Getting ridiculous quotes for Xenon bulb change - £230!
Discussion
I've tried Audi and my local independent and they both want similar amounts to replace the passenger side dipped beam (Xenon HID) bulb for my 2007 Audi S6 - both are £230. 
Pretty sure the bulbs at most are only £60 each, plus 40 minutes labour should see it at around £100, not £230?
Videos on Youtube show it as being pretty straight-forward, if a little fiddly, which is why I'd just want a mechanic to do it, but I'm not paying £150+ for the privilege!
Am I missing something?
Bulb is number 6:
http://www.partscats.info/audi/en/?i=cat_vag_model...
Halfords bulb, £60:
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batt...
Pretty sure the bulbs at most are only £60 each, plus 40 minutes labour should see it at around £100, not £230?
Videos on Youtube show it as being pretty straight-forward, if a little fiddly, which is why I'd just want a mechanic to do it, but I'm not paying £150+ for the privilege!
Am I missing something?
Bulb is number 6:
http://www.partscats.info/audi/en/?i=cat_vag_model...
Halfords bulb, £60:
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batt...
I don't know if the S6 is the same as the RS6, but if so, the front (grill and bumper) of the car has to come off, to then remove the light clusters, to then do the bulb changes due to space restrictions in the engine bay. circa 2.5 to 3 hours labour.
It's DIY doable on the standard boggo A6, but certainly not on the RS6. If it is a front off jobbie, its worth doing them in pairs / checking the other bulbs out as well.
HTH
It's DIY doable on the standard boggo A6, but certainly not on the RS6. If it is a front off jobbie, its worth doing them in pairs / checking the other bulbs out as well.
HTH
Edited by VeegasRS6 on Thursday 14th January 13:04
It's not a bumper off job - you can do it by dropping the power steering tank on the near side or removing the air filter box on the off side.
The time quoted is an hour, when in reality I think it will/should take them 15 minutes for an expert. I'd expect to be able to do it in 45 minutes, but it's fiddly and cold out, plus I'm busy so I'd rather pay someone £50 or so to do it.
The quotes I'm getting from Audi/my local garage for the (single) bulb alone is £130!
As above, Halfords sell them for £60 and they're not the cheapest supplier.
The time quoted is an hour, when in reality I think it will/should take them 15 minutes for an expert. I'd expect to be able to do it in 45 minutes, but it's fiddly and cold out, plus I'm busy so I'd rather pay someone £50 or so to do it.
The quotes I'm getting from Audi/my local garage for the (single) bulb alone is £130!
As above, Halfords sell them for £60 and they're not the cheapest supplier.
youngsyr said:
It's not a bumper off job - you can do it by dropping the power steering tank on the near side or removing the air filter box on the off side.
The time quoted is an hour, when in reality I think it will/should take them 15 minutes for an expert. I'd expect to be able to do it in 45 minutes, but it's fiddly and cold out, plus I'm busy so I'd rather pay someone £50 or so to do it.
The quotes I'm getting from Audi/my local garage for the (single) bulb alone is £130!
As above, Halfords sell them for £60 and they're not the cheapest supplier.
can you do a labour only job with a garage and supply the part?The time quoted is an hour, when in reality I think it will/should take them 15 minutes for an expert. I'd expect to be able to do it in 45 minutes, but it's fiddly and cold out, plus I'm busy so I'd rather pay someone £50 or so to do it.
The quotes I'm getting from Audi/my local garage for the (single) bulb alone is £130!
As above, Halfords sell them for £60 and they're not the cheapest supplier.
theres a few you tube vids and i think you should set yourself a challenge... im sure you can get it done within 60 mins!
As above, buy a set of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/XENARC-66240XNB-HCB-BREAKE...
I have them in the Golf (for 2 years now) and talked dad into getting them for the Merc too. Only cost as much as other branded bulbs but are brighter and give a better spread pattern.
You should always replace in pairs as HID bulbs age and change colour and by proxy reduce in luminance level. As yours are coming up to 9 years old, it's worth changing them anyway, fitting issues aside.
ETA - whilst they're doing it (as there's access), swap the 'fog' bulbs out for these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/BREAKER-UNLIMITED-64210NBU...
