How to remove a b7 passat headlight/grill *cheap n' easy headlight fix*

Hey just so everyone knows. The tabs on the bulb assembly itself can be bent outward slightly with a flat blade screw driver to improve contact. That being said I replaced the contact ring the bulb clips into. I paid 15$ for the part and it permanently fixed the headlight. Common issue apparently. Please don’t superglue your headlight LOL!

[@tylerrooney89]

Ahh why wouldn't you edit out searching around the garage, you're making me dizzy!

[@jasonokoro8061]

Makes it more entertaining lol

[@nategorsuch9923]

Hey I have a 2017 Passat SE 1.8tsi. I bought 6 different sets of LED bulbs and the passenger low beam WILL NOT set into place all the way to lock.drivers side smooth and easy.. the lows I'm trying to install are Auxito H7 no adapter needed($99) . so now I need to find out how to remove the headlight assembly. I cant get the grill to come off at all.pulling so hard it's making cracking sounds so if try harder definitely gonna break it.. any way to get headlight out without removing grill? HELP!

[@how-tocars6559]

Hey! It’s been a while since I’ve owned the car but from what I can remember there is no way of removing the headlight without removing the grill. There just isn’t enough room to maneuver the headlight out of place. The bottom of the grill is held in with clips, my grill had been removed multiple times by the time this video was made so I’m sure that made it easier for me. Place the palms of your hands on the bumper and slide your fingers into the grill, that’ll give you leverage. This will take a lot more force then you’d think so pull slowly and you’ll feel the grill come loose. It will get caught on your hood release mechanism when finally free so be sure to watch for that! Good luck!!

[@NikoNostalgia]

nice! What are the lights?

[@dantedamanti6473]

Are we all just going to ignore the fact he said trunk... And then popped the hood? Lol

[@onenationundergod8]

Nope definitely caught that.. lol

[@michaelzajakowski315]

Thanks for doing this video. I had attempted to replace the marker bulb in my '13 Passat SE to no avail. Dealer looked and said the socket was broken, and the headlamp assembly needed to be replaced (for just under $500). Bought the headlamp assembly for just over $100 at Amazon, and I replaced it using this video. Very helpful. The tricky part, for me, was putting the grill back. The tabs at the top and bottom have to be aligned perfectly before you exert pressure, otherwise the tabs can bend or crack off. Both edges of the top and bottom of the grill slide into wide slots, and the tab slots are about 1/8 inch deep in the slots. Once it's lined up tho, it's easy peasy.

[@richardsolti93]

READ! For anyone that just needs to change the bulb for the exact same headlight (on either side), there is an access panel in the wheel-well that you can remove. Visible at 5:26 just left of the blue container. It's there specifically for the purpose of changing the lightbulb and accessing the connector.

[@tlalok08]

Some vehicles is not accessible unless your hand is the size if a 1 year old. Both sides the gap provided is not an easy task, my hand does not fit inside that tiny hole.

[@richardsolti93]

@@tlalok08 What gap? I can fit both my hands in that access-window or whatever it's called. Turn the wheel inwards on the side you're working on.

[@justinthyme2666]

Is this like satire? Spend an hour getting a drill at your brother's instead of just using a ratchet?

[@nemanjax6]

Where to find parts from front bumper? R line look. I am from Serbia and her we don’t have

[@toddmarkarian9665]

I got all this done, went to put the right one back on and the piece of crap sits in the pocket funny... it lines up along the bottom and inside but not where the assembly meets the panel... it's poking out like 3mm. It's dumb. I tried fitting it back in for 2 hours... when we screw the screws back in place, it's still off, but all the screws go in. Any ideas? What the hell? It's so frustrating.

[@stanblackwell213]

The problem was before you placed the bulb back in you were supposed to slightly lift up the two pins just a little and the bulb would have by been in the snugglely and tightly. You should never use gollira glue on it because that creating a bigger problem when it comes to changing that bulb again which may cause you to damage the assembly around the bulb trying to remove the gorilla glue. Your best bet would had been is to get a top from a container and use masking tape to tape down the top to the back of the bulb assembly.

[@harrybyrne950]

I don’t think we need to view you searching for tools, actually is very dizzying

[@tonyd3266]

