Headlight Replacement on a 2006 VW Beetle
January 26th, 2007 by Derek MeisterWith all the technical situations I deal with on a daily basis, even I was taken about at just how annoyingly difficult it is to try and replace a burnt out headlight bulb on new Volkswagen Beetles.
Fortunately, Google came to the rescue and led me to this guide. While the directions are for an older model, seeing the overall process helped with the 2006. In addition to the metal lever on the side of the assembly mentioned in the guide, there’s also a lock bolt that you have to rotate.
Once done, the entire assembly pulls out. Just make sure once you’re putting the assembly back, you push down on the metal lever so that the assembly can be fully locked back in place.
October 13th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
where’s the bolt and the lever? I can see a metal lever that looks like its made of spring steel but no bolt (or which bolt am i rotating?)
thanks
December 23rd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I found the bolt. It’s toward the front of the fender at the base of the headlight module. A 5mm deep socket works nicely. There is also a *small* silkscreen of an opened/closed padlock to show the direction to turn to open, ie. it’s counter intuitive but you turn clockwise to open, counter clockwise to tighten.
The thing is i can pull the assembly out about an inch before it snags on something.
I am familiar with the older beetles where you have a locking tab / metal lever. However i don’t see that on this model. Perhaps i need to look again.
-r
December 23rd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I finally located the release lever. It’s at the base of and along side the headlight assembly. turn the screw then depress the (3 inch, silver) lever while pressing on the assembly from behind. One more thing, you will require an H7/55 watt replacement bulb. Not an H1/55. Which is what was used in the pre-2006 models and is what PepBoys mistakenly sold me.
cheers
-r
December 23rd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I need to mention, the headlight assembly i pulled out was on the passenger side. This determines the direction you need to turn the lock screw. Follow the silkscreen mentioned above and you’ll be fine. And yes “Annoying difficult” sums it up
August 8th, 2008 at 12:36 am
dont give up its easy took me an hour to do both well open the hood duh ! buy the light bulb duh!
ok serious part get a verry long screw driver flash light and a 6/13 i think socket hectagone female ranch with long extension look on the passenger side first u will see a piece of metal sticking out like a little penis lol,, well twist it with the socket ranch the verry small hectagone one then look on the side facing the engine real low a leveler verry fragil and made of tin well u have to find it pull on it ( the lever) with the screw driver down tillits all down then slide the light assembly out if it sticks use flatheasd screw driver to get it out. applyu the same method for the driver side light no need to remove the battery,,wow it was hard but worth it shop wanted 100 for labor!!