colm_mcm wrote:but surely if it's just a blown bulb you don't have to remove the unit?
Far as I know you do ya. The HIDs are supposed to be long life bulbs so they made a compromise in the design for some strange reason, in that you dont have to replace them as much.
The problem is that the back of the light unit (where you usually access the bulb from) is longer than the standard ones because the ballast is also in there which makes it bigger, not a problem you say, but then this brings it closer to the air con pipes, so the back of the headlight box comes off, but you dont have the room to maneuver the bulb or the ballast out because of the close proximity of the pipes. So the only way to get it out is by taking off the headlight unit, and to do this you have to remove or loosen the front bumper.
I spent hours trying to get the bulb out one day and there's just no room in there to safely take the unit out.
But if someone can find a way I'd more than delighted!