STUPIDLY designed modern cars
05 December 2016, 02:30 PM
#1
STUPIDLY designed modern cars
Just taken me 45 minutes struggling in filthy conditions to change the headlight bulb in the dip beam of a Mk5 Astra.
there's a little hatch inside the wheelarch, (could it BE in a dirtier position?), then a rubber cover, then a twist out bulb holder, then the bulb to remove, all inside an opening I can barely get one hand into, let alone see into at the same time. The wiring isn't long enough to pull it OUTside the opening to work on it and see it. So working blind, left handed, one handed, by feel.
Vauxhall wanted £10 for the bulb
and £10 to fit it, ("Oh but it's a genuine Vauxhall bulb"...errrrr, no, Vauxhall don't make bulbs), robbing barstewards.
Thought about Halfords but they are £8 fitting per bulb and their bulbs are £9.99 each too.
Mine cost me £3.99, for a Ring standard bulb. I'm getting too old for this sort of cr@p, WHY do car manufacturers do this?
They can't need the £10 for fitting that badly and it'll block up their workshop for half an hour too. Idiot stupid designers.
there's a little hatch inside the wheelarch, (could it BE in a dirtier position?), then a rubber cover, then a twist out bulb holder, then the bulb to remove, all inside an opening I can barely get one hand into, let alone see into at the same time. The wiring isn't long enough to pull it OUTside the opening to work on it and see it. So working blind, left handed, one handed, by feel.
Vauxhall wanted £10 for the bulb
and £10 to fit it, ("Oh but it's a genuine Vauxhall bulb"...errrrr, no, Vauxhall don't make bulbs), robbing barstewards.Thought about Halfords but they are £8 fitting per bulb and their bulbs are £9.99 each too.
Mine cost me £3.99, for a Ring standard bulb. I'm getting too old for this sort of cr@p, WHY do car manufacturers do this?
They can't need the £10 for fitting that badly and it'll block up their workshop for half an hour too. Idiot stupid designers.
05 December 2016, 03:25 PM
#2
Scooby Regular
Just taken me 45 minutes struggling in filthy conditions to change the headlight bulb in the dip beam of a Mk5 Astra.
there's a little hatch inside the wheelarch, (could it BE in a dirtier position?), then a rubber cover, then a twist out bulb holder, then the bulb to remove, all inside an opening I can barely get one hand into, let alone see into at the same time. The wiring isn't long enough to pull it OUTside the opening to work on it and see it. So working blind, left handed, one handed, by feel.
Vauxhall wanted £10 for the bulb and £10 to fit it, ("Oh but it's a genuine Vauxhall bulb"...errrrr, no, Vauxhall don't make bulbs), robbing barstewards.
Thought about Halfords but they are £8 fitting per bulb and their bulbs are £9.99 each too.
Mine cost me £3.99, for a Ring standard bulb. I'm getting too old for this sort of cr@p, WHY do car manufacturers do this? They can't need the £10 for fitting that badly and it'll block up their workshop for half an hour too. Idiot stupid designers.
there's a little hatch inside the wheelarch, (could it BE in a dirtier position?), then a rubber cover, then a twist out bulb holder, then the bulb to remove, all inside an opening I can barely get one hand into, let alone see into at the same time. The wiring isn't long enough to pull it OUTside the opening to work on it and see it. So working blind, left handed, one handed, by feel.
Vauxhall wanted £10 for the bulb
and £10 to fit it, ("Oh but it's a genuine Vauxhall bulb"...errrrr, no, Vauxhall don't make bulbs), robbing barstewards.Thought about Halfords but they are £8 fitting per bulb and their bulbs are £9.99 each too.
Mine cost me £3.99, for a Ring standard bulb. I'm getting too old for this sort of cr@p, WHY do car manufacturers do this?
They can't need the £10 for fitting that badly and it'll block up their workshop for half an hour too. Idiot stupid designers.
05 December 2016, 03:28 PM
#3
Scooby Regular
I've HEARD some Hondas are **** to do aswell ..
Trending Topics
06 December 2016, 10:56 AM
#11
If you think changing plugs on an Impreza is a faff try it on a six cylinder 320 Merc. Even removing the coil packs needs a special tool, then for reasonable access to the plugs (two per cylinder) on one side you really need to slacken the engine mounts and jack up the engine. You first have to blow out the muck from around the plugs or that falls into the engine with dire consequences. Not a nice job!