Have these too in my spot lamps and when full beam is on (the Golf has bi-xenons like your S6), it's like the sun has come up.
Paul
I have them in the Golf (for 2 years now) and talked dad into getting them for the Merc too. Only cost as much as other branded bulbs but are brighter and give a better spread pattern.
You should always replace in pairs as HID bulbs age and change colour and by proxy reduce in luminance level. As yours are coming up to 9 years old, it's worth changing them anyway, fitting issues aside.
ETA - whilst they're doing it (as there's access), swap the 'fog' bulbs out for these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/BREAKER-UNLIMITED-64210NBU...
Have these too in my spot lamps and when full beam is on (the Golf has bi-xenons like your S6), it's like the sun has come up.
Paul
Edited by KryptonKid09 on Thursday 14th January 14:25
Edited by KryptonKid09 on Thursday 14th January 14:28
thebraketester said:
ebay... search for "Genuine D2S Osram XENARC NIGHT BREAKER"
You can get a pair for 60 quid.
Be careful, I did exactly that and 99% sure the bulbs were fake. Looked genuine enough apart from the packaging, then I ordered another set from an approved supplier and they were clearly different.You can get a pair for 60 quid.
I got a refund from the Ebay seller.
Search on Google, a large percentage are poor quality fakes.
KungFuPanda said:
I've done the change of my previous C6 S6 so the exact same car as you. The air box of the side you want to change comes out granting you access to the back of the headlight. I used cheap EBay xenon bulbs which were around £12 a pair. All good.
Excellent, was it a pain in the backside? I've just been out for a look and it doesn't seem too bad - once the airbox is removed it looks like there may be reasonable access?
KryptonKid09 said:
As above, buy a set of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/XENARC-66240XNB-HCB-BREAKE...
I have them in the Golf (for 2 years now) and talked dad into getting them for the Merc too. Only cost as much as other branded bulbs but are brighter and give a better spread pattern.
You should always replace in pairs as HID bulbs age and change colour and by proxy reduce in luminance level. As yours are coming up to 9 years old, it's worth changing them anyway, fitting issues aside.
ETA - whilst they're doing it (as there's access), swap the 'fog' bulbs out for these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/BREAKER-UNLIMITED-64210NBU...
Have these too in my spot lamps and when full beam is on (the Golf has bi-xenons like your S6), it's like the sun has come up.
Paul
Ordered both sets - thanks!I have them in the Golf (for 2 years now) and talked dad into getting them for the Merc too. Only cost as much as other branded bulbs but are brighter and give a better spread pattern.
You should always replace in pairs as HID bulbs age and change colour and by proxy reduce in luminance level. As yours are coming up to 9 years old, it's worth changing them anyway, fitting issues aside.
ETA - whilst they're doing it (as there's access), swap the 'fog' bulbs out for these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/BREAKER-UNLIMITED-64210NBU...
Have these too in my spot lamps and when full beam is on (the Golf has bi-xenons like your S6), it's like the sun has come up.
Paul
Edited by KryptonKid09 on Thursday 14th January 14:25
Edited by KryptonKid09 on Thursday 14th January 14:28
Need to get your laptop back to you - are you going to Claire's Sunday after next?
youngsyr said:
Ordered both sets - thanks!
Need to get your laptop back to you - are you going to Claire's Sunday after next?
Good stuff. The HID bulbs take 10 or so hours to 'burn in' before they go their 'normal' colour and get to peak brightness. They're a great upgrade though, especially if you have to do them.Need to get your laptop back to you - are you going to Claire's Sunday after next?
Forgot about that but should be yes.
Paul
youngsyr said:
KungFuPanda said:
I've done the change of my previous C6 S6 so the exact same car as you. The air box of the side you want to change comes out granting you access to the back of the headlight. I used cheap EBay xenon bulbs which were around £12 a pair. All good.
Excellent, was it a pain in the backside? I've just been out for a look and it doesn't seem too bad - once the airbox is removed it looks like there may be reasonable access?
Once you get to the headlight, you take the access panel off, I think you just twist it off. Then there is a cable that goes to the ignitor pack, that comes off. You twist the ignitor pack off which gives you access to the bulb. Just watch you don't force the ignitor to hard as there are four locating lugs, one at each corner which can break off. Ask me how I know...
