'04 DII Headlight Bulbs

[Kacers]

OK - last week my PS low-beam light went out. Go to dealer as I read here they are warranty items. They replaced all 4 bulbs or so they say. I asked why it took them almost 90 mins to simply replace one bulb and they said they did all 4 as they have had issues with the bulbs. No fee and all is good.

Go out tonight and DS low-beam bulb is out.

If they replaced all 4 as they said, this means I got like 1 week on a new bulb.

Given these issues, I am more than happy to spend my own coin and buy upgrade/good replacement bulbs as I can't afford to go the dealer once a week for this and local cops give us NJ drivers no slack on this stuff. I searched here and didn't see much posted on '04 Disco headlight bulb replacements. Anyone done this and have any advice?

AndrewT

 

[frickjp]

Warranty won't be too happy abtu replacing all 4 bulbs. We've never replaced a high beam, they aren't on long enough. Look at your receipt. 4 bulbs charged out? Doubtful. The fact that the other side expired in close proximity to the first is no suprise; they both went in on the same day.

 

[Kacers]

Warrnty receipt said all 4 bulbs replaced. I go in again this week as they are replacing the DS seat frame. Looks like they are putting new bulbs in again (or atleast one).

I stood there and watched them periodically for the 90 mins they worked on it. The one guy working definitely spent equal time on both front sides - so I assume they did replace bulbs on both sides.

They would have no reason to lie to me. They took the car in without an Appt when they were very busy. They spent 90 mins working on it (again, I had no appt) and I saw them working on both sides. The receipt clearly said all 4 bulbs. If they were just scamming a warranty claim I don't know why they would take so much of their time and work on both sides.

AndrewT

AndrewT

 

[frickjp]

Interesting. It pays .2 per side or .5 for all 4. Why would it take 90 minutes? We usually do them in the parking lot in about 5, and that's with pulling the grille. Guess you got a bad bulb. Might want to bring a lunch this time. Law of averages says your in for 45 minutes.

 

[syoung]

I go through headlamp bulbs on my pair of 04's like crazy. It seems there's always one out... I replace them myself and have tried different brands... no change. The dealer stripped the screws on the G4 so I can't replace the bulb that's out on that one now.

 

[frickjp]

I go through headlamp bulbs on my pair of 04's like crazy. It seems there's always one out... I replace them myself and have tried different brands... no change. The dealer stripped the screws on the G4 so I can't replace the bulb that's out on that one now.

Daytime running lights? Skip the screws. Take the inverted Torx bolts off the top. Mark it with a Sharpie so you don't disrupt the aim.

 

[Kacers]

Steve,

What bulbs have you tried? I was thinking IPF or PIAA H7s.

AndrewT

 

[DonC]

Mine was going out all the time as well. I replaced the OEMs with silver stars and same issue. One bulb went out the night before my last scheduled service so they went ahead and replaced all 4 for me under warranty. I had them disable the daytime lights and no issues since then. Known issue according to 2 dealerships and the replacement bulbs are supposed to be a longer life variant.

 

[syoung]

I tried Silverstars- they burn out all the time although they function well while they're working. I tried plain Sylvanias, Silverstars, Philips, and some generic house brand (wagner maybe?). None lasted very long, so not willing to front the cash for expensive PIAA's or something. I think the truck has the problem, not the bulbs. I don't have DRL's...
The stripped grille bolts are the dealer's problem- they get to look at it Wednesday. The driver side window came loose tonight too- Wonderful!

 

[Matt Kendrick]

i had a lamp go out, didn't want to wait the three weeks for an appt. at my dealership so i popped for a pair of silverstars. i will tell you this, from outside the truck, looking at the headlamps, they seems very bright. but, from the drivers seat, i think they have less throw than my stock bulbs. i'll be putting something else in when these go, and they're silverstars, so it should be any day now.

 

[Best4x4]

I also have had issues with 2 O3 Discoveries and their H7 headlight bulbs. The first Disco did have the daytime running lamps enabled, and on average they lasted 2 weeks tops. My current 03 Disco has daytime running lamps disabled and the bulbs have lasted longer, but it's lame that I can't install some good quality silverstars or PIAA's kinda reminds me of all the Chevy/GMC 99-05 trucks, suburbans, and tahoes that have at least one dead daytime running light on the front.

The bulbs LR is supposed to be changing your H7's out with are Longlife bulbs and they should be marked with an "L". If they don't have that then they aren't giving you the proper bulbs. I myself haven't been able to find a single H7 bulb in the longlife form which usually means dim as can be. I think LR needs to at least investigate WTF is causing the bulbs to burn out and fix it. I mean we spend enough putting gas in these things without having to put 75.00 worth of bulbs in it each month!

Tad

 

[pm_wizard]

I have DRL on my 04 DII, and I seem to get about 6-8 months out of the low beam lights. I find it frustrating that LR has made changing the bulbs so awkward. That is a lot of dismantling to get at a quick release bulb, and it seems odd that they use a construction that can upset the aiming of the lights too!

I am not planning to disable DRL. BTW does anyone know (or think they know) why the DII DRL uses low beam and the RR uses high beam?

John

 

[grips03]

Drivers side low beam went out today on the 04. Should they replace both low beams bulbs due to service advisory on non-L bulbs?

 

[syoung]

They should, but they probably won't. I just changed another one today. The dealer has stripped out the screws on the grille (where the A-bar mounts to the grille screws) to the point where I had to pull the battery to swap the passenger side low beam. They also stripped the screws on the top of the lamp housing from the last bulb swap they did. My survey from the last service just came in the mail- brace yourselves, I'm going postal in a written survey kinda way....