How to change an Audi A3 headlamp bulb

How to change a headlight bulb in an Audi A3 2011 model.

[@JamesPoli]

I'm glad to see big hamfists like mine doing this. I would be curious for a sample of the profanity employed during the process while the camera was off

[@AbuBYillah]

This video skips the most important part: actually changing the bulb itself from the socket. That’s what I was looking for. Thanks anyw.

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks for your comment and for watching 😊

[@glenmarshall1840]

Basically skipped the two main parts, taking out and putting in new bulb?

[@simonj.burrows1433]

To remove the actual bulb on my 2011 Audi A3 you just prize it off with a small flathead screwdriver. Took me ages to figure that bit out!

[@cory5604]

I used my hands but you have to be very strong to pull it off.

[@supertom8619]

Just pull the bulb out, doesn’t need turned or anything. Takes quite a big of force so be careful the bulb doesn’t smash in your fingers, use a towel etc

[@petrkratochvil2442]

Thank you so much man. I've been trying to fit the light bulb back in the right spot for 35 minutes. You really saved me.

[@MasterofTights]

Legend thank you. Absolute tips. Taking the photo and letting me know there was a clockwise turn involved meant after that I was done in 5 mins. Before I was faffing for at least half an hour wondering what was going on...

[@danielmarshall4587]

For sure right there I have to admit it never crossed my mind to take a photo, all this time I've had the ability but not used it.

[@JasonOPlays]

Hello. Not many videos have the facelift 8P headlight which is different to the older model, and far more difficult it seems. I swore quite a bit trying to work out what I was feeling in the hole and what I was meant to do. Your video cleared it up and I had it changed in 10 mins. Managed to reduce the amount of time I was stood in the rain! Thanks for doing this video!

[@how-to-videos]

It's great to hear that you found it helpful! Thanks for the comment and for watching 😁 Please like, share and subscribe for more!

[@howinteresting2]

Exactly! Attempt this task with gritted teeth and in a private place!!

[@JC-jy3ml]

everyone here complaining this took 5 minutes for me and i was able to figure it out, thanks to this guy right here w no mechanical experience. its a bit tricky but you can do it and i believe the bulb is H7

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks for your comment and for watching. Please like, share and subscribe for more 🙂

[@eeyvrcs]

For those complaining, I have the same car, even bigger hands, and I can confirm swapping bulbs out in the Audi A3 8P is a right pain in the behind. There are two ways...this way, shown here, which leaves my hands and fingers crippled and often cut at the end, or the faster way of jacking up the car, take off the wheels, unscrew the wheel arch-lining (partially) with a Torx T25 and Flat screwdriver, which gives much better access. I love my A3 but changing headbulbs is a joke!

[@robertbrookes1815]

Wow, first realistic, well-made, thoughtful how to install a hellishly designed light assembly! Thanks!

[@chrismathewsjr]

I've never wanted to punch a plastic parts engineer in the face more than now.

[@ollie4king]

Thanks for sharing! I have a few top tips for anyone attempting this; Have hands the size of a baby Summons the strength of a wild chimpanzee Have the patience of a saint Get addicted to heroin to take the pain away I’ve just completed it and I’m now pretty sure I’ve got PTSD.

[@how-to-videos]

Hahaha. Thanks very much for you comment and for watching. Please like, share and subscribe for more 😁

[@Buzz_Club]

Funny comment....you could actual explain how you removed the bulb.

[@ollie4king]

@@Buzz_Club twist the bulb housing a quarter turn clockwise. Prize the bulb from its housing. Replace with new bulb. Twist the bulb housing anti clockwise.

[@morganf16]

Serious question how did you get the bulb back in what are the exact steps .. we are struggling here.. My hand is too big and my wife is trying it now ... Really its a bad design for maintenance perspective

[@ccavanagh8429]

Thanks for the video it really saved alot of swearing. Like the anticlockwise cover thanks

[@matthewbaxter7502]

Many thanks for posting. Helped me sort my a3 😊👌

[@how-to-videos]

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for your comment. Please like, share and subscribe for more 😊

[@markkeen2035]

Thanks, whatever the ins and outs (!) there was enough information for me to succeed.

