melts and i can get out of my road!)
Thanks.
Is it worth changing the headlights bulbs for brighter ones? (my 500 hasn't arrived yet so havent seen the brightness). If it is worth changing them than what bulbs should I change them for?
I have just bought the Osram Nightbreakers which are reputed to be one of the best but still have to fit them yet so can't give you an answer regarding how much better they perform. Going on info from other posts most people agree that there is an improvement to be gained.
I probably might not have changed mine as I don't drive very much at night but as I needed to get a spare set of bulbs for continental driving (it's a legal requirement in some countries) I thought I would buy the better bulbs and keep my others to use as the bulb kit.
As there are now brighter (and now legal) options for h/light lamps, I tend to change them if poss (but see previous post re big hands!). High beam especially as you get definate benefithttps://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/new_cinqui_012.jpg . Suggest you wait until you get car then see for yourself if you feel you need more light.
As there are now brighter (and now legal) options for h/light lamps, I tend to change them if poss (but see previous post re big hands!). High beam especially as you get definate benefithttps://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/data/500/new_cinqui_012.jpg . Suggest you wait until you get car then see for yourself if you feel you need more light.
Also if you find the headlights don't have the distance you think they maybe should. It might be worth getting them checked by the dealer. There is currently a thread in the Bravo section of one guy. who was ready to chav his motor with a set of illegal HIDS only to find the level adjuster needed an adjustment, now he is perfectly happy with the light output.
Swapped my DLR bulbs today for the PIAA ones
Before;
After;
They really smarten the car up IMO! Only took 5 minutes to fit them with the wheels turned too, don't know what all the fuss is about using the access panels, it was a doddle as long as you ignore the manual's instructions to turn it clockwise!
Before;
After;
They really smarten the car up IMO! Only took 5 minutes to fit them with the wheels turned too, don't know what all the fuss is about using the access panels, it was a doddle as long as you ignore the manual's instructions to turn it clockwise!
Lloyd, I don't think the fuss is so much about the access panels as much as the size of one's hands. You're correct though that they do look much better than the standard yellow ones. Have you thought about changing the orange indicators for the chrome ones?