Thank you. Really it’s just about 9 torex bolts for the 2015 SEL with regular bulb lights. Removal and reinstall in 13 minutes due to this video - thank you!!! Hardest part was reinstalling grill - took a few tries to line it up right and bending top tabs back straight. The rest was simple. About six 30 torex bolts for headlight and the frame brace, which can be removed easily, except the one under GRILL you should wait until the grill is off so you dont drop it into the pit of the bottom tray. 3 smaller 25 torex (same size as the wheel well access panel) for the grill along the top. To remove headlight twist in 45 degree movement from outside bottom to top inside - there are two tabs on the bottom of the headlight that needed to clear the bumper cover. GRILL needs to come off, but the color-matching BUMPER COVER DOES NOT NEED TO COME OFF (2015 SEL) to remove headlight. You can pop the two bottom tabs over the bumper cover and pull headlight out. I replaced my DRLs with LED ( TABEN 7443 LED Bulbs CanBus Error Free Extremely Bright 45-SMD 4014 LED Chipsets 7444NA 7440 7440NA LED Bulbs Backup Tail Brake Reverse Light Xenon White ) but needed to remove a headlight to fish out an LED that decided to take a swim. Had to point back of headlight down and then shake it a bit to get bulb to exit the housing. They really are CANBUS error-free ::: Just need the ensure the polarity is right- so if bulb is not lighting up- remove it and rotate 180 degrees and reinsert). Way smarter to have everything tight and reinstalled, test plug in headlight before reinstall - all is good... After fishing for 30 minutes without too much luck, it was a cake walk to remove the headlight, fish and change DRL with headlight out - much better than the 10 minute one-handed push-up using the rear access cover. My audi was the WORST about this fishing from the back of the housing and the passat is better, but not GM easy...

[@ManicDeprescion]

Tony D, I did the same exact thing when just replacing the DRL. 😳 Until this vid, thought I was going to have to remove the front bumper. Thanks OP and Tony! 👍🏼

[@adriank.8176]

The leveling in one of my headlamp not working. Non xenon version. Anywhere common to look at first? Own the car for couple of days just

[@mccumbersjared44]

You know be fucking nice if you actually told us what sockets you use to remove the bolts

[@AI-xe5jr]

That car doesn’t sound great at all.

[@kinzoku5881]

hey, thanks for this! I was actually trying to replace a daytime running light when the bulb popped out of the connector and fell into the housing. Your video helped me pull it out FAST so i could jiggle the bulb out without a whole car in my way.

[@gaminwithnick1830]

This literally just happened to me now I’m trying to find out how to get my light out😂😂god damn VWs

[@kinzoku5881]

@@gaminwithnick1830 haha being able to shake the whole headlight housing helps so much. Before i searched up this video, i tried to use a piece of duct tape on the end of a screwdriver in hopes i could get the bulb to stick to it, but i just ended up getting a wad of duct tape stuck in the damn housing. This video saved my ass haha

[@azeemraza4161]

I wish I could hear what you were saying.

[@nydrell1969]

Gorilla glue bro?next time use silicone

[@brandonbach7893]

Yo I love your brothers zip up house

[@AlexGurdila]

You just saved me a few hundred bucks on dealer services. Thanks man! Definitely am going to check out more of your videos

[@LeviBulger]

Motion sickness inducing.

[@StLouisBandit]

After two TDI's (Jetta and Passat) and one GTI, never again. All the maintenance woes of a BMW, Mercedes, or Audi, and absolutely none of the style, performance, or luxury. VW is trash.

[@journeyman378]

there must be something out. i still cant get the grill out.

[@brianhood1343]

Hello would the headlight assembly removal work on a 2017 passat rline with Led .I just to know how to remove the assembly.

[@turkerberber5038]

unfortunately the german version from 2011 has a complete cover not like yours a small piece. You should drop the bumper.

[@deckardcain9602]

I can't get the bulb out...

[@jackrobichaud6899]

Nice CKRA my friend, from a fellow CKRA owner

[@lexus0829]

thanks !! this video is better than that so called VW technician dude..lmao!!!

[@how-tocars6559]

Alex P thanks! Appreciate it. Anything you want to see done let me know.

[@Sickey]

It’s a total nightmare removing the front grill and replacing the DRL lights my advice is just leave them burnt out or have the dealer or mechanic do it. I broke the front grill clips one of them Took me about an hour to get the grill back into place after a while I got so frustrated it was screaming and cussing I haven’t been that mad in a while. It sounds funny but it’s ridiculous all the little steps just for a single little lightbulb also if you forget to do one step it takes forever to take everything back apart and the likelihood that you will break something out of frustration my best advice don’t do it. If you do decide to do it be ready for a super fun time. Took me about two and half hours the bulb fell out of the socket inside the headlight housing so I had to take the entire headlight out to get the bulb out which was super fun also. Good-luck

[@chriscrossjones]

Would you mind sharing a link to the ring/retainer part you purchased for the replacement?

[@llVIU]

you might want to turn off the god damn engine when trying to record and talk??? I can barely hear you.

[@amandashaw407]

This video is amazing thank you so much. You saved me hundreds!!

[@kumbackquatsta]

fyi, on the driver's side, there's a cable/fuse thing connected to the metal plate. can be popped out with pliers.

[@Werewolfmage]

thanks for this video i needed to pull my fixtures to grab a turn signal bulb lol

[@GuGeRs88]

how.....passat cc??? wants to change the lamp ... do I need to unscrew the bumper?

