Headlamp bulb retaining ring
 

Anyone try to change out headlamp bulbs on a 09 A4? How do you get the circular bulb retention device off? It is not as simple as the old style clips.

Push & twist?

Good question. I have a 2008 A4 w/o HID lights and would like to change to Silverstar bulbs. Easy project?? Sorry if I jacked this thread.

Check out attached picture. Can't figure out how to remove metal circular clip without doing some damage. Probably need some special tool to spread the three retention fingers and pull out? Keep this discussion going. I find it ridiculous that Audi won't even allow a bulb to be changed easily.

You can change the lamp with your fingers. Pull the connector with the wires straight back to remove it. Lay it to the side. Now grasp the ring at about the five o'clock postion in the photo. Pull it towards you, and rotate it up over the terminals of the lamp. The three clips retaining the lamp flange will now be limp. Pull the lamp by the terminals out of the holder. Install new lamp in the reverse order, or place the ring back in the original position and simply push the new lamp into position. Replace the connector and test. Replace access cover neatly and completey.

Never touch the envelope of the lamp with your fingers. If the surface of the capsule has any debris on it, clean it with a lint free paper towel and 99% isopropyl alcohol. CAUTION: Some alcohols have a lubricant in them. Oil on the envelope will lead to an early demise of the filament.

Evidently my clips are not removeable (at least I did not want to apply any more force than I did to try to remove them)

I used a pair of hemostats to grasp one of the 2 blade connectors and use a flat head screw driver to push one of the fingers out of the way. With a little gentle wiggling, I could pull the entire lamp straight out of the back without ever touching the bulbs,

Used same process in reverse to install new bright whites which simply push the 3 fingers out of the way going in and snap to full retention. Plug in the wire connector, slap headlight assembly back in, tighten 4 screws, all done.

Hemostats are the key to this install (firm grasp, no hand oil, etc.)