To replace a blown reversing light on the Mini Cooper model the wife has entails jacking vehicle up and removing part of the bumper..oh joy..
Thankfully not an MOT requirement i am led to believe as long as i tape over it.
After a hundred odd years of motoring youd think they would have worked that one out

Don't need to tape it over. The only requirement is that it is not on when the car is moving forward (in that case you could tape it over to pass).

This video shows it can be done quite easily, no jacking and no removal of the bumper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NtmnPes5_A

Nice one Gibbo.. Looks like previous owner tried to remove it from front with a screwdriver as the lens is broke.
Cheers DD.

Didn't you know?
All car manufacturers have a dedicated team that check all new car models, and if they find any job that's too easy to do, they re-design it so it's almost impossible.

I believe there's a clinic somewhere that specialises in breaking your arms in several places so you can more easily reach some of the more inaccessible nuts, bolts and clips.

I once had a Ka. To change a headlight bulb you were supposed to remove the wheel arch to gain access to a panel behind the wheel. I went to Halfords who offered a light changing service for a modest fee, and the chap there managed it from inside the bonnet by wiggling his arm around. Having watched him once, I was able to do it myself thereafter.

This is the sort of detail one should get from a decent motoring journalist, except that they don't seem to exist, preferring to waffle on about vague nonsense like 'refinement' and detailed information about how long it takes to get to 60. I cant see why they are so excited by this. I've been at 60 more times than I can count and found it pretty boring there. One I read recently devoted half his column on what music to play on the audio system!

Cost of tyres, ease of bulb changing, cost of replacement lenses, brake pads, cost and frequency of timing belt/chain replacement etc. is what I would like to know before buying a car.

Journos are a pretty feeble bunch generally, but the motoring variety are the pits!

The money trap...Had some cars that if you drop money or whatever out your pocket between seat and gear change/brake lever its almost impossible to retrieve it..Many a time bread knife in one hand and backside out the door trying to roll it along..

If it's a pound coin or a 10p you can lift them out with a magnet

Have you noticed that 30 second car adverts on TV rarely show more than a second of the interior (and never in the back, under the bonnet or in the boot), or any specs or technical data? The rest of the clip is more of a lifestyle drama.

But then changing the front bulb on a Bini is the easiest thing to do!

This made me laugh, i found £12 in my car (V70) under the drivers seat whilst cleaning it about a month ago, £8 worth were the old £1 coins