How many pounds does it take to change a light bulb? This variation of the old joke is not at all funny: if the bulb in question is in your car, the punchline could be "£200 or more". In modern cars, changing lightbulbs can be all but impossible without a trip to the garage – and, thanks to minimum charges, the cost can soar to many times the £5 or so for the actual spare. I have had to make two trips to my local garage with my Audi A4 after a headlight, and then an indicator, bulb failed; each trip cost almost £90. And Audis are not unique: George Marshall-Thornhill, a senior motoring researcher with Which?, cites the Renault Mégane, where a similar procedure can cost £200. The problem, he says, is that cars are becoming much more complex, so repairs are therefore much more expensive. "Manufacturers are trying to fit so many things in, there is no room under the bonnet." A spokesman for Renault admitted it was difficult for drivers to change the bulbs on the old version of the Mégane but added: "We aim to design our vehicles so that most parts can be readily accessible.

However, as you can appreciate, safety is our number one priority. Unfortunately, because of the design of the crumple zones in the engine bay of the Mégane II, it can be difficult for drivers to change the headlamp bulbs. "As a result, we pay for the labour, provided the car is within its warranty, and the work is carried out within the Renault UK dealer network." The warranty period, however, is just two years. Cost is not the only consideration: safety can also be compromised. It can take a few days to get an appointment with the garage; driving without a bulb while you wait means your vehicle is not completely roadworthy. "The irony is that, abroad, there are still regulations requiring you to carry a spare bulb, yet you can't change them yourself," adds Marshall-Thornhill. "If there is a problem, you should get it seen to immediately. But that is not practical if it is a wet Saturday afternoon and you are in the middle of nowhere." Halfords, the motoring accessories store, says its policy is to "fit where we can", and that its £5.99 charge is half the price you would pay at a dealer.

My experience with the Audi suggests that with the rear light bulbs – with a bit of contortion and a lot of patience – it is just about possible to do it yourself; at the front, our local Halfords gave up after 15 minutes of trying, saying its policy is not to spend any more time than that on it. A spokesman for Audi said that most of the halogen bulbs on its cars could be changed by customers; the exception was Xenon bulbs, because of the voltages involved. Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, said that the credit crunch could mean drivers would put off paying for expensive bulb changes. "I have concerns about this as it is not something you can do easily once you have identified a problem."Our in-store experts can fit your lights and have you back on the road in no time. Halfords Car Bulb Fitting Service. Your car's lights are one of the most important things on your vehicle. If there's something wrong with them, it's not just a case of failing an MOT or getting a fine, poor or faulty lights will also make driving dangerous for you and others.

Halfords has a car bulb fitting service to make life easier for you. It’s trickier to fit a car bulb than you think, but we've got trained fitters who can get you back on the road quicker and more cheaper than any dealership. we can fit headlight bulbs from £7 (€8) each. we can fit indicator, tail and brake lights from £5 (€5) each. there's no need to book - just pop into your local store.Open Return Ticket Amadeus Car bulbs at HalfordsUsed Tires Farmington Mn Halfords has a huge range of car bulbs covering over 98% of vehicles on the road, manufactured to original equipment (OE) standards.Waterfront Homes For Sale Anchorage Alaska Whether you want a brighter bulb to improve your visibility at night, a shock-resistant bulb for pot-holes, an all weather bulb, or you're just after something standard, we've got everything you need.

Try using our online car bulb look-up to see our complete range. If you're in-store, why not take advantage of our free 5-point health check? As well as your bulbs, we'll also make sure everything's ok with your car battery, wiper blades, screen wash and oil levelsFind parts for your carIf your car has a headlight that puts out about as much light as a flashlight with weak batteries, we’ve got two simple fixes for you. DIYers think they’ve got a bad headlight switch or a bad connection in the power feed. dim headlights are caused by a the wiring harness from the back of each headlight assembly and see where it connects to the vehicleClean it as described in the photo. Another possibility is that as headlight filaments age, they deposit a gray/brown film on the inside of the bulb (See Photo). Over time, that coating can reduce visibility by almost 300 ft. If your headlights aren’t as bright as they

used to be, yank one of the bulbs and look for gray or brown residue on the glass. any, replace both bulbs now and get back to seeing more of the road.Used cars: how to buy a second-hand Renault Clio 197/200 (2009-2012) While Peugeot dropped the hot-hatch ball after the 306 GTi-6, Renault never really let it go. Based on the third-generation Clio, the 197 debuted in 2006, and immediately went to the top of the class. Its fizzy, naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine paired brilliantly with a pointy front end and lively torsion-beam rear for a drive that out-classed the Golf GTI in terms of pure fun, if not all-round ability. The facelifted 200 arrived in 2009, and polished the package subtly, further enhancing its appeal with extra low-down torque in particular.The Renaultsport Clio is a car you need to work hard to see at its best, but, then again, that's not such a hardship. Today, you'll need around £5k to get in one of the earliest 2006 models. Buying and running a RenaultSport Clio 197/200

K-TEC Racing and 519 Automotive specialise in Renault's Renaultsport models. Here are the checkpoints that both companies suggest you pay attention to: • K-TEC Racing recommends avoiding the 2006-onwards Clio 197s due to poorer low-down performance, and because of the gearbox fault listed below. The facelifted 2009 Clio 200 is better all-round, with 20% more torque, shorter first, second and third gears, plus improved mpg and CO2 too. But where the early 197s start from around £5k, the earliest 200s are just dipping below £10k. However, it's also worth noting that the Clio 197 F1 Team R27 from 2007 is one of CAR's favourite hot hatches. And, starting at around £7.5k, isn't a bad compromise.• Early cars from 56- to 07-plate had a gearbox problem, the car crunching in second and third. Most were replaced under warranty, but not before much complaining on the part of customers. If you're looking at an early car, double-check that the gearbox has been replaced. The fault was remedied from late '07 onwards, and a taller sixth gear introduced to up mpg.• Though annoying, it's normal for Renaultsport Clios to kangaroo along the road when cold, and little can be done to cure this.

So, if you want one, you may well have to tolerate this quirk.• The layout of the Clio's front suspension is quite complex, and the top swivel bearing is prone to wearing out on higher-mileage cars.• As is the case with most Clios, the rear shock absorbers are prone to leaking, while rear brakes can become sticky easily, contributing to poor economy.• There can be some confusion around the Cup trim level. This can be both a desirable – but cheaper – hardcore option, with a firmer chassis, plus a more pared-back cabin with cheaper plastics. However, buyers can also add the Cup chassis to a regular Renaultsport Clio. Either way, it's an option worth having. Recaro buckets are another desirable option.• Exhaust manifolds are known to crack.• Cambelts should always be changed by a reputable specialist: the Renaultsport Clio's F4R engine is very sensitive to cam timing and Renaultsport specialists report rectifying numerous botched cambelt replacements. PRODUCED: 2009 to presentENGINE: 1998cc 16v four cylinder, 197bhp @ 7100rpm, 158lb ft @ 5400rpmTRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual, front-wheel driveSUSPENSION: MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rearWEIGHT: 1240kgLENGTH/WIDTH/HEIGHT: 4017/1768/1484mm

1 25-year-old, three points, car parked on street, five years' no-claims' discount. £636, £200 excess, fully comp2 35-year-old, three points, car parked on drive, full no-claims' discount. £407, with £250 excess, fully comp 3 45-year-old, clean licence, car garaged, full no-claims'. £289, £200 excess, fully comp Clio 197, 2006, 54,000 miles, full service history, including major service two months ago. New rear pads and discs, four new tyres, digital climate control, 12 months' tax and MoT, private. £5100 Clio 197 F1 Team R27, 2007, with all usual extras, including Recaros, Brembo brakes and Cup chassis, 1 of 500, 62,000 miles, full main-dealer service history, plus service eight weeks ago, 12 months MoT, four months' tax, private. £7395 Clio 200 Cup, 2009, 18,105 miles, full main-dealer service history, immaculate condition, 12 months' MoT, six months' tax, private. Click here to see used RenaultSport Clios for sale Headlight: £176Exhaust backbox: £235Shock absorber (front): £78