[@how-to-videos]

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[@AlphaDaddy82]

I think I've done it, watching the video and reading some of the comments here helped me tremendously. In another video I was told to put the notch on the upside. But in the end position it needs to be down like showed in this video. As I read in the comments, there is not necessarily an audible click. It seemed OK , but didn't dare to rattle too much in case I would click it loose again... Now I hope the lamp doesn't come loose while driving. To anyone suffering with it, I too have cut my hands open, some blisters from pushing the bulb etc. What a mess :(

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks so much for watching and for the positive feedback. Sorry to hear you found it as difficult as me. Please like, share and subscribe for more 😊

[@cory5604]

For the light bulb change - my audi had no twisting or something. I had to pull out the bulb with a flat screw driver or with a lot strength and pulled it if. The hardest fuck**g part is to reattach it where it was before you pulled everything out. But dude thanks this video saved me a lot of money. Still its a pain to change the bulb.

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks for watching and for the comment. Yes, I agree, Audi should not have made this so difficult. Please like, share and subscribe for more 😊

[@nicksfilms3798]

Thanks for the video, ive got chunky hands and it was the passenger/nearside wheres theres less space.Take your time have a feel around,have a brew and go back to it if youre struggling.Start to finish 8 minutes.All things are possible to a willing mind👍

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks for your comment and for watching 👍

[@8lenny1]

I’ve done the drivers side but for the life of me I cannot clip the passenger side back it. There’s just not enough room in the space between the battery and lights. If you remember how you managed to do it then please share as I cut my hands all over trying to place it back on…

[@keisham]

it’s not easily accessible , fitting it back is the most challenging job. i don’t know how you managed with your fingers

[@rodhumbles5431]

I would like to know how you got the bulb back in? You said you had troubles and that it was difficult/very tricky etc. but no video showing how you got it. I have spent a day myself trying to do it and couldn't, I just had 2 mechanics try to do it but couldn't and now I'm down to AUDI.

[@morganf16]

Yes same problem here why so difficult to get the bulb back in ? Audi really screwed this up

[@rodhumbles5431]

@@morganf16 I actually figured it out. We were all looking for a very firm noticeable click when the bulb is in the right position. That will never happen. I had to buy one of those inspection cameras so I could see what was going on and what do you know the bulb was in position many times over just no click. Bulb has been working since this post. You need eyes on the bulb area, nothing else will work.

[@jeandeverchin8774]

Bonjour et merci pour vos conseilles.

[@aurimasrackauskas7718]

Legend, cheers for the video

[@how-to-videos]

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[@secretov1da]

Very informative thank you

[@how-to-videos]

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[@thetrainofsteam]

Just been stood in halford car park for 30 minutes, managed to get both of them changed out but i cant twist/click the drivers side one back in. I See from your video that notch facing down when screwed in so going to try an 1/8th turn anticlockwise from that position then a clockwise twist. Although i feel like ive been damaging it a bit in this process. We'll see

[@RAMANOFFICIAL1]

Hi does anyone got led h7 bulb that fit there ,i cant find any that fit.

[@pauljohanson3960]

OK this is basically impossible unless you have tiny hands (Donald?). I managed to get the casing off, get the bulb out and replace it, but after an hour of wiggling the sodding thing it simply won't go back in. Whoever designed this needs to be sacked. I guess I'm off to Hafords, although how on earth they'll do it I have no idea. I was trying to replace the nearside bulb - I guess the offside must be easier!

[@how-to-videos]

Yes, a very annoying design on Audi's part. Thanks for your comment 👍

[@oliverlesauvage5158]

What type of bulb?

[@ilBarbonauta]

Now I understand why my used A3 had front aftermarket headlights already fitted and not even that cheap around 380 brandnew 😬

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks very much for the comment and for watching 😁 Please like, share and subscribe for more!

[@ilBarbonauta]

Finally I found out the aftermarket headlights they mounted them exclusively for aesthetics. Mine is a 2008 still with stock halogen headlights that don't seem to have this problem 😆

[@TheDRDUCKY]

How did you change the actual bulb? Does it twist or pull straight out?

[@how-to-videos]

Twist it. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching 👏

[@barrymillin7815]

Hi thank for posting, some details could be a little clearer and in fact undoing the top headlight bold give about 10mm more access once I did this it is easier. The bulb housing is not is centre so that helps to know when find the location and the turn to release is only about 10 mm the same on refitting, however the metal notch points downwards when in location not for you to seat the bulb housing. But thank you

[@danielmarshall4587]

Thank you I'll give that a try......... though I suspect the air will be bluer THAN YOUR SHIRT, even with both my hands free.

[@how-to-videos]

🤣😂🤣 Thanks for your comment and for watching. Please like, share and subscribe for more 🙂

[@Mtimac]

Top notch!!

[@how-to-videos]

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[@bikewreck85]

I'm trying to do the near side bulb, it's completely inaccessible. I think i have to remove the headlight and that involves removing the bumper. Why does Audi make it such a ball ache just to change a bulb.

