Today I realized I had a low beam bulb out. It was on the driver's side. These bulbs are not like anything I have dealt with in the past, so I figured I would do a quick write up for others that may find benefit.

Items needed:
H7 bulb for halogen applications
Dielectric grease
Wide blade flat head screwdriver or plastic pry bar
Rubber gloves if you want to be very careful with the bulb.



To gain access to the bulb remove the battery air intake and additional plastic shield over the headlight assembly. In my case I had to remove my sri.

You will see a connector on the back of the bulb socket. Depress the two tabs on either side and pull straight out. You will now have two exposed connector tabs.

There is a rubber shield around the bulb. I started at the bottom and using my fingers pried the lower part off and worked my way around to the top.

With the rubber removed there is a retaining wire holding the bulb and receptacle in place. Push in on the left side of the wire and lift up to slide it off the small metal tab holding it in place. Pull the bulb out. It is actually retained in a black adapter receptacle. Use a screw driver or plastic pry bar and pry them apart. Apply dielectric grease to all tabs and reassemble in reverse.

The passenger side is the same except there is nothing to remove to get to the bulb.

To add, for the speed3 (I don't know if it would be the same for other 3's and 6's), but if you turn your wheels to the opposite side that your working on, and take the front palstic of the wheel well off, you can reach in and change the bulb without having to take out any parts.


like this.

Moving our power steering reservoir helps a bit with passenger side

should have put some hids in while you where at it

AuroraAxela wrote:Moving our power steering reservoir helps a bit with passenger side

I think it is mandatory to get to the high beam bulb in fact.

42boxer wrote:should have put some hids in while you where at it

I have a cracked passenger side fog light, so that will be the next replacement. I was looking around on ebay last night and found these, which may work.

AuroraAxela wrote:Moving our power steering reservoir helps a bit with passenger side

I think it is mandatory to get to the high beam bulb in fact.

I remember the first time I changed a bulb in my old Mazda5...that retaining clip messed me all up. I was like WTF!! Can't make anything simple!

42boxer wrote:should have put some hids in while you where at it

I did this on my speed, ended up taking the whole bumper off. it was a PITA!!!!

Changing bulbs in the speed3 was easiest for me by jacking up the car and moving the wheel and removing the wheel well plastic shroud. Accessing the headlights is a breeze this way.

Number2 wrote:Changing bulbs in the speed3 was easiest for me by jacking up the car and moving the wheel and removing the wheel well plastic shroud. Accessing the headlights is a breeze this way.

thats exactly what i did, but to mount the ballasts for the HID's, I just took the whole thing off.

i mounted my ballasts inside the side fender things