06 December 2016, 11:33 AM
#12
Scooby Regular
I changed a bulb on a "57" plate civic a little while ago had to take the wheel off for easy access and inner arch plastic what a nasty job 
I guess I could have managed without taking the wheel off but that would have made it even more fiddly
06 December 2016, 11:48 AM
#14
Scooby Regular
Just taken me 45 minutes struggling in filthy conditions to change the headlight bulb in the dip beam of a Mk5 Astra.
there's a little hatch inside the wheelarch, (could it BE in a dirtier position?), then a rubber cover, then a twist out bulb holder, then the bulb to remove, all inside an opening I can barely get one hand into, let alone see into at the same time. The wiring isn't long enough to pull it OUTside the opening to work on it and see it. So working blind, left handed, one handed, by feel.
Vauxhall wanted £10 for the bulb and £10 to fit it, ("Oh but it's a genuine Vauxhall bulb"...errrrr, no, Vauxhall don't make bulbs), robbing barstewards.
Thought about Halfords but they are £8 fitting per bulb and their bulbs are £9.99 each too.
Mine cost me £3.99, for a Ring standard bulb. I'm getting too old for this sort of cr@p, WHY do car manufacturers do this? They can't need the £10 for fitting that badly and it'll block up their workshop for half an hour too. Idiot stupid designers.
there's a little hatch inside the wheelarch, (could it BE in a dirtier position?), then a rubber cover, then a twist out bulb holder, then the bulb to remove, all inside an opening I can barely get one hand into, let alone see into at the same time. The wiring isn't long enough to pull it OUTside the opening to work on it and see it. So working blind, left handed, one handed, by feel.
Vauxhall wanted £10 for the bulb
and £10 to fit it, ("Oh but it's a genuine Vauxhall bulb"...errrrr, no, Vauxhall don't make bulbs), robbing barstewards.Thought about Halfords but they are £8 fitting per bulb and their bulbs are £9.99 each too.
Mine cost me £3.99, for a Ring standard bulb. I'm getting too old for this sort of cr@p, WHY do car manufacturers do this?
They can't need the £10 for fitting that badly and it'll block up their workshop for half an hour too. Idiot stupid designers.
06 December 2016, 12:01 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's seems £16.01 buys an awful lot of stress. I normally get Halfords on to it and then buy a car cleaning product I don't need because I'm drawn in by the attractive packaging.
06 December 2016, 12:31 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Berks
Posts: 4,224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06 December 2016, 08:05 PM
#20
06 December 2016, 09:00 PM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Home
Posts: 14,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06 December 2016, 10:17 PM
#23
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't bother. Yes, they are a bit brighter than standard, but I've changed the same uprated bulb twice in my mk5 Astravan whilst the original is still going strong on the passenger side. Not worth the grief.
06 December 2016, 11:26 PM
#24
Sadly. dont think they were designed for us to work on
07 December 2016, 06:45 AM
#25
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: If you're not braking or accelerating you're wasting time.
Posts: 2,684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Modern electronics that are not isolated.For example,2 years ago my sister was driving her Jag XF from work after some really bad rain.Ended up going through a deep puddle.The car cut out & all the windows & doors would not open.The car was a write off!
As she was waiting to be towed a nearly new Volvo tried the same thing & also cut out & got stuck.The driver was an old gent & he also could not open the doors or windows.Terrible design & an alarming safety issue.I am assuming a lot of new cars are similarly designed so don't try driving your new Scooby in a lake these days.
As she was waiting to be towed a nearly new Volvo tried the same thing & also cut out & got stuck.The driver was an old gent & he also could not open the doors or windows.Terrible design & an alarming safety issue.I am assuming a lot of new cars are similarly designed so don't try driving your new Scooby in a lake these days.
07 December 2016, 07:31 AM
#26
Exactly that, they're designed to keep the dealer network in business, and for the more bloody minded amongst us, if you do have a go once you'll decide it's not worth the grief and take it to them to pee about with and while it's there they can do you a "FREE" inspection/health check. 
As for the electrics dying I once went through a big puddle in an Astra Diesel company car and killed the engine, hydrostatic lock, was very pleased it had a winedy sunroof for me to climb up onto the roof sit there and phone the RAC.
I always have my seat belt cutter and glass break tool in the car now because of that day.
As for the electrics dying I once went through a big puddle in an Astra Diesel company car and killed the engine, hydrostatic lock, was very pleased it had a winedy sunroof for me to climb up onto the roof sit there and phone the RAC.
I always have my seat belt cutter and glass break tool in the car now because of that day.
07 December 2016, 10:51 AM
#27
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Berks
Posts: 4,224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts