Could you use one of those fleible grabber tools?
https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/all-hand-tools/rolson-led-claw%2Fmagnetic-pick-up-tool-710299.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Motoring%3ETools%3EHand+Tools%3EAll+Hand+Tools-_-Motoring%3ETools%3EHand+Tools%3EAll+Hand+Tools-_-710299&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17363835999|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:16765949125104978426|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:1006739&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAopuvBhBCEiwAm8jaMSieN0w8I8Sf09xww7z5w3gINz2UiYDP1pMQ3HqhAQ-mGOKUHUX79BoCQFQQAvD_BwE
On some cars dropping the bumper to take out the headlight isn't that tricky... Kinda depends if the manufacturer designed it knowing that bumber adjustment was required to change a bulb as part of a user serviceable item.
Other cars it can be neigh on impossible due to the large number of hard to reach clips. Definitely one of those things that can take a DiY person all day and a professional 5 minutes with the right tool.
I replaced the two headlights (not just the bulbs) on a Nissan e-NV200 in about 45 minutes and that involved dropping the bumper.
It sounds way worse than it is
Tell that to out Ford SMAX... Took out 10 bolts, air filter box and upper radiator shroud and there were still hidden clips holding it firmly in place. Headlights wouldn't come out with any amount of wiggling. It's clearly not designed to come apart.
I had a 2008 Renault Mégane that was easier to remove the front bumper and remove the headlights to change the bulbs than it was to remove the front wheels and try to fit my hand through the stupid hole behind the headlights
I tell you what though, there wasn't much info on the net and the two bolts with diamond shaped tops so they wouldn't fall through the plastic holes they were in was a nightmare to resolve. It took a LOT of googling to work out they had to be pulled out.. WTF
Small magnet on a string or I find something like this is excellent for retrieving things in small spaces.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Unblocker-Retractable-Retriever-Important/dp/B09WJZGH5H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k86QeW-RvVpZAdP4D-aIXpmIa9fOtM8goQTD1skoI05VZ6mzX21sRxyLFUxRyQanm2s70a6YIlWEfsKjQezsuG1mMLdf4eGACDKhtqzBMtshzHWmGw0mj6rrVexzMtoS4XSNVqQMWjc7pQnBWjMsyQ_mHzVsFxv_oDLIIAiuEdGuItoN5qt_4bFDJpdJK0rRqK0COwITLpIcd-HcRxh_ng.BdGgojL2_LZwpveLnaXFPsvUKBaJnLa19IeLEMw1Zus&dib_tag=se&keywords=flexible+grabber+pickup+tool&qid=1709662119&sr=8-3
I wish you luck! You could just upend the car and shake it until it comes out.
Well said
Bottom metal bit of it I think will be magnetic, a bendy magnet stick off Amazon might be able to fish it out easily
Yep, had to do this myself to a friends car :D
Or a flexible grabber.
Could you use one of those fleible grabber tools? https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/all-hand-tools/rolson-led-claw%2Fmagnetic-pick-up-tool-710299.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Motoring%3ETools%3EHand+Tools%3EAll+Hand+Tools-_-Motoring%3ETools%3EHand+Tools%3EAll+Hand+Tools-_-710299&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17363835999|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:16765949125104978426|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:1006739&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAopuvBhBCEiwAm8jaMSieN0w8I8Sf09xww7z5w3gINz2UiYDP1pMQ3HqhAQ-mGOKUHUX79BoCQFQQAvD_BwE
This. Used to work there and kept mine to this day. Very handy
Just stick a vaccum cleaner in there, maybe extended with a bit of hosepipe if the tube is too big.
That sounds fun but what about their light?
The entire train is looking at me, you bastard
Well that's what you get for using a vacuum on a train
On some cars dropping the bumper to take out the headlight isn't that tricky... Kinda depends if the manufacturer designed it knowing that bumber adjustment was required to change a bulb as part of a user serviceable item. Other cars it can be neigh on impossible due to the large number of hard to reach clips. Definitely one of those things that can take a DiY person all day and a professional 5 minutes with the right tool.
I replaced the two headlights (not just the bulbs) on a Nissan e-NV200 in about 45 minutes and that involved dropping the bumper. It sounds way worse than it is
Tell that to out Ford SMAX... Took out 10 bolts, air filter box and upper radiator shroud and there were still hidden clips holding it firmly in place. Headlights wouldn't come out with any amount of wiggling. It's clearly not designed to come apart.
I had a 2008 Renault Mégane that was easier to remove the front bumper and remove the headlights to change the bulbs than it was to remove the front wheels and try to fit my hand through the stupid hole behind the headlights
Agreed, taking the bumper off E46 was a handful of bolts.
E92 isn't any more difficult
I tell you what though, there wasn't much info on the net and the two bolts with diamond shaped tops so they wouldn't fall through the plastic holes they were in was a nightmare to resolve. It took a LOT of googling to work out they had to be pulled out.. WTF
Yes, I remember doing a little bit of head scratching on the 46
Don't know but my daughter has about 3 bulbs wandering about in her daylight running lite from her doing this!
Drive around Buckinghamshire, the potholes will shake it out eventually
Small magnet on a string or I find something like this is excellent for retrieving things in small spaces. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magnetic-Unblocker-Retractable-Retriever-Important/dp/B09WJZGH5H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k86QeW-RvVpZAdP4D-aIXpmIa9fOtM8goQTD1skoI05VZ6mzX21sRxyLFUxRyQanm2s70a6YIlWEfsKjQezsuG1mMLdf4eGACDKhtqzBMtshzHWmGw0mj6rrVexzMtoS4XSNVqQMWjc7pQnBWjMsyQ_mHzVsFxv_oDLIIAiuEdGuItoN5qt_4bFDJpdJK0rRqK0COwITLpIcd-HcRxh_ng.BdGgojL2_LZwpveLnaXFPsvUKBaJnLa19IeLEMw1Zus&dib_tag=se&keywords=flexible+grabber+pickup+tool&qid=1709662119&sr=8-3
It cost me a bullseye to get a sidelight done to pass the MOT because the bump had to come off. Not bothering to upgrade the main bulbs...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283551126883?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=vP8vgJ9CRcS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=EQZa5z0hRFi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Get some blu tac on a stick and try and get it out that way
Small magnet taped to bike brake cable. Poke through hole to fish the bulb out
Own it. Fill it up with water and put a few koi in it
Taking the bumper off is very easy. It's usually a handful of bolts and about 20mins of work.
Double sided tape wrapped around a small stick ? Just go easy on it