Well, looks like I've fallen at the first hurdle! 
There are 3 screws that hold the inboard half of the airbox to the outboard half and the lowest one of these has been rounded off by someone previously - so I can't even get the "easy" half of the airbox out.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this screw out - it's a phillips head, domed with collar, slot size is about 2.5mm and it now looks like a Torx head. Pics below. Have tried a few different sized scewdrivers and none can get a purchase.
Access is reasonable for a screwdriver, but nothing much bigger. It sits at about 10 o'clock if looking at the front of the car. Not sure it's supposed to be entirely removable - the other two seem to just unscrew from the bottom half and then sit in the top half of the airbox.
There are 3 screws that hold the inboard half of the airbox to the outboard half and the lowest one of these has been rounded off by someone previously - so I can't even get the "easy" half of the airbox out.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get this screw out - it's a phillips head, domed with collar, slot size is about 2.5mm and it now looks like a Torx head. Pics below. Have tried a few different sized scewdrivers and none can get a purchase.
Access is reasonable for a screwdriver, but nothing much bigger. It sits at about 10 o'clock if looking at the front of the car. Not sure it's supposed to be entirely removable - the other two seem to just unscrew from the bottom half and then sit in the top half of the airbox.
OK, so the two garages were definitely taking the p!ss.
Since my last post an hour ago, I've managed to remove the rounded screw (brute force!), replace the bulb, put it back together again and pack everything up.
It's essentially very easy - just remove 3 screws from the airbox lid, undo hose clamp on intake, remove airbox lid, maf and filter as one piece. Undo one more screw in airbox base, pull out airbox base and then you have plenty of room to back of headlight unit.
Remove cover, remove ignitor clip, twist igniter 45* anti-clockwise, remove igniter, remove bulb clip on either side of bulb, replace bulb and repeat the above in reverse order.
I'd be amazed if a mechanic couldn't do it in 15 minutes. The only tool you need is a screwdriver.
So, 15 minutes work plus a £30 bulb and they want £230 for it!
Since my last post an hour ago, I've managed to remove the rounded screw (brute force!), replace the bulb, put it back together again and pack everything up.
It's essentially very easy - just remove 3 screws from the airbox lid, undo hose clamp on intake, remove airbox lid, maf and filter as one piece. Undo one more screw in airbox base, pull out airbox base and then you have plenty of room to back of headlight unit.
Remove cover, remove ignitor clip, twist igniter 45* anti-clockwise, remove igniter, remove bulb clip on either side of bulb, replace bulb and repeat the above in reverse order.
I'd be amazed if a mechanic couldn't do it in 15 minutes. The only tool you need is a screwdriver.
So, 15 minutes work plus a £30 bulb and they want £230 for it!
youngsyr said:
OK, so the two garages were definitely taking the p!ss.
Since my last post an hour ago, I've managed to remove the rounded screw (brute force!), replace the bulb, put it back together again and pack everything up.
It's essentially very easy - just remove 3 screws from the airbox lid, undo hose clamp on intake, remove airbox lid, maf and filter as one piece. Undo one more screw in airbox base, pull out airbox base and then you have plenty of room to back of headlight unit.
Remove cover, remove ignitor clip, twist igniter 45* anti-clockwise, remove igniter, remove bulb clip on either side of bulb, replace bulb and repeat the above in reverse order.
I'd be amazed if a mechanic couldn't do it in 15 minutes. The only tool you need is a screwdriver.
So, 15 minutes work plus a £30 bulb and they want £230 for it!
And the other side? with the PAS reservoir?Since my last post an hour ago, I've managed to remove the rounded screw (brute force!), replace the bulb, put it back together again and pack everything up.
It's essentially very easy - just remove 3 screws from the airbox lid, undo hose clamp on intake, remove airbox lid, maf and filter as one piece. Undo one more screw in airbox base, pull out airbox base and then you have plenty of room to back of headlight unit.
Remove cover, remove ignitor clip, twist igniter 45* anti-clockwise, remove igniter, remove bulb clip on either side of bulb, replace bulb and repeat the above in reverse order.
I'd be amazed if a mechanic couldn't do it in 15 minutes. The only tool you need is a screwdriver.
So, 15 minutes work plus a £30 bulb and they want £230 for it!
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff