Volkswagen Passat Bulb Size

Prove you are totally enamored of your Passat by enhancing the lighting with the best lamps. We will help you overcome the pangs of choice and avoid the common pitfalls.

How to Change Headlamp Bulbs on the Volkswagen Passat

First appearing in 1973, the Volkswagen Passat is a mid-sized family car manufactured by Volkswagen. Now on its eight generation, it has been sold in various markets as the Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar, and Carat. The mid- to later models of the Passat shared platforms with the Audi 80 and A4, with a new Passat model based on the MQB platform coming out in 2014.

From 2011, the Passat was classified as the “New Midsized Sedan” (NMS) which was designed mainly for the North American market. The Passat is manufactured both in the United States and China for their respective markets.

This car maintenance guide is meant for owners of the NMS Volkswagen Passat covering model years 2012 to 2016. Because most headlamp housings use the same basic design, this guide may be used as a reference in changing headlamp bulbs on the newer Passat models. Owners of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles like the Beetle, Golf, Tiguan, A3, A4, Q5, and TT may also find the instructions given here useful.

Both low and high beam bulbs of the Passat share the same part number #H7. It is a good idea to replace the bulbs on both the left and right headlamps to maintain even lighting. No tools are needed to replace the headlight bulbs.

Follow these steps to change the headlamp bulbs on your Passat:

Step 1

Pop the hood open and move to the headlight. Locate the low beam headlight bulb. It can be found near the outer side of the headlamp assembly.

Step 2

Carefully pull off the black rubber dust cover. Make sure you do not rip the rip in any way. Set this aside in a safe place.

Step 3

Turn the grey plastic bulb holder anti-clockwise. Gently pull it straight out of the housing.

Step 4

Carefully pull the old bulb from the plastic holder straight off.

Step 5

Take the new #H7 bulb and line up the three metal blades at the base with their corresponding slots on the plastic bulb holder. Push the bulb carefully into the holder.

Step 6

Insert the new bulb and plastic holder back into the bulb compartment, then turn it clockwise firmly to lock it in place.

Step 7

Push back the rubber dust cover into its original position.

Step 8

Look for the high beam bulb in the middle of the headlight assembly. Pull off the black rubber dust cover and set this aside.

Step 9

Lift up the black plastic tab at the bottom of the bulb holder gently, then pull the bulb straight out of the housing.

Step 10

Carefully pull the old bulb off from the black plastic electrical contact.

Step 11

Take the new #H7 bulb and line up the three metal blades at its base to the slots on the black plastic electrical connector. Push the new bulb firmly yet carefully into the socket of the connector.

Step 12

Insert the new bulb into the proper compartment of the headlamp housing, pushing it into the bulb holder until it clicks into its original position. Replace the rubber dust cap.

Test the new low and high beam bulbs by turning them on and switching from low beam to high beam.

Always make sure never to touch the glass part of the new bulb or let it come into contact with anything oily or greasy. This may leave dirt or oily marks on the bulb, affecting its brightness and intensity. If this happens, wipe the glass surface clean by using an alcohol-moistened paper towel.

In the past few years, most vehicles, especially the high-end models and those from expensive marques, came straight from the factory already with projector lamps.  Some of them even had xenon high intensity discharge (HID) lamps as options. If your car came with stock halogen bulbs, you can easily upgrade your lighting system using aftermarket xenon HID bulbs.

To upgrade your car’s lighting system, all you need is the correct xenon HID conversion kit. You can buy these at most aftermarket accessory shops or even online. There are many aftermarket brands available like XtremHID, Bosch, Philips, and XenonHID, so make sure you are ordering the right set for your car. If you’re ordering online, it would be advisable to give the vendor your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) since this will make it easier for them to match the item to your vehicle.

Instructions for installation may differ from brand to brand, and because you will most like be installing electrical components like an electrical harness, ballasts, relays, and capacitors. Always follow the exact instructions that come with the conversion kit. This will ensure that your xenon HID lights will function properly. Incorrectly installed components may result in an electrical fire which would cost you hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars in repairs.

While you can always do the job yourself, it would be more advisable to employ a certified automotive electrician to do the job for you, for best results. This way, you can always run after him if something goes wrong.

Changing headlamp bulbs is relatively easy. Even if you’re not in any way mechanically inclined, you can probably do the job properly as long as you follow the instructions to the letter. Doing it yourself also gives you a great sense of satisfaction you can rarely find elsewhere.

 

• B8 (Typ 3G; 2015–present)
• B6 (Typ 3C; 2005–2010) and B7 (2010-2015)
• B5 and B5.5 (Typ 3B and 3BG; 1997–2006)
• B3 and B4 (Typ 35i; 1988–1996)
• B2 (Typ 32B; 1981–1988)
• B1 (Typ 32; 1972–1984)

If you do want to do the job yourself, these links can help you:

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