- My model of MX-5 is: 3.75
- I’m based near: __
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: How to replace dipped beam light bulbs…both sides…
Thanks in advance
Easiest method is to go in via the wheel arch liners. I take my wheels off to gain best access, you can do it with full lock on should you not want to remove the wheels.
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I did mine as above.
Just loosen and peel back the liner from the front,(i.e you don’t have to completely remove it).
When you actually get there this pic of the retaining clip may help you to remove the bulb and the adaptor. Its not easy to see up there.
Mine was in for MOT and had a failed bulb. The Mazda main dealer replaced it by removing the bumper. I wasn’t there so I can’t comment on how difficult it was, but that was their preferred method.
I wanted to change all the bulbs and fit grille mounted DRL’s so it was an easier solution. Not too difficult but obviously time consuming.
it is possible to get at the driver’s side dip by unbolting the washer bottle and moving it out of the way.
but for the passenger side, it’s wheel arch or nothing.
however the fact that Mazda put special flaps in the wheel arches for doing bulbs would suggest that using them is the advised method
Take a note that when I changed the indicator bulbs (changing them to “switchback” indicator/DRL) the edges of the wheel arch liners are Sharp and can/will maim you. Taking a wheel off will give you more room.
Oops, hit the wrong “reply” option, meant to be a generic reply.
Jack up, wheel off, make sure well supported, head in and hope for the best! Really fiddly getting the retaining clip back on. A spare hand holding the liner back helps.
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Thank you all for your replies.
Sounded pretty straight forward,but on accessing the rear of the drivers side headlight it would appear that the car has Xenon HID bulbs fitted and red and blue wiring disappearing out of sight below. The original wiring and female end plug(the one that pushes onto the 2 prongs of the light bulb) I can’t see. Can anyone tell me if this wiring comes from out of the main loom above the headlight or from below. I want to find it and put everything back to factory spec with ordinary bulbs.
TIA
Dave
Good idea, aftermarket HID and LED bulbs are now MOT failures so something like Osram Night Breakers or similar will be a noticeable improvement over a “standard” bulb.
However bulbs burning twice as bright will last half as long - but I’ve had 3 years of use on my Citroën with Osram’s and not had a bulb failure.
