To have the light replaced the dealer charges $100. I looked through the owners manual and the manual specifically says because of sharp items on car there are NO LIGHTS that should be changed by anyone except a qualified VW mechanic. REALLY!!!! OK I fix stuff for a living and have changed bulbs before in my home and all my cars. I looked for directions finding them through a friend who fixes VW.

They have you turn a bolt that looks like an Allen wrench and has directions next to it on how it works. Then there is the pushing down of the spring. Interesting it is a piece of metal that is made of spring steel. After unplugging housing which the plug is on the end of housing. You take it out and then you can get at the place to change the bulb. While you have the housing out. Look at what it plugs into. The opposite connection for the plug is fixed in place. When we put back in the connection feels tight. But.... next bump you hit it loosens Then with the next bump the connection in compromised and it shorts out the bulb. Then needs replacing again...

To fix the problem I broke the bracket that holds the end the housing plugs into and haven't changed a bulb since. VW needs to recall this to get every ones Beetle on the same page. This is a $100 dealer fix every time it goes to shop. The way the housing is held in car is another issue. Mine has fallen out getting on highway. Lucky for me I was able to retrieve and put back in. A used one cost over $300 to replace. Clear shipping tape keeps it in place.

BTW VW corporate service is the worst service I have ever encountered. They will not take responsibility for any issues. Unless the federal government mandates it. Is this anyway to run a car company?

Lets also get input from people with the non Hardened gear working with the timing chain. $2000 later mine's fixed.

I had an electrical fire with a 2001 New Beetle -- she burned right to the frame. No symptoms beforehand. I now own a 2008 convertible and I love the car, but I keep having light problems. First two headlamps were covered under warranty. Now the trunk lid backup/brake light is out and is over $200 replace and the left rear tail light looked like the lamp had fallen out of the socket, but on inspection at the dealer it was discovered it had MELTED.

This is going to cost another couple hundred dollars to repair and replace. Since I have had experience with electrical fire before, I am worried I am going down the same rabbit hole with this one! Something about the wiring harness or the fuse panel has been mentioned by other owners as the problem, but someone else I know had 16 lamp changes on her Tiguan before finding the problem. I can't afford the dealer's expensive labor charges -- wondering if an independent mechanic who knows foreign cars could help me at a less expensive rate.

This was a used car and the CarFax did not mention any electrical or light problems (of course!) -- otherwise, so far drives like a dream and I just love it, but not sure I can keep spending this money on lights. I am a senior on a pension and I thought this would be a dependable and inexpensive car to own.