*RANT* Corrolla D4D Exclusive Headlights and bulbs

[Kosmik]

So a couple years ago, I bought the car brand new ( 2009 ). One of my headlights bulbs just went and I thought, even someone who's not a car fanatic can certainly change a bulb, right?

So I break out my manual, check the part numbers, buy the part, prep the hood and am good to go. Check the instructions and .... Wtf? Just twist a cap and swop, cool. Well that was not the case. I couldn't get my hands near the rear of the unit although I eventually managed to get the back cover off. I had a mate and my wife try, who had much smaller hands to actually get to the bulb socket, no luck. Today, a friend whose a serious car enthusiast, trys with the same result. We just can't acces the damn bulb.

So I caved and took it back in to the dealership. They looked up the part and it appear I had the wrong part as well even as the Ex model comes with HID bulbs. So that'll be R980 for the bulb please oh and we going to charge you 30 mins labour to swop the bulb.

Now I can understand the bulb, blown is blown. Little surprised that it only lasted 3 years but ok. Now to me the labour charge is a damn cheek as noone can access the damn unit but them and it feels like pure extortion! Am I just overreacting or what do you guys think?

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

R980 for a bulb? Efffffff, that in itself is daylight robbery. I pay about R250 on a VAG.

 

[I.am.Sam]

R980 for a bulb? Efffffff, that in itself is daylight robbery. I pay about R250 on a VAG.

r40 on my golf

and im sure 30mins is the minimum they can charge for and its definately a 5min job cause no way you can get grills and body parts off in less than 30mins

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

r40 on my golf

and im sure 30mins is the minimum they can charge for and its definately a 5min job cause no way you can get grills and body parts off in less than 30mins

Yeah R250 including them fitting it on. I don't have the patience to go digging under the bonnet

 

[HapticSimian]

Kosmik, I think your friend should hand in his serious car enthusiast card if he couldn't tell the difference between HID and normal halogen headlights... Dealerships won't do jack for free unless you know someone there, and 30min. is probably the minimum labour charge.

Sucky, but pretty standard.

R980 for a bulb? Efffffff, that in itself is daylight robbery. I pay about R250 on a VAG.

HID bulb though... VW will also easily charge you R1k+ for it. You'll prolly get decent OSRAM bulbs for about R150 or so a pair at Midas for your cabbie.

 

[I.am.Sam]

Yeah R250 including them fitting it on. I don't have the patience to go digging under the bonnet

on a golf its the easiest ....so no fiddling ...but dammit 980 ..they are furked ....

 

[Kosmik]

Nah, my mate suggested I had the wrong bulb as well. I'm just miffed I gotta pay someone to change a bulb, I mean comeon really.

Surely it's a manufacturing/design flaw?

 

[froot]

I know with the Renault you can't change the bulbs either.... you have to remove the bumper to change the bulb :facepalm:

 

[ToxicBunny]

R980 for a HID bulb?!?!?!

I would have told the stealership to get FARKED...

 

[Captain Beer]

Changing the bulb on a Megane:

[video=youtube;eZWqU9X6PR4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZWqU9X6PR4[/video]

 

[HapticSimian]

I know with the Renault you can't change the bulbs either.... you have to remove the bumper to change the bulb :facepalm:

*wheel, actually...

[video=youtube;nXCZ2v-nIF4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCZ2v-nIF4[/video]

 

[Kosmik]

R980 for a HID bulb?!?!?!

I would have told the stealership to get FARKED...

Sadly I can't drive around with a single headlight and I'm not going to cheapen my nice cab by replacing with normal bulbs. Guess I gotta break out the vaseline.

Did give the service guy a mouthful though and sent a stinking letter to Toyota SA.

 

[Dean]

VW dealerships down in CT want to charge +/- R400 to change a Polo bulb. I paid that the first time, back when I was young and dumb.

Sebsequently found an auto-parts store across from a Supaquik - I buy the bulb at the store for R40, walk across the road and have it fitted for the price of a colddrink

 

[froot]

VW dealerships down in CT want to charge +/- R400 to change a Polo bulb. I paid that the first time, back when I was young and dumb.

Sebsequently found an auto-parts store across from a Supaquik - I buy the bulb at the store for R40, walk across the road and have it fitted for the price of a colddrink

R40? :shake:
Midas sells it for R15 (epic price save for a Merc)

 

[upup]

on the kia you remove the complete unit, swop bulb, fit back. 5 minutes, it so long.

 

[Captain Beer]

Sadly I can't drive around with a single headlight and I'm not going to cheapen my nice cab by replacing with normal bulbs. Guess I gotta break out the vaseline.

Did give the service guy a mouthful though and sent a stinking letter to Toyota SA.

Just go to Midas and get a generic bulb. I dare you to spot the difference.

 

[Kosmik]

You mean a generic HID? I saw the differance between the normal and mine, quite large.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Sadly I can't drive around with a single headlight and I'm not going to cheapen my nice cab by replacing with normal bulbs. Guess I gotta break out the vaseline.

Did give the service guy a mouthful though and sent a stinking letter to Toyota SA.

I replaced the Merc bulbs in my car with "generics" from Midas.. the Midas ones are better..... and all 4 bulbs set me back a total of R210.

You are falling for the normal trap of "Its OEM, so it must be better"... when the OEM stuff is just rebranded generics.

 

[czc]

Surely it's a manufacturing/design flaw?

They pack things so tightly these days, its probably some special tool.

 

[Billy]

*wheel, actually...

[video=youtube;nXCZ2v-nIF4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXCZ2v-nIF4[/video]

No! Wheel for standard bulbs. Bumper for Xenon bulbs at a cost of 320PS. Check the video from 4.39