How much does it cost to change a bulb?

wglindsay

I have a Renault Megane and the headlight bulb blew. For 35yrs of driving I have always changed my headlight bulbs. With this car it COST me £20, plus the cost of the bulb, at the local dealership because it is impossible for me to do this routine task due to the design of the 'crumple zone' at the front of the car - this is a quote from Renault customer service dept.
Is this not a case of a licence to print money?

Browntoa

hi, welcome to the forum

I think you will get a better response on the motoring section so i have moved your thread over to there for you

david29dpo

If the twits at the garage can change it, iam sure you can.

Keith

One way is to call the AA/RAC who will do it.

Or 2nd way is to jack the car up, remove the wheel, open the hatch in the arch liner and change the bulb. It's not impossible but it is more difficult than normal

Crabman

Look into whether your local library has the Haynes Manual for your vehicle - that will describe how to carry out routine maintenance etc. as well as changing bulbs.

If this isn't possible, perhaps obtain a quote from a small garage as they can usually beat dealer prices hands down

Hagar_uk

wglindsay wrote: »

I have a Renault Megane and the headlight bulb blew. For 35yrs of driving I have always changed my headlight bulbs. With this car it COST me £20, plus the cost of the bulb, at the local dealership because it is impossible for me to do this routine task due to the design of the 'crumple zone' at the front of the car - this is a quote from Renault customer service dept.
Is this not a case of a licence to print money?

Does not sound too excessive IMHO. Bigger dealerships have bigger costs in terms of time etc. But agree replacement of bulbs should be a user replaceable item

mrbadexample

Just a general musing.... :think:

Would that put you off buying a Renault again? Have Renault, by failing to make such an everyday job nice and easy, cost themselves a future sale?

I'm not sure I'd be too keen if it was that much trouble.....

anewman

mrbadexample wrote: »

Would that put you off buying a Renault again? Have Renault, by failing to make such an everyday job nice and easy, cost themselves a future sale?

I'm not sure I'd be too keen if it was that much trouble.....

I think all new cars are gong the same. The engine bays are getting more and more full of electronic junk and have no space to manouever. Plus it's a way of the dealers making money out of you to put in the manual "for bulb replacement please see your local dealer".

Markyt

This is stupid, given the European rules. If you have a bulb blow, and are pulled over in France or Spain, you have to change it there and then, else you are fined and the car possibly towed to a garage (at your expense, of course). If the car manufacturer makes it difficult to do that at the side of the road, what are you supposed to do?

maniac886

Markyt wrote: »

This is stupid, given the European rules. If you have a bulb blow, and are pulled over in France or Spain, you have to change it there and then, else you are fined and the car possibly towed to a garage (at your expense, of course). If the car manufacturer makes it difficult to do that at the side of the road, what are you supposed to do?

I agree, on my Ford Focus you have to remove the battery cover and battery completely to remove the passenger bulb! In the end I got my local garage to do it for £20 including the cost of the bulb but at least I know how to do it in the future!

Markyt

maniac886 wrote: »

I agree, on my Ford Focus you have to remove the battery cover and battery completely to remove the passenger bulb! In the end I got my local garage to do it for £20 including the cost of the bulb but at least I know how to do it in the future!

There is also the safety aspect of spending much more time than you need to, stood in front of a car on a motorway or at the side of the road, while you remove and replace all the extra bits just to get at a bulb.