[@how-to-videos]

It's terrible, I agree. Thanks for your comment and for watching 😊

[@joseph-the-seventh]

Anyone in North America can you help answer my question? Is it the drivers side or passenger side bulb that is harder to access?

[@Chris_Touli]

When you were getting the cap off was it obscenely tight?? I can’t seem to get either side off to access the bulb! Thanks

[@how-to-videos]

No, mine was not that tight. If you can't do it take it to Halfords.

[@Chris_Touli]

@@how-to-videos I think I might just have to

[@SimonBosley]

@@how-to-videos don't recommend taking to Halfords, they took one look today and said he couldn't do it.

[@fionnsda]

Does the bulb just pull straight out of the housing? tried pulling and pulling,but it will not come out!

[@adrickalexischavez1]

Did you find out how it pulls out?

[@vasilebogdanbujor8308]

@@adrickalexischavez1 you have to twist it

[@simplybuyer1]

are you showing how to remove the indicator light bulb

[@billywilliams5310]

Thanks for this, got me out of a hole! I managed to wiggle the bulb out and change it without realising the twist process. If you don't know that or which way the notch faces, you can't get it back in. After 15 minutes of trying decided to give in and look for instructions. Great video.

[@how-to-videos]

Glad you found this helpful. Thanks for your comment. Please like, share and subscribe for more 😁

[@howinteresting2]

And about the other side? This is near impossible due to even more resricted access and no visibility of what you're trying to do except by using a mirror and torch. Having got the bulb in the right place with space for only one hand it's almost impossible to then turn it to lock in. For the side picturd here I made a wooden tool to help twist it. However using this on the other side it's damn near impossible. As someone else stated it might be quicker to dismantle front end as per 'the book' just to get at the lamp unit lower fixing ... or pay up for the dealer?

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks very much for watching and commenting! Please like, share and subscribe for more! We really appreciate your support 🙏

[@philw4053]

Unfortunately you skipped the part about how to get the bulb out - which is the most tricky step!

[@curtiswright9325]

Mine look the same as yours, can I fit LED’s to these?

[@eeyvrcs]

Yes but in the UK it's not legal. In fact, as of Feb 2023 MOT inspection rules section 4.1.4 now states... _"Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you (MOT tester) must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible."_ But you can replace the whole headlamp unit with one designed to use LEDs and that is legal. But that will cost a few hundred £££

[@molatelophalane4246]

I bought globes but still not working , please help

[@areckir]

You did not show the most difficult part how to put the bulb in the hole!

[@Chris-Tennant]

Thanks!

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks for your comment and for watching 👍

[@jeffmeyer3864]

If a person needs instructions on how to open the bonnet they will never be able to replace a bulb.

[@tof3275]

Great video 😎😎 I wish that I had seen it BEFORE I tried extraction with my trusty "crowbar" 🤔🤫 that did work but even less damage with my "claw hammer"🤔🤫 ONLY joking guys & gals instead of turning the bulb holder anticlockwise I just turned the car clockwise, and it's not working, I'm going for another rest maybe it might get done by the pixies at the bottom of the garden, watch this space.💩🤡👹👻👽👾

[@respectedsir1570]

Can you tell the bulb type of high and low beam

[@JaniceAbarbanel28]

I need this as well.

[@acolmer2440]

@@JaniceAbarbanel28 H7 Main Beam, Side light is 501, DRL is H16 :)

[@tonywright4057]

Ditto

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks very much for your comment and for watching! Please like share and subscribe for more 😊

[@shaunknight7480]

Your lucky you didn't have to change the passngers bulb. Thats a balla che side lol heard you go through the wheel arche that side

[@isrargulzar5069]

It's hard I have the same car better take the headlight then put it on. Can't get hand in that small tight space.

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks for your comment and for watching 👍

[@kristianchernev4396]

the othersite is more fun

[@rafraf9876]

A pain in the ass !

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks for your comment and for watching 🙈

[@kilovwdude6457]

I can't get this fucking thing in I'm about to set the car on fire

[@kilovwdude6457]

Okay me and my dad got it after 4 hours! Had the bulb on the fixture backwards we were gonna take it to my uncle tomorrow and drop the bumper like Audi says too but thankfully we got it

[@TheDanielle2311]

You skipped the bit where you put the new bulb on, rubbish video

[@how-to-videos]

Thanks very much for watching and for your comment. 😊

[@raminbadalov3195]

Whats the point of this video, you skipped most important parts !!!

[@grumpygrandad3783]

How did you get it out ? How did you get the new one in ? Absolutely useless how-to video .

[@jonthibault5509]

This is literally impossible to do unless you've got midget hands. No offense.