NOW I get it!
The OP was talking about part of the globe itself!

 

Yes, the blueish, green tube/wire that runs parallel to the main glass bulb. I think I'll replace it. Bummer, but worth doing right I think.

 

+1. Needs to be properly insulated. A TEMPORARY fix with tape should be done immediately.

 

TWO wraps of electrical tape, then?

 

It was the return wire I damaged so I bit the bullet and replaced it (errrrrr). BTW.... I found changing the lights much more difficult than most indicated on the forum. Access on of both sides my 2015 V8S was a bear even after moving the fuse box and reservoir out of the way. My fuse box wires were secured to the body below the box limiting how far I could move it. Disconnecting the plugs from the bulbs themselves was also way harder than it should have been (although I saw someone else had an issue with that too). And lastly, locking down the lights back into place was the worst. Perhaps the size of my hands was an issue along with the limited space, but I really struggled to manage this while not damaging the bulb (or the return wire in this case). Technically not very complicated of course, but one of the "easy" projects that ends up taking you far longer than you ever expected.

 

On my car, the harness coming out the fuse box has a connector, that you can de-mate fairly easily. That allows moving the box more. I missed that the first time I tried.

 

Yep. Did that, but there's nearly no slack with those wires being clipped to the body below. I guess you could try to cut the wire-ties, but I am not sure I could reach it and didn't want to try that blind.

 

I read somewhere here that it's fairly easy to loosen off the front bumper one side at a time, without dropping it completely and without removing all that many bolts, and then you can gently pull that side of the bumper away just enough to get at the third/underneath headlight mounting bolt (the top two are easy to get at anyway) and then you can completely remove the headlight assembly which would make replacing the globe so much easier.
I know at the time I commented that next time I replace a headlight globe I will try that method.
I'm too lazy to search for that post though so I'll leave it up to someone else!

 

The right one really isn’t difficult - decent access after you move the fuse box, which is easy; remove two bolts, unplug a connector, then twist it out of the way.

Haven’t had to do the left bulb yet.

 

• Pull on the bulb to loosen it. Once loose, unplug the connector of the bulb. It is the most inconvenient part, careful not to brake it.

I got to this point (pulling the electrical connection off the bulb) and could not get it off....was afraid of breaking it. Is there a catch/trick to doing this....


Thanks all!

jeff

 

It has been a while since I upgraded mine, but as I recall, they are very, very tight on the bulb. Very hard to pull off, but if you have everything removed, they do come off. No tricks...just elbow grease.

I am assuming you have already turned the locking ring to release the bulb? And you are talking about pulling the BULB out. The plug has a clip to press and then it pulls out too, but very tight!

Good luck

DC

 

Thanks. Yes, I have pulled the bulb "out" but could not get the clip off...did press the little clip at it was hard. What you are saying is that it is "pull hard" too, right? (on the clip)


jeff

 

I vaguely recall that when I replaced the globes some 5 years ago now those wiring clips were very tight and I levered them open/off with a flat blade screwdriver.

 

Thank you. That is exactly what I needed to know. (both of the last two replies have been awesome, thank you!!!)

 

Yes that wire to the DS3 bulb is a pain and I also had to lever it off like OzXFR. Even then I never could see what tab needed to be depressed. I distorted the sheet metal shell a bit but was able to reform it back close to factory using pliers. This was NOT on a Jaguar as I have LED headlights in my XJR.
I used some upgraded bulbs but they are expensive at around $250 for the pair.

I used Phillips 42403 XV2 Xtreme Vision bulbs. Anyone use these? Just installed them so claims of better light output are hard to determine.


I replace them in pairs as the bulbs degrade over time and the car was a 2013 model (Lincoln MKS EcoBoost) so a good number of years on them. I first noticed the reduced HID light output on my old 2005 S-Type R. Replaced one side at first and noticed it looked different from the original side so then replaced that side too so they looked the same.
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