How much to change headlights on Ford Focus?

maniac886

fatdeeman wrote: »

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it a pain in the !!!!!!

The driver side is pretty easy but as has been said the space on the passenger side is really tight and taking the battery cover off is a must.

Funnily enough the time I did the passenger side was in the halfords car park, glad I didn't bother asking now!

The spring mechanism that holds the bulb in is simple enough, it's just getting the cover aligned properly again afterwards that's a nightmare!

I see they're selling bulbs in lidl at the moment, no idea if they are good or not though.

Yeah true the cover was pretty tricky but using the mirror I managed to line up the plastic tabs at the top of the cover. Think it took me around 30 mins for both bulbs which was ok for my first go.

goldspanners

fatdeeman wrote: »

The driver side is pretty easy but as has been said the space on the passenger side is really tight and taking the battery cover off is a must.

the battery cover comes of quicker than you could type battery cover. hardly a drama?

at least you know how to get to them now maniac!

molerat

maniac886 wrote: »

There is definately no need to remove the entire headlight!

Thanks all for your advice!

Now try changing the main beam on the passenger side

maniac886

molerat wrote: »

Now try changing the main beam on the passenger side

Just done this today. Absolute pain in the a*se!:mad:

Think it took me about an hour to change the bulbs on the passenger side as there is hardly any room to move your hands, even after I removed the battery cover. Then the plastic case was pretty difficult to but back on as you had to put it in at an angle but there was hardly any room because the battery tray was in the way.

Just hope the bulbs don't go again anytime soon!

molerat

I have done it a couple of times on mine and my son's. I always remove the headlight, takes about 15 mins, 3 10mm bolts on the headlamp and one on thr grille.

XDA

I found how difficult Focus bulbs are to change a few weeks back, when my dipped main beam bulb went (passengers side!!).

Tried changing them in the cold and dark with a torch and a mirror, but they are a nightmare. Got both the bulbs out, but the clips fell out. After 3 hours, plenty of cursing and 2 pairs of hands I gave up.

Took them to the main Ford dealer which cost me £87. This was for 2 bulbs, headlight allignment and labour. Not cheap, but atleast they were changed.

Poor design by Ford - Probably a ploy to get everyone to use the main dealer when bulbs need changed.

cyclonebri1

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

£20 to change two bulbs? !!!!!!

My sentiments too:eek: Times like this you need a practical mate, suprising what you get done for the price of a pint;)


Oh, it's not just Fords, my Renault is just the same, still not cause for taking it to a garage tho'

Inactive

Conor wrote: »

What do you mean? On the MK3, there's two twist tabs to turn to pop off the grille and two metal tabs you lift on the back of the headlight unit and you can take the complete headlamp unit out. Takes 10 minutes the first time from start to finish including changing the bulb.

Nobody should need to dismantle the front of a vehicle to change a bulb, poor design.

maniac886

XDA wrote: »

I found how difficult Focus bulbs are to change a few weeks back, when my dipped main beam bulb went (passengers side!!).

Tried changing them in the cold and dark with a torch and a mirror, but they are a nightmare. Got both the bulbs out, but the clips fell out. After 3 hours, plenty of cursing and 2 pairs of hands I gave up.

Took them to the main Ford dealer which cost me £87. This was for 2 bulbs, headlight allignment and labour. Not cheap, but atleast they were changed.

Poor design by Ford - Probably a ploy to get everyone to use the main dealer when bulbs need changed.

87 quid:eek:

I admit I almost gave up and rang my local indie and he said he would do them both for £15 all in.

I think using the mirror deffo helped me lock and unlock the clips, but there is hardly any room.

The Osram nightbreakers are so much better than my old bulbs, just hope they last!

goldspanners

XDA wrote: »

I found how difficult Focus bulbs are to change a few weeks back, when my dipped main beam bulb went (passengers side!!).

Tried changing them in the cold and dark with a torch and a mirror, but they are a nightmare. Got both the bulbs out, but the clips fell out. After 3 hours, plenty of cursing and 2 pairs of hands I gave up.

Took them to the main Ford dealer which cost me £87. This was for 2 bulbs, headlight allignment and labour. Not cheap, but atleast they were changed.

Poor design by Ford - Probably a ploy to get everyone to use the main dealer when bulbs need changed.

next time the bulbs blow phone me and i will do it with my eyes shut in 5 mins for half of what you paid at the ford main dealer.
infact i'll even supply the bulbs at that kind of money.