Volkswagen Beetle headlight ?

The headlight bulb is a major pain in the butt to replace. The average bug owner could not replace it themselves without damaging things. You have to remove the entire headlight assembly and disassemble it on the bench. And a lot of times you break the bucket going back in.

The dealer charges almost $100 bucks to replace the bulb.

The tailights are also pretty difficult to replace. The average bug owner isn't going to have a plastic bone to pry out the tailight assembly, after unscrewing the hidden plastic retaining nut.

So I'm going to say that the average person is frustrated that they have to go to a VW specialist to have a bulb replaced. So they just drive around with the bulb out.

EDIT: Ladybugewa- Well yah!, your a super savy volkswagen chick that likes working on cars. 3/4 of our customers don't even know how to pop the hood. So changing bulbs in a beetle is totally out of the question.

If I had a nickel for every broken headlight bucket broken by a customer trying to do it themselves I'd be rich. I've easliy replaced 100 broken headlight buckets, and 200 bulbs myself. An I have broken 2 buckets simply because the headlight assembly would not come out.....

Vw Beetle Headlights

Evil O is really overstating things. I did have this problem when I used Silvania silverstar fancy bulbs. Now I've put regular GE halogen bulbs in them and they've lasted a good long while. Never went to the dealer to have a light bulb changed. I did the taillight bulbs myself when they needed to be changed. They were a breeze. All you need is a sturdy plastic cutlery knife to pry them out. Less than 1/2 hour job, and I've never done something like that before - though I do like learning new things.

Evil O: "So I'm going to say that the average person is frustrated that they have to go to a VW specialist to have a bulb replaced. So they just drive around with the bulb out."

Nah, most in my club do it themselves with no whining, there's great DIY instructions on the (free, community-run) club website. It's really not such a biggie.

I will never buy a VW Beatle again! They are really hard to work on and everything is really hard to get to when you have a problem. I have had two and had problems with both. The headlights are always going out. I just had then replaced last week and now they are out again! So frustrating!

I think there is a design flaw in beetle headlight assemblies. They are not burning out…they get detached from the power supply when you hit bumps. The assembly "plugs in" under the fender. When you hit bumps, they can come disconnected and we all think the bulbs have burned out. I have contacted VW about this and am waiting to hear back. The dealer is the one who told ME about it. SMH. RECALL!!!

volkswagen beetle headlight

I have a 1998 Vw Beetle and i had to change the bulbs once since i got it. the reason why they go out is because the headlights are on al the time when you are driving. Also when your changing the bulbs in a car NEVER touch the glass if the bulb because the bulbs will go out faster! there is no problem when you change the bulbs by yourself.

Yes it is a major problem with all VW's. I have owned 3 VW's and they where all different models. One head light would blow then one taillight would blow and so on and so on.... But i still love the Vdubs!!!!!!

yeah most cars lights stay on as the car is running.. i own a 02 pontiac grand prix and the only way for me to turn the lights off is to turn the light knob half way between the running light setting and the actual light setting.. which is just shorting the circuit out lol