Evening all, one of the bulbs have gone in my PIAA's and im unsure how to remove and replace ,it looks as if i need to unscrew the 3 bolts holding the pod in place but i just want to make sure first before i end up doing more damage . Also what bulb is recommended as a replacement, as the current one's dont seem to good at giving light.


cheers for all advice

 

What model, mine take a std H4 headlight bulb....

dunx

 

im not sure what model mate, it was already on the car. They are wired into the fog switch. Is there anyway of finding out what model is fitted?

 

Doesn't matter, if you can get the bulb out just wave it at an assistant !

LOL

dunx

 

Or look online and compare it to pics. Most bulbs carry code numbers on the metal base plates too, not H1, H3 etc, but the ones the companies use.

 

Probably 80 XT's I would imagine. There should be a screw either side of the lens. I THINK this is how I got mine out. Or maybe I gave up.

 

LOL.............you don't remember?

 

Only one of them still works So I did give up.
I tried for ages.

 

Well today i decided to change the bulb finally and i managed to snap off 2 of the 3 nuts that hold it into place i didn't know this lamps were self contained i had to prize the front lens off as it's glued in place by a sealant like substance. Now instead of just fitting the new bulb and being done with it, i have to get the remains of the snapped nuts out and figure out what is used to glue the lens in place Why did i bother

if anyone can tell me what glue is i will love you forever

 

If you have 80XT's as fitted to RB5's then there are two small screws (one each side of the lamp body) - unscrew them and prise the lens out. It's not glued in, just the sealant. They are not very waterproof though, mine corroded away completely and it's a bit fiddly to get the screws located again when you put the lens back in.
See here for bulb type (H3) - PIAA 80XT LAMPS
If you need new lamps try Scoobyparts - he sorted me out and was good on price and service - Scoobyparts Ltd Misc

 

Finally got mine out today.
Thing is, to unscrew the screws either side, you have to take the fog lamp of. Well I did. 3 Bolts hold the bracket in, then a 17mm nut behind the numper holds the lamp swivel in.
Once you've got the glass off, you have to prise the actual refletor out too, to get to the bulb. After all that, I got the wrong bulbs!

 

did yours have adhesive around the inside off glass?

 

Sort of. Its more like a white rubberish ring. I haven't taken it off yet, as I broke some glass levering it out, and thats holding it in place.
I'll use bathroom sealent to put it back.
Have you not done yours yet?

 

Don't use bathroom sealant, or, if it ever has to come out again, you're nackered.

The correct stuff is Carafax non-setting mastic, used on caravans etc, available from Halfords and caravan dealers.

 

I was thinking about that, but bathroom mastic won't be too hard to cut out.
And TBH, if a bulb goes again, the bloody covers are going back on
I don't do much night driving at all.

 

Bathroom mastic is NOT made to take the kind of wetting, at the kind of speed that those lights get It'll start to lift in a year or so
Use the correct stuff, not dear for a tube, used for sealing rear lights too.

 

nah i aint bothered with it since car looks like it has a front tooth missing proberly get it finished this week

 

thanks for the help boys, i finally sorted it out today, went to Halford's and picked up the carafax and had it all back together within the hour.

 

Good stuff. Did you get this:
Carafax IDL99 Sealant - White from Halfords Price £1.00

Only stuff on their site, it can't be that cheap can it?
Would have preferred it in black.

 

That's the stuff, but I don't think the tubes are only £1. If they are, it's gone down since I bought some.

Oh, and it's white because it's mostly used on caravans, and most of them are white

I THINK it does come in black too, but not sure if halfords do it.

 

I'll pop in and have a look today. I need some for the rear lights, thats why I was after black.

I've bought these bulbs: Ring Rally Sport H3 130w High Wattage Headlight Bulbs on eBay, also Bulbs Lenses, Lights Lighting Accessories, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 19-Mar-09 11:39:37 GMT)

Althought the place I go they are only about 8 quid.
At first I thought they might be too much, but the ones in there were PIAA 120w.

 

God those are dear. I tend NOT to use higher wattage bulbs, now preferring the so-called "uprated" bulbs.
Halfords are 90% uprated, and are on BOGOF at ther moment

 

Even at 8 quid for the set? I was looking in halfords last week, and their prices on any bulbs seems like a lot. I had to buy a festoon bulb to go in my test lamp. it was only 67p where I go, halfords were a bout 3 quid odd.
Why not higher wattage? I was thinking it might be an issue, until I found out the ones in there are 120w. 10 watts extra can't be that bad can it?

 

Sorry, misunderstood you, no £8 a set isn't dear, but do beware of buying unbranded higher wattage bulbs, as they are not ALWAYS optically good, and can lead to light scatter.....disappointing at least, dangerous, (in dip beams) at worst.I've also had 100W bulbs last less than 6 weeks

If you are using them is purpose wired lights like your PIAA's, chances are they WILL have to wiring to cope, so no...........no problem (Other than the legality,

My comment was more aimed at users who uprate existing Scoob lights with higher wattage bulbs: the thin OE Scoob wiring CAN lead to problems with overheating, volts-drop and it's associated bulb failure etc.

 

Oh Ok. Ring a resonable make though isn't it? I wasn't worried about them not being road legal, as they are just driving lights, that I will very rarely get use.

 

Ring stuff is generally good, it's the unbranded Eastern European, or Far Eastern stuff you should avoid.