How do you get to driver's side headlight bulb?

[ABSOLUTNATI]

I just bought a pair of HID replacement bulbs, and wasn't looking forward to paying the dealership to put them in. The passenger bulb is easy enough to get to. So, I have a couple of questions regarding the driver's side:

1) What do I need to do to get to my other light? I heard of some people loosening the coolant, and some removing the airbox. Which one is the easiest, and how should I go about it?

2) Any special precautions besides not touching the bulbs?

[crhemi]

Just take the airbox off. Should only take a few minutes.

[ABSOLUTNATI]

Don't happen to have any photos or directions on how-to, do ya?

[GROUNDED]

it should be pretty self explaintory when you look at it.


I believe there is a hose clamp on the tube going to the intake manifold and another bolt that attaches the airbox to the radiator support.

It should wiggle out.

If you cant swing this you shouldn't be allowed to fill your own gas lol.

[ABSOLUTNATI]

lol... I do miss the days of them pumping it for you!

[GoofyTimL]

You also need to realize that the OEM bulb is retained by a ring held with three #2 (IIRC) star drive screws. These don't have to be removed, but they do need to be loosened so that you can "turn" the bulb to pull it out by the base. This will be easy with the OEM bulbs because the base is a right angle connector (giving you some leverage).

However, the HIDs bulbs are "straight base" bulbs and the less tight the retainer ring, then easier will be their insertion (specific orientation vs. the three "wings") and rotation to final set. Therefore, you "think" the passenger side bulb is easy enough to access, but getting the HID bulb in and twisted into place may be more difficult that you expect. After removal of the airbox the driver's side is a piece of cake as they say.

One other thing to watch out for. Before you insert the HIDs, compare the O-ring to that of the halogen bulb. IF the HID O-ring is fatter... remove it and use the OEM O-ring. It is impossible to get the more rotund O-rings "in" and seated properly. If you don't catch this you probably will have condensation problems in your headlamps sooner vs. later.

I have an install picture tutorial for my Magnum SRT8 in the Stealth Auto and Tech Tips forum if you care to look there. The headlamps are different, but similar enough.

[ABSOLUTNATI]

It seems that all that is holding the bulb in is a metal clip. I undid the passenger side's, and the bulb (including that metal box on the end) slid right out. Looks like I just have to remove the airbox bolt that connects it to the front frame and move it out of the way, along with the power steering box. Am I mistaken?

[GROUNDED]

power steering can stay in, I moved mine to place the ballast over behind it.

[GoofyTimL]

This is what the halogen bulbs looked like on the '05 300C we traded for the MSRT8... guess I was wrong about the right angle base, although it is oblong. I certainly didn't recognized anything as a "metal clip" holding the bulb in place...


AND since I mentioned my Stealth Auto install previous, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that these pictures are of another vendor's HIDs. Unfortunately I was never able to get them to work... more my fault than the vendors, but in comparison it was not as easy an install set-up IMO than the Stealth Auto one.

This shows the passenger side OEM bulb in place... glared out are the star screws which hold the plastic retaining ring tight. At the time I used a 2mm allen wrench to get them loose, so I may not have stated the correct star wrench number.


I believe this is the driver's side with the bulb and plastic retainer ring removed...


The dad blamed screw head itself...


The HID head-on showing the difference in the three blades...


Finally, the driver's side light with the HID installed and plastic retaining ring reinstalled...

[StealthAuto]

Originally Posted by crhemi

Just take the airbox off. Should only take a few minutes.

+1... Or have a small person on-hand to wiggle their hand in there.