2003 Q45 Clock Light Bulb

[Dachristianman]

So I stopped by the dealer and priced the bulbs for my clock, and about fell over when he quoted me $17 each before taxes. I thanked him for his time and he laughed knowing why I was walking away.

I started researching how to get them cheaper, and the best I found was buying a pair of bulbs for a 2003 G35 off a large auction site. I got the pair for about $8 shipped and just had to pull the bulb out of the G35 housing and install them in my Q45 housing. I even reused the blue cover, although I could have spent and extra 80 cents and got a pair of bulbs with new blue covers included (yup, I'm cheap).

So if anyone needs to replace their clock bulbs, there is a tip to save you $26.

Now to start troubleshooting my adaptive cruise control.

Tom

[seldomseen]

What bulb type does the clock use?

[Dachristianman]

I couldn't find any markings on them, but they are larger than the bulbs used in the back of the audio/heater control unit, but smaller than the smallest bulb that Autozone or Advance sells. I bought one of the bulbs that Advance sells just to see if I could make it work, but the diameter is too large, and the one used in the clock has longer wires coming out of it in order to allow them to wrap around the plastic base.

tom

[Infinitiguy19]

The price of the bulb is $12.60 at the cheapest dealer online. MSRP is $17.50 Expect to pay this or more at a local dealer. Radio Shack or NAPA!

[Dachristianman]

True, but as I mentioned, you can get 2 for $8.50, shipped and just swap the bulb out of the base it comes with and put them in the Q45 base. It's not a difficult procedure. I just wanted to post this for future online searchers that have sticker shock by the $17-each dealer price.