Sidelights - there must be another way?

garnier · Post by **garnier** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:30 pm

After reading the most helpful DIY guide on sidelight (6n2 GTi) removal, I followed it and replaced my bulbs this afternoon. Took me about 2 hours. Great guide, perfect photos, the lot.

Only afterwards as I was thinking about what a ridiculous amount of work to change bulbs worth about Â£3, I wondered if there was any other way of doing it. Sidelight bulbs normally dont last too long, surely there isn't any army of GTi owners across the country spending saturday afternoon removing their bloody bumpers?!?!?

What about removing the battery access to the passenger light and the cold air feed for the drivers side light? Has anyone tried this? I tried to get a look with it all fitted back up and could just about see the screws to release the back-casing/ballast box etc.

Possible or not?

ModifiedMadness · Post by **ModifiedMadness** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:52 pm

I'm sure even VW take the front bumper off, so I'd say it's not possible to do it with it on.

I'm sure there's a few other dubs like it as well

Post by **alexperkins** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:00 pm

I havent a GTI, but last week I had to take my bumper off to install new new bottom grilles. Its something like 20 screws max (probs 15) and it takes about 20 mins to do

Its a worthwhile bit of work, as new sidelights make a good deal of difference. Just a shame one of mine has blown and is awaiting replacement

Cheers,

Alex

mk4 glx 1.6 · Post by **mk4 glx 1.6** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:18 am

I'm glad you found the guide useful.

If you find another way, then obviously we'll all listen with ears open. I don't think there is physically enough room to remove the backs from the light cases, even if you could undo all the screws.

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:53 am

Bloody modern cars lol. I've not done mine yet as I've not found the time

garnier · Post by **garnier** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:54 am

Both my bulbs had gone, I thought it looked pretty cool with just the Xenons on, would have left it like that but it's an MOT failure otherwise. Might just unplug the fuse after the MOT and leave it with no sidelights

My car's going into my local VW specialist on Tuesday to get a service, I'll ask them if there is any other way to replace the sidelights.

I was toying with the idea of taking the casing off the back and cutting some small access holes in just big enough to slip the sidelight bulbs and in out - I could seal them up after I'm done with some duct tape. I'm planning on keeping this car for a while (since I love it) but I dont fancy having the bumper off every the bulbs blow. I'm going to rig up some contraption either way

BENNO · Post by **BENNO** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:17 pm

VW changed mine without taking the bumper off, he said you just need to remove the indicators first. he still said it was a bugga of a job tho. he didnt remove anything from the bay either.

Ian_R · Post by **Ian_R** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:41 pm

I remove all my bulbs and dont take anything off at all, jst the little back on the Lights, bit fiddly with being tight but 5 mins and its done,

garnier · Post by **garnier** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:27 pm

lol, ignorance is bliss. You still got the white wheels on Ian? I live in Edinburgh but never seen your car going about

Ian_R · Post by **Ian_R** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:05 pm

garnier wrote:lol, ignorance is bliss. You still got the white wheels on Ian? I live in Edinburgh but never seen your car going about

Yeah, there a little Rusty at the Front, altho smooth as i rubbed them down, just cant be assed Painting them again, lol, dont really go out much in the car lol, If it is i just sit up the hill, but only once in a blue moon, either that or we play pool lol

GTILass · Post by **GTILass** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:49 am

sounsd like a job for a man

i wanted to change my bulbs but dont look like ill bother now

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:30 pm

Ian_R wrote:I remove all my bulbs and dont take anything off at all, jst the little back on the Lights, bit fiddly with being tight but 5 mins and its done,

Yes but you haven't got a 1.6-litre GTi engine crammed in there, am I right? There's not a lot of space on the GTi which is why it is nigh on impossible

Ian_R · Post by **Ian_R** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:15 am

Si_GTi wrote:
Ian_R wrote:I remove all my bulbs and dont take anything off at all, jst the little back on the Lights, bit fiddly with being tight but 5 mins and its done,
Yes but you haven't got a 1.6-litre GTi engine crammed in there, am I right? There's not a lot of space on the GTi which is why it is nigh on impossible

Correct i havent got one in there, looking at a standard pic of mine and a gti, worst come to the worst take the air box of the gti, thats taking up alota room, But as said i aint got one to try this, i'm gonna have a look on my mates tho.

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:13 am

There are too many screws that you can't get to without removing the headlights.

Post by **alexperkins** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:21 am

So very true - gotta love non GTI's for that