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How long does it take to change one Megane headlamp bulb?
Go on, have a guess... One bulb. How difficult can it be... Ten minutes? Thirty minutes? What do you reckon...
FOUR HOURS
Yes, that's right - four hours to change one bulb. You have to undo the access panel inside the wheel arch, reach in where you can't see, undo the plastic door that you can't see, pull off the cable connector that you can't see, remove the clip that you can't see (you get the idea), and then the spring and bulb all fall out.
Then all you have to do is replace the clip by lining up the metal arms with, you've guessed it, the holes that you can't see. Insert the bulb, lining up the tab with the bit you can't... Attach the spring, then the cables, and then you're done.
I tried for two hours last night (and got a little bit frustrated - sorry Nikki!) Then I tried for an hour at work. In the end I phoned the dealer and they said...
"Oh yes, the bulbs are really hard to fit. You need to book it in so we can remove the bumper and fit it for you. It'll be one to two hours labour, and we can do it a week on Friday."
Let me get this straight - TWO HOURS LABOUR TO FIT A FIVE QUID BULB, and it's currently Monday so that's nearly a fortnight before they can do it?!?!?!
In France it's a legal requirement to carry spare bulbs, and this is a French car, but you can't fit the bulb without having the bumper removed. But hey, at least you'd have a nice shiny set of unusable bulbs in your boot. A bit like I have... Hmmm...
Officer "Did you know that your headlight is not working"
Me "Yes, I did. But I have to wait a fortnight before the garage can remove the bumper for me"
I had one last go tonight and finally got it to work. Overall I really like my car, but this was just ridiculous. The garage's argument is "Bulbs don't go very often these days, so it's not too much of a problem to bring it in to have it done.". Doh! Silly me, and there was me thinking it was illegal to drive with a faulty headlight.
Apparently Halfords refuse to fit Megane headlamps and refer you back to your dealer cos they're so bl**dy awkward to get in.
Grrrrr.
Ok, rant over. I have two headlights now (but very bruised hands from doing a James Herriot impression on with my wheel arch).
Comments
Go to Halfords
Halfords do fit megane headlights now - for £2.99. 10 mins, job done, no hassle - Fantastic value!
10 minutes
it took me ten minutes, I didnt believe but I did it, think is not ot disconnect the cable but to catch it and take the bulb out with it, then to disconnect and replace the bulb, it was driver side headlight
Megane Light Bulbs
I have found a way to replace the headlight bulb without taking the car to bits (too much)
This is for the near side bulb (the side with the battery on)
1) Remove the 2 bolts that hold the headlight (visiable when bonnet lifted) - pull headlight out as much as you can
2) Remove the battery cover
3) Remove the rubber cover from the bulb
4) Rest your head on the bulk head, you can see the bulbs
5) (With the connector still connected to the bulb) twist the whole lot anti-clockwise
6) try to bring the whole lot out as far as you can
7) Remove the connector from the bulb with a screwdriver (you won't do it with your fingers)
8) When putting it back together the bulb sits in the metal 'frame' a certain way, so check before you put it all back together again
Got there in the end
This thread was helpful, so thanks. I managed to change a near side bulb in about 30 minutes, with only minor bruising to my right arm! The most fiddly bit is definitely the retaining clip once you unscrew the headlamp cover. I ended up removing one side of the 'hinge' at the bottom of the clip then (being careful not to drop it!) clip it back in before sliding the bulb out. If you put the steering on full lock there should be no need to remove the wheel.
With that said, it truly is a terrible design and Renault should be replacing these for the price of the bulb in my view, as I read they do in France.
Renault Megane Headlams are NOT difficult to change!
I'm quite surprised at all the fuss about Renault Megane headlamps! After both mine failed within 3 days of each other and whilst I was driving home in the dark on a friday evening - not very impressed, I called my regular mechanic who came out Saturday and fitted 2 new bulbs within an hour.
No need to remove the tyres, bonnet, bumper or whatever else. simply loosen the plastic cover on the top, and wiggle your hand in to remove the round plastic cap cover and then simply slide out the bulb and replace.
The only difference for the passenger side was the removal of the battery - to allow easier access to the lamps. total time taken: 45 minutes. and that included about 20 minutes of gossip too.
I think the dealers are having you on here. seriously we need to publicise this!
"Simply"
I'm not sure that the word 'simply' is correct I'm afraid.
'Simply' change a bulb to me means 1. Open bonnet. 2. Undo easily reachable clips, remove dead bulb. 3. Pop new bulb in. 4 Close bonnet.
Grovelling around on ones knees in the dark, on the side of a road getting covered in wheel arch mud trying to replace somthing that is impossible to see through a hole barely the size of your hand is not as simple as it could be in my opinion.
