My Sony VPL-HW45ES is the same. I too noticed those metal pieces and decided to put them on the new naked bulb I had ordered, just as a precaution. Are they needed? Well, yes, and no. So the original lamp that came with the projector has them, which lasted just over 6,120 hours. When I got a cheaper replacement bulb it came with the housing too so I just simply used that. It ran ok. - HOWEVER, I am now on my third bulb, and THIS time I just decided I didn't need any more housings (two is enough) so I just ordered the bulb. That is when I noticed that the original housing and bulb had the metal clips on the bulb, and the second replacement housing and bulb did not have the metal clips on the side of the bulb. - This third time around I just used the original housing, removed the burnt-out bulb from the housing enclosure, transferred the metal clips to the new naked bulb, and then installed it in the original housing using the above video. Glad I found it because I didn't know that the bulb could be swapped out of the housing enclosure. Also, I noticed that the original housing has the lamp number stamped into the plastic housing. The other housing did not.

My original bulb lasted 6,120 hours.

@@nebtheweb8885 it's never about "lasting". The brightness decreases exponentially over time. At some point it just becomes too dark.

@@stefanlasser6535not exponential. All bulbs decrease about 25% brightness in the first 500 hours. From there is a much slower decrease for their life span till they burn out. Although, they will burn out before going super dim. Exponentially would have a rapid decline after half brightness and quickly reach zero before ever burning out or ever reaching 6000 hours.

I can remember, but pretty small one. When the cross of the wrench fills the gaps of the screw, you've found the right one. I guess smaller than 2,5 😁👍

Thanks, it's pretty straight forward though.

You can do it in the menu. I believe it's at the very bottom of the main menu. Anyway, just scroll through it, you'll find it.