The passenger side low beam headlight H7 bulb my 2008 E320 BlueTec (identical to "regular" W211) has burned out. Does the entire headlight assembly have to come out to replace the bulb?
If it can only be reached from the back with everything in place it looks like a real knuckle chafer.

I'd appreciate any advice and suggestions.

 

Check your owner's manual...around page 445. Has pics too.

 

The headlight assembly does not need to be removed, went to Auto Zone to buy new bulb and had guy with very skinny arms and long fingers change out in less than a minute. It would have taken me an hour and surely would have left some knuckle skin behind. Good luck!

 

Thank you David and Bob. Found the directions in the manual (although different page) and installed the bulb last night. The back of my hand is healing nicely from the scrapes....

 

LOL

 

is there something special that I need to do to get the bulb out of the housing? I feel like I'm gonna break something.....

 

Okay, I got to to part where I pull the bulb out of the housing but, i feel like i'm gonna break something getting it out. What special jedi magic do i need to handle this task?????

 

Turn counter clockwise and pull?

 

Still won't come out. All i've got to do is get the stupid bulb outta the socket. I've got it out of the headlight housing already. Took off the cover, and removed the headlight plug from the housing. Just can't get the bulb outta the socket

 

Got it!!! !he prongs were bent when the dealer installed it. So much for professional service

 

They are meant to be angled to hold the bulb in. If they've never been removed before they can be hard to get out but the proper technique is the push in on the retainer clip's tabs and then do as Lemon said, simple enough.

 

I just did the bulbs myself this past weekend. What a PITA for such a simple job! I got the bulb out OK, but then couldn't get it back in. That last 1/8 turn frustrated me. It also hurt my fingers. I waited until the next day (it's possible that alcohol consumption had "weakened" me) and wore my mechanic's gloves to help insulate the fingers. That worked! So I decided to then do the driver's side...

Oy, a worse pain, less room to work in. I removed the intake tube thingie and the coolant reservoir. The wire on that side was shorter, so it was more of a challenge to remove and replace the bulb in the socket. Then I went through the same battle getting the thing to turn when I put it back in. Yes, I got it, but I thought this was supposed to be easy?

 

These cars have very little room under the hood to work with, imagine having to do that several times to get your HIDs working, my arms were stinging for a few days and I'm a skinny little dude. It's easy once you do it several times, and the trick is to push in on the tabs as you twist with your fingers. But if you weigh anymore than 120 pounds good luck having room to work hahaha