Maybe not as simple a
Maybe not as simple a procedure as in other cars, but simple compared to Renaults recommendations though? I changed an off-side bulb in about 15 mins from under the bonnet.
Renault Megane Headlamp bulbs
Those guys at Renault are taking the F**king piss!!!!
The car's designer must be laughing...
I feel that i have a good unstanding of the way a car works and how parts are fitted but this is a new one for me...
£20 to change a bulb that cost me £1!!!
Tips:
1 Remove cover that is located in wheel arch.
2 Open bonnet and remove cover over the headlamp
3 Put your arm in through wheel arch and remove cover behind headlamp.
4 After having your arm greated taking off the headlamp cover, you'll have to put your arm back in and have a feel inside the headlamp.
5 This is as far as i got before giving up...
I will not pay to change a tiny little bulb. Why couldn't they just make it like it used to be.
Open bonnet, remove headlamp cover, change desired bulb and done!
MYSPACE.COM/P1PRODUCTIONS
no need for all that, take
no need for all that, take the front wheel off, took me 20 minutes max.
Megane bulb
My brother has exactly the same problem
After being quoted £80.00 TO REPLACE THE BULB! He has elected to drive around with a faulty headlamp until he can trade it for something else.
I've worked in the motor trade for years and think that in this day and age, such a problem with a modern car is a disgrace.
Renault should be ashamed of themselves.
"Bulbs don't go very often"
"Bulbs don't go very often these days, so it's not too much of a problem to bring it in to have it done."
My Megane has had 3 headlamp bulbs go in 12 months!!!
It's not just Meganes...
There was a whole article in the Sunday Times today about how people are having to pay for basic repairs to cars. The new Megane got a mention for the crazy "take the whole bumper off to fit a bulb" thing!
Well hey ho!! My headlight
Well hey ho!! My headlight bulb has gone.
Not long had a sidelight bulb changed in the same headlight unit and got ripped off for that.
Was promising myself an Audi A4, maybe nows the time to consider not being ripped off anymore by a Stupendously bad design of a car and rip off dealerships. Thanks Renault.
Megane Lights up my Life
Hi,
My wife drives a Megane - the indicator went in the summer and after a life and death struggle (my life ebbing away and nearly kicking the car to death) I gave up. Guess what the indicator bulb started working - it was just loose. Something that I've since heard happens alot.
Anyway I have planned this coming weekend to spent some more quality time with the Megane - the nearside indicator is not working and the offside dipped headlight is also gone!!!!arhgggggggg!!!!
Changing the headlight bulb
Changing the headlight bulb is a real pain in the a---! but it can be done without dismantling anything. Both off side and near side can both be done with just bruised wrists from inside the bonnet.
BUT the off side side light is just impossible without removing the bumper or inner wheel arch cover. So stupid! No more Renaults for me!
megane mk2 headlamp bulb change
It IS possible to replace the headlamp bulbs from underneath the bonnet. I changed the off-side in about 10 minutes. Near side would take longer possibly.
Procedure is: Open bonnet, remove plastic panel above headlight area, via several clips. Enter from behind radiator grille, and with a bit of dexterity you can reach connector on bulb (not much space though). Turn plastic cover behind headlamp anticlockwise and remove. Pull connector off, remove retaining spring. Then replace bulb, refit spring, plastic cover and plastic panel.
I agree
I did it also in about 10 mins, quite easy really I have to say, and I am not the greatest when it comes to cars - I was not paying a garage £80 to change a bloody bulb though!. I really recommend taking the big plastic cover off (off side) and the little one (near side) so you can at least see the back of the headlamp unit. Just turn the attaching plugs once or twice and they pop out easily. Then, kneeling down by the wheel arch, you can insert your arm up through the wheel arch cover and see what you are doing, which makes it all much, much easier. It isn't hard - cover off, wire off, clip off, bulb out, new bulb in, clip back on, wire back on, cover back on. Hope this helps !
Megane headlight bulb
I have tried this and failed.
Got in as far as removing the top panels cover and connector.
from the top I could not get the spring removed. even with a mirror. Can you please expand on how it is released and refitted.
Everybody glosses over this bit so it must be really simple.
Megane Headlight Bulb - just go to Halfords
I would strongly recommend going to Halfords who charged me £2.99! to fit a new offside headlight bulb yesterday, and it took the guy less than 10 mins (and a small cut to his finger) to sort it out. At that price there's no point trying to do it yourself.
The way he did it was via the wheel arch, with the steering locked fully to the drivers side to allow better access. He said the main problem is having to hold the clip and move the pin (or vice versa) and then pull out the bulb with one hand, but that the clip could break /come off if you don't do it right and then do it again to get the new bulb in but it's tricky to get it alligned right (unless you've got a mirror so you can see from the front what you're doing from behind the wheel arch).
Don't waste your time though - let Halfords do it.