V70: Body Replacing rear fog lamp bulb

[Tony g6hbq]

Update.
Parts ordered, awaiting delivery.
lad i spoke to at FRF agreed with me it was a possibility as he had done
similar on earlier models

[Tigerseye]

Whooa - this is all a bit drastic isn't it? I travel to France for holidays and there is absolutely no way I would convert my fog lights. I certainly adjust my headlights but this is going over the top in my view.

I'd be suprised if you were ever stopped by the police for having a fog light on the wrong side ( there again, with French police you never know!). If I was I would pay the fine and simply never return!

It angers me when I see all the foreign cars roll off the nearby ferry without any regard for British roads - very few bother to adjust their headlights and nothing is ever done about it but as for rear fog lights - I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to have to alter them. At the end of the day they are there so that others know a car is ahead, not so they know which corner of the car is wherever. I checked a few other sites where ex-pats living in France seem to have no bother with 'wrong-sided' fog lights and claim that it wouldn't fail its MOT equivalent in France because of it. I don't know it this is correct or not but surely some common sense applies. Quote from another site: "You will be fine to run your UK car with the foglight on the side it is now. There is no requirement for a UK registered car to have the foglight on the correct side, it only becomes an issue if you intend to register the car in France. " Again, I 'm not verifying this but it seems sensible to me.

As for the question of whether one or two foglights is/are preferable, there is another thread on this which explains the pros and cons.

[Tony g6hbq]

Update...............
Parts arrived.....
Wrong bits dealer has sent P2 bulb holder and bulb
Sent back awaiting call on monday when they get them back.
Ah well a job now for next week..........
By the way "tigerseye"
I hate rear fogs but like uniformity if I do use them..

[budgie1471]

Any quick links for retrofitting Xenon headlights please?

[Tigerseye]

Originally Posted by Tony g6hbq

Update...............
Parts arrived.....
Wrong bits dealer has sent P2 bulb holder and bulb
Sent back awaiting call on monday when they get them back.
Ah well a job now for next week..........
By the way "tigerseye"
I hate rear fogs but like uniformity if I do use them..

No problem Tony, I wasn't meaning to criticise, I just wanted to point out that it may not be necessary to change them over before holidaying in France, especially with the expenses and effort involved.

[Mr Otford]

Originally Posted by Tony g6hbq

Bulb Socket: [31213761]
21w Bulb: [989842]
they include a large discount by the way

telephone number 01792 790066 or 01792 784272

(you have to quote discount code: 'C3' so we can give you our absolute best prices!)


That's from my e mail by the way.

Thanks Tony

Rgds

Richard

[Mr Otford]

Originally Posted by Tigerseye

No problem Tony, I wasn't meaning to criticise, I just wanted to point out that it may not be necessary to change them over before holidaying in France, especially with the expenses and effort involved.

Hi Tigerseye.

My original question was slightly disingenuous. I don't actually want to move the fog light, but add one to the NS. This is, as Tony mentions, in the interests of uniformity and because I would prefer either a single, centrally disposed fog lamp or a pair.

Rgds

Richard

[Tony g6hbq]

Spoke to FRF today
Correct part in the post.
next weekend it is then, will try and take some pictures as I go.

[Tigerseye]

Originally Posted by Mr Otford

Hi Tigerseye.

My original question was slightly disingenuous. I don't actually want to move the fog light, but add one to the NS. This is, as Tony mentions, in the interests of uniformity and because I would prefer either a single, centrally disposed fog lamp or a pair.

Rgds

Richard

Hi Richard. That's fine - I didn't want you to go to the expense/trouble just for a trip to France. Have a good time there anyway!

[Tony g6hbq]

First of all start by removing all the trim on the tailgate.
There are 2 screws inside the handle ,and a screw either side of the tailgate.



There are various clips all around the two trims:
Locate the connector and remove,then undo the 4 Torx bolts holding the light to the body....then gently tap the top part of the light with the palm of your hand to release the clips, repeat this for the bottom part.
Remove light and take to bench.


You will then see the "blind" hole the bulb fits into,carefully using a small drill, drill a hole, working up in size until large enough to fit the bulb.
I used a dremel type tool with a diamond cutting bit to gradually enlarge the hole, then the excess around the side was removed to allow the bulb to fit fully and not foul the holder.
Hoover out the debris before reassembly.
Patience is needed with this and once started you will work out for yourself what is needed.
A small bit of plastic will have to be removed from the bulb holder so it fits correctly in the "blind" hole as it has a locating peg on one side.

you will need 2 small "audio" type speaker connectors to fit the bulb, these I scotch locked on to the existing wiring.
For the earth I connected to the black wire on the existing reverse light bulb.
The power was taken from the blue /white cable on the existing connector.

(basically all that is is missing is a connector in the existing socket on the light unit, a penny pinching attempt at cost cutting,why the pin is not there is beyond me)
Care is now taken to reassemble the parts,check operation before you put all the trim back. (engine will need to be running to test lights)


There we go fog light on both sides and no vehicle messages displayed when you call up the screen.

Part number of the bulb is 31213762 cost about £16 with p&p from FRF Swansea.
2 scotch locks and 2 connectors to fit the bulb holder.
Pictures are from a camera phone so not the greatest quality,sorry.
Will endevour to help anybody who tries this if they contact me.