Headlight bulb - change

[harryc]

Any idea if there is good and inexpensive place in West Hki/Espoo to change one headlight bulb - low beam (h7)?

Delta wants 50€!! Has to be a crazy price - Biltema wants 4,49€ for bulb - but I'm not the right person to change.

[riku2]

Any idea if there is good and inexpensive place in West Hki/Espoo to change one headlight bulb - low beam (h7)?

Delta wants 50€!! Has to be a crazy price - Biltema wants 4,49€ for bulb - but I'm not the right person to change.

complexity can depend on the car. some (like my in-laws fiat) are so awkward that some dealers take the whole bumper off to change a headlight bulb.

I always did it myself before having cars with xenon headlights.

[tista]

what kind of car do you have?

[harryc]

KIA Cee'd . 2011 or 2112 - thus I inquired from Delta.

Uses the standard H7

[tista]

you can check out this video. it should be quite easy. if you cant handle it you can come by with your car and new bulb i can try to help. i live in west vantaa (pähkinerinne)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFbk1lsyzCs

[harryc]

Many thanks - will give it a try!

[Honest]

KIA Ceed is not easy. you have to open some six screws and then pull out the all head light compartment including the front glass to access the bulbs. And pushing it all back is as hard as removing in the beginning. But it's not impossible. It takes some time and effort first time, much easier next time.

I have done it 2/3 times. I can help you if you happen to be in Turku sometime

[harryc]

Thanks all replies

Net seems to have a number of horror stories where you end up with headlight parts etc. in a plastic bag.

The fault lies with KIA and other car manufacturers that have inadequate designs. It is against the law everywhere to drive with only one light.

Even if one carries a spare 5€ lamp with them - it will be impossible for many brands to change that lamp at the next gas station or by themselves at a 'next stop.'

Rather they need to make an appointment at some car importer service - and maybe also see their bank for a loan.

There should be some standardization among factories that they make the system one heck of a lot easier. One should thank them at least for having decided to use the same bulbs in many cases - H1 etc.

[riku2]

There should be some standardization among factories that they make the system one heck of a lot easier. One should thank them at least for having decided to use the same bulbs in many cases - H1 etc.

Well the trend is for the reverse since LED and Xenon lights are now more common and there is no way you can easily change those yourself.

In the UK they have a more sensible approach to failed bulbs and instead of making it an immediate fine (which in reality would not happen unless the police stop you many times), they write you a ticket that says you must get the bulb fixed and show the car at the police station within a few days, if you don't show the fault fixed by then, then you get the fine. Much better since in reality people do drive in finland with one headlight, one brake light, brake lights stuck permanently on etc.

[Tullynessle Turnip]

The designer of the KIA Cee'd headlamps should be thumped over the head one hundred times with a big wet dead fish. And then have his eyes poked out.

[Tullynessle Turnip]

"Much better since in reality people do drive in Finland with one headlight, one brake light, brake lights stuck permanently on etc." - and often no lights at the back at all. As I say, this goes to show what a bunch of lazy, law-breaking criminals Finns are and then they make out butter wouldn't melt in their mouths!

[harryc]

Unfortunately (?) police are active in giving tickets related to headlights.

I know one guy who has even had 2 sakkos for not having headlights on in daytime!

When I came to Finland and used them in daytime - people would go out of their mind telling me to turn them OFF

[sotka_]

I know one guy who has even had 2 sakkos for not having headlights on in daytime!

When I came to Finland and used them in daytime - people would go out of their mind telling me to turn them OFF

You mean they were telling you to turn your fog lights off?

Front fog lights - rarely useful, especially bad in clear weather: the bright spot from fog lights, right in front of you, will just make your eyes adapt to it and you cannot see what your high beams are pointing at further down the road.
Rear fog light - often useful, in fog (naturally) and when snowing, or when that light powdery snow is flying up in the air when you are gunning down the road.

[harryc]

I was using the normal low beams. It had been determined in the US in the 50's by the Greyhound Bus system that there were many less accidents when the buses used regular lights in the daytime as well ¨it was a question of BEING SEEN as well as seeing.

So I used that knowledge in Finland as well,

But Finns did not accept it all and they would go out of their mind when I had the lights on, All kinds of hand motions inside and outside their cars, Sometimes they would even pass me a couple of times to repeat their 'message.' The only wilder reaction was when I drove in Scotland with low beams on.

So I have to find it is quite funny that it is such a hard rule now in Finland where you even get penalties and it is that unusual in the US that even Car Talk has never mentioned the practice in the 18 years I have listened to the program.

[AldenG]

So I used that knowledge in Finland as well,

But Finns did not accept it all and they would go out of their mind when I had the lights on, All kinds of hand motions inside and outside their cars, Sometimes they would even pass me a couple of times to repeat their 'message.' The only wilder reaction was when I drove in Scotland with low beams on.

I don't know if this has changed, but traditionally the Nordic countries (who by the way INVENTED driving with daytime running lights) have used something called "varselljus" in Swedish and (I think) huomiovalot in Finnish, but I'm not sure about the latter. They're different from full-on low lights and that may be what people have been signalling you about. In many cars sold in Nordic countries they've come on automatically. They're not parking lights -- In the past they have looked like headlights but haven't been as bright in many Nordic cars. I think the entire EU now requires daytime running lights. Even my American Toyota truck now has them. Aren't they starting to look outliney in newer cars, though?

So it's not that Finns don't do it. It's just that they think you don't know how to do it right. It's not an elective thing, it's prescribed by law and has been for decades, as far as I know.