Having trouble removing the regular beam headlight bulb from my 2005 Cooper. Everyone says just to pull it out, and the manual says something completely incomprehensible, but it seems fixed in place just as solidly as any other part of the headlight. Once I pull off the plastic connection, this is what I am seeing:



Can anyone help out? I don't want to go to the dealer for something so stupid, but I don't want to cause expensive damage, either.

Please don't respond and say "just pull it out" because trust me, ain't happening. I did a search, too, and read the related threads.

Exactly which parts belong to the bulb?

Thanks!

 

Im going to guess the picture is sideways but anyway, the two prongs that the plug went onto should be one above the other. Put your finger on the top prong and push down and it should pop out and you will notice a tab on the top of the bulb that has to go into a cut out on the light assembly for when you try to install the new bulb.

 

Just looked at the pic again and your "tab" is on the right and that prong is the one you should push down on.

 

see those 3 spring clips - you need to carefully push one or two back to let the bulb pop out. then that entire metal disk you see will come out. notice how it fits in - there is a flat side / notch to ensure you get it seated right. just push the new bulb into the clips until they snap in place.

I use as thumb to apply easy side pressure to the prongs and a small screwdriver to push back a clip

try to avoid touching your new bulb's glass ... oil from fingers can burn due to the heat and cause early bulb failure.

depending on where you bought your bulb .... many decent auto parts chains will come outside and show you how it's done.