[@BlondynCh]

this guys cracked me up xD xD xD whenever I had movement in between plastics in my VW i would try to use electric tape (since it is elastic) to compensate for any free play movement xD xD but he simply glued stuff with gorilla glue lol and his headlight isint even LED lol definitely he will be upgrading to aftermarket headlights once he realizes hw wont be able to change light bulb without braking something

[@jonesbunny]

😂😂😂

[@davewatne3374]

Wow. My girlfriends just went out and I can't believe I have to do all of this.

[@toddmarkarian9665]

It's not difficult. Pretty basic tooling. The hardest part was getting the assembly to fit and stay in the right place.

[@thinhle9162]

Hello, can you show me how to replace Fog light bulb please? Thank you...

[@Pollitochikenful]

Digging the foot lights man! Are they LED strips?

[@how-tocars6559]

Edgar Paz Yes they are! I actually recently took those out and put RGB light strips in so I can control what colour I want.

[@Pollitochikenful]

All About the Passat dude that is epic! I have a 2012 Passat S and want to start adding things to it. How much were those or where can I find them?

[@how-tocars6559]

+Edgar Paz this is the item description on amazon -> 7 Color 9 LED Music Control Remote Control Car LED Interior Lights Floor Decorative Atmosphere Neon Lights Kit with Sounds-activated & Wireless IR Remote Control (Music Control) I can strongly recommend it. Works very well although the IR Blaster can be a bit slow but how often are you constantly changing colours..

[@marokomin]

What about 4th screw on the bottom ? I can't get my lamp off the car. 3 screw I can get access to it but 4th sits on the bottom of the lamp and there is no access if I do like you shown on this video.

[@vashtanarada3294]

That's because he just broke off the 4th bottom screw holder from his headlight unit, to properly remove the headlights, the front bumper hast to come off first.

[@tlalok08]

By far the best video on taking the fixture out. Although i did not unscrewed the fender i was able to just do the fixture and the grill which you have to. Now if we could only get the computer to recognize LED bulbs that would be great! 😂 Thanks for the video!

[@dozerpozer3206]

Just use error free LED bulbs an you should be fine

[@tlalok08]

@@dozerpozer3206 i will look into that thanks! Had no idea that was a thing

[@armando3182]

Hilarious! Two thumbs up

[@derrickforeal]

I have a 2014 passat sel and I am making led drl with CFL halo cateyez style bi xeon headlights and I cant wait to install them as soon as 2 more orders arrive.

[@marcustaylor2083]

I'm just curious as to what type of bulbs you are rocking? They look extremely white. Your video was helpful. Seen some videos where people took the entire bumper off to get the headlight assembly out.

[@zackjordan7001]

did you install the fog lights yourself or did yours come standard? I just bought a 2013 2.5l se and am looking at adding them

[@how-tocars6559]

Zack Jordan mine came factory with them.

[@CeeeRock1]

Poor video

[@ramcuevas4100]

What year is this?

[@takis69]

when will you put a video doing the passat shocks

[@how-tocars6559]

+chrgee88 I plan on installing coil overs for this summer coming up. So fairly soon I'd say👍

[@jackhazz5777]

I do not understand why you need to remove the grill to change bulbs...changed bulbs with my passat b7 without taking off the grills...too much work for something simple.

[@how-tocars6559]

Leo Bara thanks for the comment. Read the title, no where does it say how to change your bulb. I had an issue with my headlight that required me to remove it to further inspect that and it’s all on the video. The grill is required to come off in order to get the headlight out. Your completely right though, no need to remove anything to change a bulb but that’s not what it was about. Maybe next time give it a watch ☺️ have a great day.

[@noahkraft6453]

Leo Bara in the wheel well there is an access pannel for the bulb. Just cut the wheel all the way out to gain access.

[@jackhazz5777]

mark kraft lol...dude, ive accessed that already and that is only for the turn signal or drl...cant remember which one. Everything else is under the hood...literally.

[@MyChannel-iq4nv]

Hi. Great video. Would it be possible for you to do a video of how to remove the lower middle black grill (near the fog lights). Ideally if possible to take of the lower grill without removing the bumper or the top grill. Many thanks

[@how-tocars6559]

+My Gmail thanks for the comment! I will look into it and get back to you asap.

[@MyChannel-iq4nv]

+All About the Passat - cheers mate.

[@osvaldoordaz1047]

Thanks man really helped alot

[@Danielo197]

what year is your car? is the 2016 Passat about the same procedure as you show here? thanks

[@how-tocars6559]

Daniel Daniel my car is a 2012. I could be wrong but I believe 2015 is the last year of this model. The front end of the vehicles have hardly changed so the procedure should almost be identical.

[@Danielo197]

dude that was a quick reply lol

[@Danielo197]

thank you sir

[@asalazar40]

Thanks bud!!!

[@Danielo197]

nice work btw

[@garethtevlin]

I misplaced my drill, thank rice for this how to

[@noobpootato4092]

I felt dizzy after watching this video. Supposed to be a good one.

[@boltupwright]

Dude, I don't need to see a tour of your house... WTF? How about finding the tools you need before you start!