Changing rear bulbs on Audi A3

[frenchie 1977]

Hi there

I have a 2005 A3 TDI Sport and a rear breaklight bulb has blown. When looking in the manual i am amazed to see that there are no instrucctions for removal of the rear light cluster to change bulbs. The manual tells me to take the car to my nearest audi dealer and they will change the bulb. Seems fine for something like a halogen headlight but for a rear brake light seems a little expensive. There seems to be no obvious way to remove the rear light cluster.. On the old A3/S3 it used to be just a case of removing the side panel and unclipping the bulbs from the light cluster but not on the new A3....Can anyone tell me how it is done?

[catso]

You need to remove the rear light assembly; inside the boot at the back of the light there is a plastic screw that you remove (small socket or screwdriver) and the whole assembly pulls out, you need to pull/push fairly firmly as the rubber seals hold it in tightly - sounds worse than it is.

My 2004 (2 door) model manual shows how to do this (p364), maybe they had a change of policy for 2005?

[frenchie 1977]

Thanks alot. I wasn't being rough enough with the light then.

Cheers

Adam

[Gren]

Good to hear. Wife has a year old one of these and was wondering how easy it would be. She had a Golf before that and the instructions were the same (and the same for my TT) - take it to the dealer!!

Has never taken me more than 5 mins to change a front or back bulb in any of our VAG cars - takes longer to find the instructions on how to do it. Couple of scuffled knuckles are the only payment.