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VW Passat Headlight Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a low beam, high beam, turn signal, side marker or DRL light bulb in a 2012 to 2015 Volkswagen Passat.

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2015 Passat Headlight
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Low Beam - Outer Edge
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Rubber Dust Cover
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 low beam, high beam, front turn signal, DRL (daytime running lamp) or side marker light bulb in the headlight housing.

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.

The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are as follows: Low Beam # H7, High Beam # H7, Front Turn Signal # 7440A, Side Marker # 2825 and DRL # 7440.

To access the DRL and side marker light bulbs, you'll need a Torx T25 star bit screwdriver.



 
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Dust Cap Removed
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Low Beam Bulb Holder
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
The first two steps are to open the hood and then move to the side of the car with the burnt out headlight bulb.

The low beam headlight bulb is located near the outer edge of the housing.

Reach in behind the headlight assembly and gently pull off the black rubber dust cover.

Set the dust cap aside in a safe place.

Rotate the grey plastic low beam bulb holder 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

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Pull Off Old Light Bulb
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Push On New H7 Bulb
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Low Beam Bulb Socket
Gently separate the old low beam bulb from the grey plastic holder by pulling it straight off.

Try to avoid touching the new halogen bulb with your fingers or anything dirty in the engine bay.

If you do get the new bulb dirty, wipe it clean a paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol.

Line up the three metal blades on the rear of the new H7 bulb with their corresponding slots on the bulb holder and push them together.

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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Line Up Rubber Cover
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Push On Dust Cap
Re-insert the new bulb and the grey plastic holder in to the headlight housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Replace the rubber dust cover by pushing it back in to place.

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High Beam - Near Middle
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Rubber Dust Cover
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Pull Off High Beam Cap
The high beam bulb is located near the middle of the headlight housing.

Reach in behind the assembly and pull off the black rubber dust cap.

Set the dust cap aside in a safe place.

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High Beam Power Plug
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Lift Release Tab
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Pull Out High Beam
Gently lift up the black plastic tab at the bottom of the high beam bulb holder before pulling it straight out of the housing.
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Separate Bulb From Plug
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Old H7 High Beam Bulb
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New H7 High Beam
Carefully separate the old high beam bulb from the black plastic electrical connector.

Avoid touching the glass part of the new halogen high beam bulb. If you do get it dirty, clean it with some rubbing alcohol.

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Push Bulb In Socket
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Install In Headlight
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Replace Rubber Cap
Line up the three metal blades on the rear of the new H7 light bulb with the slots on the black plastic electrical connector and push them together.

Insert the new high beam bulb in to the headlight housing.

Push in the bulb holder until it "clicks" securely in to place.

Replace the rubber dust cap.

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Turn Signal - Bottom Inner
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Plastic Dust Cover
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Twist Off Counterclockwise
The front turn signal light bulb is located at the bottom inner corner of the headlight housing.

Reach in behind the assembly and twist off the small round black plastic access cover 1/4 turn counterclockwise before removing it.



 

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Turn Signal - Plastic Handle
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Turn Signal Bulb Socket
Grasp the long black plastic tab and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise to release the front turn signal bulb socket from the housing.
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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
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Push In New 7440A Bulb
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Turn Signal Bulb Housing
Pull the old turn signal light bulb straight out of the socket.

Push a new amber colored number 7440A bulb straight in to the socket.

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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Replace Plastic Cap
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Side Marker & DRL
Re-insert the turn signal bulb socket in to the housing and rotate the black plastic handle 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Replace the round plastic cover by twisting it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction.

The front side marker and DRL (daytime running light) bulbs must be accessed through the wheel well liner.

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Turn Front Wheels
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Wheel Well Access Panel
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Loosen Counterclockwise
Turn the steering wheel all the way in the direction of the burnt out light bulb to give yourself more working room in the wheel well. (Some of you may prefer to turn the front wheels to the opposite direction.)

Remove the single screw that holds the access cover in place by turning it counterclockwise with a Torx T25 screwdriver.

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Access Cover Removed
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Side Marker Cover
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Twist Off Counterclockwise
Set the access cover and the screw aside in a safe place.

The side marker bulb is located at the bottom outer edge of the headlight housing.

Twist off the round black plastic cover by rotating it 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction.

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Black Plastic Handle
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Remove
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Remove Old Light Bulb
Set the plastic cover aside in a safe place.

Rotate the long black plastic handle 1/4 turn clockwise before removing the side marker socket from the housing.

(Note - I discovered that the side marker and DRL bulb sockets on this Passat were removed and installed opposite of most car bulb sockets. Usually, you turn the socket counterclockwise to loosen and clockwise to install / lock them.)

Pull the old light bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 2825 light bulb. You can also use a brighter LED bulb.

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Push In New 2825 Bulb
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise - Lock
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Plastic Sidemarker Cover
Re-insert the bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise to secure it in place.

(Note - Most car bulb sockets are removed in the counterclockwise direction and secured in the clockwise direction.)

Replace the round plastic cover by rotating it 1/4 turn clockwise.

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Twist On Clockwise
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DRL Light Access Cap
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Twist Off Counterclockwise
To access the DRL light bulb socket, twist off the larger round black plastic dust cover 1/4 turn counterclockwise.

Set the cover aside in a safe place.

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DRL Bulb Socket
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1/4 Turn Clockwise
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Pull Out Old 7440 Bulb
Rotate the DRL bulb socket 1/4 turn clockwise to remove it.

(Most car bulb sockets are removed in the counterclockwise direction.)

Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket.

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Push In New # 7440 Bulb
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Replace Socket & Cap
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Line Up Access Cover
Push a new number 7440 light bulb straight in to the socket.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it counterclockwise to secure it in place.

(Note - This Passat's DRL and side marker bulb sockets were removed and installed in the opposite way of most other automotive bulb sockets. Usually, counterclockwise is unlock / remove and clockwise is lock / re-install.)

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Re-Insert Torx T-25 Screw
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Tighten T25 Clockwise
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Test New Headlight Bulbs
Re-insert the plastic cover in to the wheel well liner and tighten the Torx T25 screw in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Test the new light bulbs by turning on the headlights, activating the hazard signals and flashing the high beams.

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

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