headlamp replacement

amlohac · 05-05-2006, 01:14 AM

Has anyone else found it stupidly hard to replace globes in the 2003 focus? I bought some xenons today and fitted them it was the biggest s.hit fight i have ever had with a car.

Its so tight under the hood of that thing. Is there a simple way to change the globes? I had to unscrew the whole headlamp and there was this very inaccesable screw right under the car (had to crawl under to get to it very very awkward) to finally get the damn thing out. The cover on the back of the lamp doesnt come off unless you take the whole thing out of the car. The right hand lamp has the battery cover in the way and the right left one has all the pipes (radiator coolant stuff) and cruise module.

Now i hope i did it the hard way cos theres no way its that hard? right? Anyone actually know the quick way to get them out?

b2tf · 05-05-2006, 10:26 AM

never changed a globe but i have managed to get that cover off without taking the headlight out. i actually found the hardest bit was getting the cover back on!

melbzetec · 05-05-2006, 01:03 PM

Yeh, I've replaced them. You don't need to remove the entire headlamp, but it is very tight. You unclip the wire at the back of the lamp to gain access, but can't get your head behind it to see what is happenning.I found a small mirror really handy so I could see what I was doing. Still fiddly and hard though

Fast Eddie · 05-05-2006, 02:59 PM

Are the xenon's fitted now and so far how's the result?

amlohac · 05-05-2006, 04:51 PM

Definatly brighter thats for sure. Took it for a spin last night down the hume (no extra lighting so you can really tell the difference) and its very awsome, now ill just have to change the high beam globe. You can even tell the difference between the high beam and the low beam now. The high beam has a more dull yellow tinge where as the xenons are super white.

I got Philips Bluevisons (which is 4000K) i was goin to get 5500k ones ($180 mind you!) but the guy at autobarn suggested that while it would be crazy bright and much better to see at night they are also very illegal. He shared his story with me basically the pigs decided that because they had "a blue hue" to them they were illegal. I still cant understand how being able to see better at night is illegal? OH WELL stupid laws stupid people.

The ones i got also came with xenon parkies, which adds a nice touch. Well worth the money though would suggest it to everyone.

Fast Eddie · 06-05-2006, 12:05 PM

Great news!