Replacing HID bulbs

[desertmike680]

How difficult is it to replace our HID bulbs with new ones? I ordered a pair of 8k and our owners manual states that only a Mzda tech should do so. Go figure though.

 

[Jay Davidson]

It's not too incredibly difficult. Removing the bumper and a bit of the fender lining makes it a bit easier, though. It's a tight fit and you'll probably scratch up your hands doing it, but it's certainly better than taking it to a shop and paying an hour's worth of labor.

-Jay

 

[desertmike680]

I'm not planning on removing my bumper nor the fender lining. With that, its doable, but will be a little difficult considering? Thanks.

 

[boost2dms6]

They can be tricky to pull out and put in without removing the bumper.. I however have big hands and had no way of being able to change them otherwise.. I pulled the bumper off (5minutes to do) and pulled out the headlights (5minutes to do) changed the bulbs and reassembled.. 20 minutes or less to do..

 

[desertmike680]

Ok cool. I have really small hands so I might not have too much of a problem. If so, do I have to pull the bumper off completely or just unscrew a side at a time?

 

[Jay Davidson]

I admit that "remove the bumper" sounds a little intimidating, but on our cars, it's fairly simple. The first time you do it, it may take forty-five minutes or so, but every time after it should only take twenty. It makes so many different jobs so much easier. Give it a shot!

-Jay

 

[Drover]

If needed i have pictures showing how to remove the bumper

 

[desertmike680]

Drover,
that would be a great help. Thanks. I was just outside looking at and it seems to me that the only way to get them in would be by putting your hands through the fender well and installing them that way?

 

[boost2dms6]

I just wouldn't wanna risk putting the bulb in there with not much room to work with.. Could easily hit the bulb on something and break it or drop it down inside the car and you have to get another one.. Whats 40min-1hr of your time to do it the right way?

 

[desertmike680]

Yes I totally agree. I will definitely pull the front bumper completely off. Are there a lot of bolts under front bumper connecting to the splash guard?

 

[boost2dms6]

I'm actually not sure how many there are but I don't think its more than 5-6?! I just usually take the bolts/screws out of the top of the bumper and the two bolts off the sides and let the bumper sit down enough to pull the headlights out of the car.. I have gotten it down to a science and can pull the bumper off in about 3-4 minutes..

 

[Jay Davidson]

I'm actually not sure how many there are but I don't think its more than 5-6?! I just usually take the bolts/screws out of the top of the bumper and the two bolts off the sides and let the bumper sit down enough to pull the headlights out of the car.. I have gotten it down to a science and can pull the bumper off in about 3-4 minutes..

If my count is correct, it's twenty total fasteners:

~Two screws and two push fasteners at the top of the grille (4)
~Two plastic screws in either wheel well (4)
~Four screws underneath on either side in front of the wheels (8)
~Two screws underneath in the middle (2)
~Two screws on either side at the leading edge of the wheel that hold the bumper to the fender (2)

Removing these will remove the bumper entirely. It doesn't seem like this many when you're doing it, though.

-Jay

 

[Drover]

Here are the location for the bolts for the bumper, plus a couple plastic ones in the wheel wells which i didn't take a picture of.





This is the only tricky one to find, take off the few plastic screw pins in the wheel well splash guard, bend it out of the way and look up right in the corner of the bumper and you will see 1 bolt. After that is out you can grab on to the very corner of the bumper and pull out gently and the corner will unclip. Bumper can be then lifted out of place, well almost, move it from the car enough to disconnect the side marker lights and fog lights and then you can place the bumper aside.



Head lights are very easy after that. 3 bolts in the bottom and 2 on top, following by the plug in the back and then can be taken out.

 

[desertmike680]

Ok thanks. I actually un did a couple screws and was able to get to the headlights. I got the bulbs out, but I had a hell of a time trying to get the new ones and even the stock ones to align properly in the headlight housing. Is the HID bulb itself supposed to lock in place before the grey plastic ring fits around it? Or does the bulb sit un secured and the grey plastic ring secures it in place? I couldn't get it any bulbs to sit/lock in there properly, in order to get the grey ring to line and up lock it in place. Whats the trick?

 

[boost2dms6]

The bulbs twist and lock into place.. This was an issue for me the first time I did it but then I figured it out. You should see how they twist in the sockets and be able to get it.. Just be patient and don't break anything trying to force them to go in..

 

[desertmike680]

Ok so the bulb itself should typically twist and lock in place to the right, then the plastic ring will fit over it and lock ontop of that too right? My attempts with that failed, but I'll try it again tonight.

 

[SicSpeed]

Ok so the bulb itself should typically twist and lock in place to the right, then the plastic ring will fit over it and lock ontop of that too right? My attempts with that failed, but I'll try it again tonight.

I swapped hids recently,

From what i recall, the brown rod faces down so that should help you orient it easier. And the bulb has notches that you have to line up with the holder, it wont stay in place by itself( the passenger side did but the drivers did not)

The bulb itself does not lock and twist, the plastic ring does and is what holds the bulb in.

Goodluck!

 

[desertmike680]

Ok so the bulb does NOT lock into the holder. The grey ring locks it in place right? I had problems getting the grey ring to line up flush with the holder, but I couldnt see much of anything since I didnt pull the front bumper off. So the only way the bulb will lock in place is with the grey ring right?

 

[Drover]

The bulb does not sit into housing very far at all almost just lays on the edge of of it and then hold in by retaining clip. But there is a certain orientation of the bulb which is what i could not figure out until i took the head light out. Even with the headlight out you have to hold it still while putting the clip on. I'd never be able to do it without the headlight out

 

[desertmike680]

So are you suggesting that I remove the entire headlamp assembly along with the front bumper? Or could I just get away with removing either the headlamp assembly or the front bumper.