Frans: Hey Hans, those TDIers are going to be mad when they have to change the oil in a 2015. Hans: Wait til they have to change a headlight bulb:)

[LeBude]

Just changed my two low beams and had to take off the front of the car almost. That is too much and also why? Why would you do that for something that has to be changed frequently? Why?

 

[hskrdu]

Isn't there a removable flap in each wheel well liner that facilitates changing the bulb?

 

[Powder Hound]

Yikes, and people wonder why I don't want to trade my Mk IVs...

Cheers,

PH

 

[jmodge]

It’s all about the production costs bottom line, maintenance issues are for the worker ants.

 

[Jetta_Pilot]

It's not the days of a 1970's car where there was ooodles of room under the hood and everything was easily accessed.
Modern cars have so much stuffed into a shrunken engine compartment that it's not so easy anymore.
They want to keep as long a wheelbase as possible for better ride quality and keep the body shell relatively short, ergo space limitations.

 

[hskrdu]

Yikes, and people wonder why I don't want to trade my Mk IVs...

Cheers,

PH

I love my MkIV, but changing the bulbs on the driver's side isn't such a piece of cake, either. Those with larger mitts usually remove the two plastic covers (4 bolts), and some remove the battery. That's more work than the two plastic covers in the Mk7 wheel well liner, which just pop out. And how about changing city bulbs in the MkIV? That usually means removing the grill and front bumper cover (and anything connected along the way).

 

[Rob Mayercik]

Same reason that they didn't include a list of bulb types and a properly labeled (read: words, not pictograms) fuse panel diagram in the MKIV owner's manual - they think owners are too stupid to handle that sort of stuff, so they just say "too complex for owners, bring to VW dealer" so you'll go in and pay them to do it...

 

[Nuje]

Interesting that it's so difficult to get to the low-beam bulbs on the Mk7.

I have the HID bi-xenon "lighting package" lights (which shouldn't burn out for a good long while...hopefully), but I've had to replace the H7 "cornering" light on my car and a friend's car, and put LEDs in my front signal lights, and in both cases, was so pleasantly surprised with how quick/easy it was to access those bulbs. Pop off rubbery cover, grab the bulb, yank it out - done.

 

[oilhammer]

There are some other cars that require front bumper cover removal for headlights. Some Malibus, some Priuses, come to mind. At least VAG stuff is super cake easy to R&R the cover, and they have fasteners that are actual screws and not those stupid push clips.

 

[hskrdu]

I just took apart the front end of (her) Mk7 GSW to install Ed's HID headlights and remove the halogens. I actually thought the Mk7 front end was easier than the MkIV, but I prefer the MkIV design. The 7 relies on plastic clips all around the front (same in the rear), where the IV is mostly the main bolts and torx at the wheel well. I can remove bumper cover on my 2003 in any weather, but I think once the plastic is cold, the Mk7 will crack those tabs and clips.

 

[oilhammer]

Good point, you will have to be super careful if you are doing something like that in the bitter cold. I'll never have that issue, but that is a valid concern for those that would.

 

[LeBude]

I saw the flap in the wheel well but ti didn't register in my mind because it was kind of low. The only video I found removed the entire headlight assembly. I'll know better next time. Thanks.

 

[Nuje]

On my car (lighting package / bi-xenon), that flap in the wheel well is for easy access to the foglight; nowhere close to the main headlight assembly.

 

[LeBude]

On my car (lighting package / bi-xenon), that flap in the wheel well is for easy access to the foglight; nowhere close to the main headlight assembly.

Thanks for the confirmation, I thought it was not high enough for headlamps.