I had to replace a rear brake light last night. I really can't believe how difficult this car is to replace lightbulbs. Most cars have pretty easy access to bulbs. I did the HID conversion and I know how difficult that was but this simple bulb replacement caused me to remove about 7 fasteners holding the inside of the trunk wall down, removing the inside trunk wall, sliding my hand through the narrowest passage - sideways/backwards. removing the bulb harness from the lens housing - no extra wire used here, twisting the bulb a 1/4 turn. Simpler removing than replacing since you can see chit in there. I've wanted to replace my eyebrow lights with something different - maybe whiter to match my HIDs but they look impossible. Whaddup???

 

I had to replace a brake light bulb on my '04 XFire coupe today, so I checked the service manual (do a search for a free online copy). It is not necessary to remove the entire sidel panel from the trunk on the coupes. There is a smaller rectangular panel adjacent to the brake lights that can be removed by pushing and pulling.
Then you remove the brake light assembly by turning it 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pulling. Then you remove the bulb by pushing in, turning 1/4 turn, and pulling. Installation is the reverse of this process.

 

It looks as though eruby has a roadster.

 

Ooops! You are right. Forgot to look at the pic. Anyway, I hope the info is helpful to those of us with older coupes that are starting to burn out bulbs.

 

I found it easier in the roadster to get the convertible top in the "Goal Post" position (halfway through the cycle), stop it there, and reach in from the outside.

You have ~ 10 minutes.

 

I didn't even think about that. thanks - for the next time...

 

You bet. It's still a reach and a pain, but I didn't have to disassemble the whole rear of the car!

 

Max,
The passenger side reverse bulb is out on my Roadster. After taking a cursory glance at that side of the cargo compartment and removing 2 of the release buttons over there and not being able to budge the molding/panel near the lense, I came across your suggestion. Forgive me, but I'm unable to visualize (I'm at work) how opening the top approximately halfway gets you access to the rear lense/bulb harness. Care to attempt to make me less dumb ?

 

Just a tip for the replacing of all bulbs in the rear light cluster. Take the whole light unit out by releasing 3 securing nuts, (pretty easy to do, usually only finget tight) pull the unit clear and access is easy. My big hands could not get access from the trunk.
TerryR