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VW Passat Vanity Mirror Light Bulb Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out vanity mirror light bulb above the sun visor of a 2012 to 2015 Volkswagen Passat sedan.

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2015 Passat Sun Visor
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Vanity Mirror Light Housing
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the NMS (new midsize sedan) 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and the revised 2016 Volkswagen Passat sedan in changing a burnt out vanity mirror light bulb (or upgrading it to an LED) located in the headliner housing above the sun visor.

Owners of other VW Group vehicles such as the Beetle, CC, Tiguan, Golf, Touareg, Jetta, GTI, SportWagen, Eos, Rabbit, Bora, Vento, Lavida, Coccinelle, Maggiolino, Fusca, Audi A3, A4, S4, A6, S6, A7, A8, Q5, Q7, A5, S5, and TT may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

A replacement "festoon" or "fuse" style light bulb is part number 6418 (35mm size) which is available from manufacturers such as Sylvania, GE, PIAA and Eiko.

You may also be able to use the slightly larger 41mm # 6411 bulb or a compatible LED unit.

The only tool needed to replace the bulb is a small flathead screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool used to pry out the light housing.



 
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Insert Screwdriver In Notch
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Gently Pry Out Light Housing
The first two steps are to flip down the sun visor and locate the small notch on one side of the vanity mirror light bulb housing.

On the passenger side vanity light of this 2015 Passat, the notch was on the right side of the housing.

To prevent from scratching the plastic surfaces, you may choose to cover the tip of your flathead screwdriver with a thin micro fiber cloth or use a plastic automotive panel removal pry bar tool.

Carefully insert the blade of the small flathead screwdriver in to the notch and gently pry out the edge of the light housing.

Pull the light housing out of the headliner.

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Press Tabs - Release Plug
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Electrical Connector Detached

Squeeze together the two release tabs on the sides of the black power plug before sliding it off the housing.

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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
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Old # 6418 Light Bulb
Carefully pull the old bulb straight out of the socket.

(The OEM bulb was marked as a GE 7546F 12V C5W 417.)



 

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Install New Festoon Bulb
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Push In Power Plug
Insert a new # 6418 or a compatible LED bulb in to the socket.

You may also be able to use the slightly longer 41mm number 6411 bulb and slightly bend back the two metal electrical contact tabs.

Push the power plug back in to place on the side of the housing until it clicks securely in to place.

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Re-Insert Wires First
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Gently Pop In Retaining Clip

If you are replacing the standard incandescent bulbs with a brighter LED unit and it doesn't work at first, try flipping them around in the opposite direction within the socket.

Re-insert the wires and electrical connector back in to the headliner first.

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Slide Cover - Test Light Bulb
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New Vanity Mirror Light Bulb
Gently snap in the other side of the light housing.

Test that the new vanity mirror light bulb is working properly by sliding open the mirror cover.

For more, check out all of my Volkswagen Passat DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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