Quick answer. The owner of this 2016 Dodge Charger sent us a text from our website. They wanted a quote for a mobile headlight bulb job in Banning. Our tech drove out and changed the headlights at the car. The line items came to $147.50.
Key Points
- The job started as a text from our contact page asking for a price and a time.
- Our tech went to the car in Banning. No tow, no drop off.
- Two headlight bulbs went in. Labor on the record is half an hour.
- The line items total $147.50.
- Bulbs dim with age, so changing both at once makes sense.
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What the Owner Asked For
This one is simple, and that is the point. The owner wrote in through our website. They asked for a quote for a mobile headlight bulb replacement in Banning, plus our price and when we could come out.
No diagnosis puzzle. No mystery noise. Just a headlight job on a 2016 Charger, done where the car sat.
What Our Tech Did
Our tech drove to the car. The record says it plainly. Found: changed headlights.
Two headlight bulbs are on the record, one for each side. The labor line is half an hour. That is a driveway job, not a shop day.
What It Cost
Here are the line items on this job. Half an hour of labor at $150 an hour is $75. Two headlight bulbs at $36.25 each is $72.50. That comes to $147.50.
The first quote note said the price assumed standard halogen bulbs, and that HID or LED bulbs cost more. That is worth knowing before you call anyone about headlights.
2016 Dodge Charger, Banning, September 19
Came in with: a text asking for mobile headlight bulbs.
The tech found: the headlights needed changing.
What was done: two headlight bulbs changed at the car.
The line items: $75 labor plus $72.50 in bulbs, $147.50 total.
The text, the quote and the job all live in one record in Shop Desk. Our San Jacinto shop built it, and any mechanic can use it free.
Why Headlight Bulbs Are Worth Doing Right
This part is general. It is not what happened to this car.
Halogen bulbs do not just work until they die. Sylvania says a headlight bulb can lose up to 50 feet of visibility before it burns out, based on its own beam tests (Sylvania). It also says to change bulbs as regular upkeep, before they go dim (Sylvania FAQ).
That is why we like to change both sides at once. Sylvania puts it the same way. The two bulbs are usually the same age, so when one goes, the other is close behind. If you change only one, you end up with one bright light and one dim one (Sylvania). The California DMV warns drivers that a dark shape at night could be a car with a missing headlight (DMV handbook). You do not want to be that car.
Headlights are not just a style choice. The federal lighting rule, FMVSS 108, covers original and replacement lamps. Its stated goal is to cut crashes by lighting the road and making cars easy to see in daylight and in darkness (eCFR, 49 CFR 571.108). Sylvania says its bulbs meet that standard, and that a bulb that is put in wrong or aimed wrong can bother other drivers (Sylvania).
The DMV also tells drivers to make sure they can stop within the distance their headlights light up (DMV handbook). Dim bulbs shrink that distance. So a cheap bulb job is a real safety job.
One more check while you are at it. Government recall data for the 2016 Charger lists recalls on things like jacking and the front driveshaft on certain all wheel drive cars. We did not see one for the headlights. Put your VIN into NHTSA's 2016 Dodge Charger page to see what is open on your car. This job record does not show the recall status of this car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a mobile mechanic change headlight bulbs at my house?
Yes. That is exactly what this job was. Our tech changed the bulbs on this Charger where it was parked in Banning.
How long does a headlight bulb job take on a 2016 Charger?
The labor on this job's record is half an hour for the bulbs.
Should I change both headlight bulbs at once?
We think so. Both bulbs are usually the same age, and a new one next to an old one leaves you with uneven light.
Do HID or LED headlights cost more to fix?
They can. The quote on this job was based on standard halogen bulbs and noted that HID or LED bulbs cost more and may need more parts.
How do I get a price for my car?
Text or call us with your year, make and model and where the car is. We will give you a price and a time to come out.
What We Read
- Sylvania, Product FAQs
- eCFR, 49 CFR 571.108, Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment
- California DMV, Driver Handbook, Safe Driving
- NHTSA, 2016 Dodge Charger Recalls and Complaints
Supercanic tip: If one headlight is out, the other one is probably dim. Have both done in one trip. Call us at (951) 904-2477.
Headlight Out? We Come to You.
Text us your car and where it is. We send a tech with the parts.
