Mazda 3 side light replacement

[funkyrobot]

Anyone had the pleasure of replacing a side light (driver side) on a Mazda 3 (late 2007 model)?

I know how to do it in principle, it's just getting to the damn thing that is the issue.

For those not in the know, it's located under a bit of trim surrounded by coolant pipes and other gubbins. Because of where the trim is located, you need fingers the length of the average fork to get anywhere near it.

Internet suggestions seem to include taking the front bumper off and getting to the housing itself. This seems to take 20 mins to do which can sometimes be less time than that spent fiddling around trying to get to the bulb another way.

Any ideas? Thanks all.

[Geekman]

When I had a 2007 Mazda 3 it failed it's MOT on a sidelight bulb. They charged me £5 to replace it at Mr Clutch, so I'd be tempted to save yourself the trouble and take it somewhere like that, or even Halfords.

[funkyrobot]

Thanks. I was tempted to take it somewhere else, but I'm trying to do more of my own stuff now.

Oh well, we'll see how it goes.