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Lotus in the Peak
27th - 29th June 2025

S2 Elise Headlamp Change


JonS

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Posted

On the way back from Hethel last Sunday my nearside headlamp bulb went.

 

I've looked at the Service Manual and it doesnt seem too difficult (ie a numpty like me could possibly not screw it up!)

 

This is the page that references to it:

post-1516-1221655367_thumb.jpg

 

How easy is this to do and am I ok not to remove the wheel to peel back the wheel arch cover?

Also I presume it is a standard 55W H7 bulb I could get from Halfrods?

 

Thanks

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Posted
How easy is this to do and am I ok not to remove the wheel to peel back the wheel arch cover?

Also I presume it is a standard 55W H7 bulb I could get from Halfrods?

 

This happened a week after I got the Elise. Not too difficult...

 

Turn the steering wheel so you can access the front arch (can't remember which way was easiest now!)

 

I think you have to remove a cover then the 3 bolts... I seem to recall that there were 3 other screws... which I undid before realising they were the wrong ones! Some realise the cover allowing access and some realise the whole housing...

 

If you're doing it, fancy taking some pics for the wiki, I know it's simple and even in the manual (as you've shown) but it's still a little daunting especially for newbies! :(

 

baz

Posted

Quick question I need answering before I get started.

 

In the service manual it states the dipped beam to be a 55W H1 which is a 448SB. But in Halfrods they have the guides for light bulbs, that states the dipped beam to be a 447EB, which is a 55W H7.

 

Which is it? The service manual page (posted above) says the dipped is H1 and the main is H7? :P

 

Am I ok to put the H7 in the dipped or will this be too bright? I bought a pair of both, but want ot make sure I'm not going to be blinding everyone. :D

Posted
I bought a pair of both, but want ot make sure I'm not going to be blinding everyone. :P

 

Since you've bought both, the easy answer is to look at what you take out (it'll have the type stamped on it!) and replace it with the same! :lol:

Posted

I don't know the definitive answer, but IIRC the Halfords book is ALWAYS wrong!

 

It's an easy enough job, but a few words of wisdom: There are two types of fastener in the wheel arch - one set holds the plastic lamp unit in place and the other set hold the metal frame that mounts the bulb holders. IIRC the inner set is for the metal frame so it's the outer set you need, but probably worth undo-ing them slightly and checking that the lamp unit is loose. If it is, you got the right ones. If not, tighten them back up and go for the other ones! I undid all of them last time - not a big problem but it took me a bit more fiddling around with screws I didn't need to touch.

 

HTH :P

Posted
Get a Xenon Headlight upgrade....you won't regret it :( £225

 

I've posted a pic up here before of mine

If I had the cash spare for that I migth consider it. But I'm spending money on my first track day so a lamp upgrade is not priority.

Posted

This afternoon I got round to changing the dipped beam headlight bulb. I took almost 3 hours to do the first one as I took out the wheel arch cover to really see all the fixings for the headlamp (and had issues with some of the fixings). Once I had worked out which screws i needed it only took 21mins then to change the other side (It is recommended you should always change bulbs in pairs).

 

It turns out it is very simple if you have immdiate access to the three screws that release the headlamp cover unit. I have complied a step-by-step guide for those who are about as much as a mechanic as I am a brain surgeon!

 

Link To PDF

 

Hope it is helpful to some of you :D

Posted

cheers jon.

 

not only did i get to see your guide, but apparently i won an audi a3....hope everyone gets one .lol

 

its good to mess about with the car sometimes, makes it vfeel more personal

 

roll on the dark nights so you can use those lights!!!

richbk

p.s you stioll want the "lid"

Posted
It turns out it is very simple if you have immdiate access to the three screws that release the headlamp cover unit. I have complied a step-by-step guide for those who are about as much as a mechanic as I am a brain surgeon!

 

Hope it is helpful to some of you :D

 

Brilliant guide... Assuming ok with you, I would like to "wikify" this when I get a minute...

 

Would you be ok with that???

 

Thanks

 

baz

Posted

Sorry Baz, just beaten you to it :P

 

Clicky

 

Will still leave the pdf version so people can have an offline copy :D

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