Both high and low beam bulbs are H1 bulbs. This information can be found in your owner’s manual or the Bentley manual for the New Beetle. Don’t depend on the auto parts store or aftermarket suppliers’ catalogs to tell you anything different. When you take out the old bulb, it should have “H1? stamped on the metal base or etched on the glass itself. Low beam is a 55 watt bulb, and high beam is 60 watts. Before you try removing the headlight housings, check for a blown fuse first, since the headlight circuits on these cars are fused. The fuse is located on the regular fuse panel inside the car, on the left side of the dashboard behind the removable cover. Open the hood. Locate the seam between the nosepiece and the front fender (either side). Go up between the first two fender mounting bolts and look down a few inches. See a small knob sticking out at you? That is a release lever for the headlight assembly. Push in on it slightly and pull all the way up as far as the lever will go. Once you have the headlight out, pull the connector off the back of the housing and take the headlight somewhere where it is easy to work on. Put it on a pillow or something soft so you don’t risk scratching the lens.
Download