Facelift Factory Xenon Bulb Change

[Denis O]

Anybody have first hand experience of changing a factory Xenon bulb and/or ballast.

On searching around 'tinternet some say it's bumper off as the light unit has to come out. Others say it can be done in situ. Had a look and the nearside appears to have loads of space and offside is less space but still not bad. Certainly as much as I had on my non xenon car that I fitted aftermarket HIDs to.

It seems that we have an intermittent bulb out warning. Could be related to an issue the car had from when I bought it, in that if used on auto mode the nearside Xenon would go out after about and hour and throw a warning light. Switch ignition off and on and it would work for another hour. Using manual switching all was fine until it threw this wobbly yesterday. Started this morning working perfectly.

Probably unrelated but also got a brake light warning yesterday and all brake lights OK this morning and no warning.

MOT next month so don't need any issues for that.

[Raj]

Does sound like the ballast or the ignitor as it does work for a period.

I've changed my OE xenon bulbs/ballasts to 55w jobbies and it was a bumper off job to enable the ballast to be removed, etc. Not sure how you'd do it in situ tbh as the screws are quite awkward to get at/remove for the cover that seals the unit where the bulb is located.

[Denis O]

Much appreciated Raj although it does look like bumper off.

No warnings since so I think I'll chance it for the MOT and do the job when we have some better weather.