Unbelievable Disaster!
 

I went to change out the headlight bulbs in my 1999 Mazda Miata today. Something I have done numerous times in other cars. Fairly simple, pulling off the electrical connector and dislodging the old bulb by twisting the three blades and clip that hold the bulb in place. But, today, when I went to take the old bulb out, somehow it fell into the headlight cavity! I am not sure how this even happened because I did not think it was even possible for the bulb to fall into the light. Now, I am faced with trying to get it out! I Googled how to take the headlight assembly apart and everything I read says I have to take the bumper off. Is there another way to take the headlight out so I can get the bulb out? I tried fishing it out with a coat hanger, but so far no luck. Anyone else have this disaster? And is taking the bumper off the only way to get the headlight out? I see two bolts on top of the lense, but have not tried to loosen those bolts.

Have you tried a shop vacuum?

No have not tried shop vac, but a good idea. Will try it. I am not sure how it would suck it back into the hole so I can retrieve it, but it may allow me to get the bulb right there where I can use some long needlenose pliers to pull it through. Someone else suggested using chopsticks and some 3M double sided tape to capture it and pull it. Thanks for your help.

A magnet on a packaging string work very well. As long as there is some part that has some ferromagnetic parts
We also at times use the cylinder scope with camera and light to locate the dropped tool or fastener or anything else in a door cavity or head light anything that is not easy to get to ...then mechanics finger (a tool) to grab it. :D

Thanks for the tip. Just today from Amazon I got some "tools" and will work on it tomorrow. I got some 3M double sided tape and will try and snag the bulb with some long tweezers if I can work it through the hole. I also did get a magnetic probe, but like you say, not sure how much of the bulb is magnetic. I can check on the other old bulb. I also will try the tip here to use my Shop Vac. Maybe I can suck the bulb to the hole and then work it with the magnet or 3M tape and work it out. Thanks for your tip.

Headlight Bulb Disaster
 

Okay, I solved one problem, and now a new one popped up. I was able to retrieve the old bulb that had fallen into the headlight cavity. It was a combination of fixes. The ShopVac suggestion here could not get enough suction, so I took a fat zip tie and made a loop out of the end, and dragged the bulb to the hole. I managed to pull it through the hole. It was hard because the reflector made it hard to have a straight shot, but I got it out.

The new issue is that when I went to change the driver's side bulb, the retaining clip came out when I took the old bulb out. I can see that there is a small groove and screw where the clip fits into, but is it supposed to snap into the groove, or do I need to loosen/remove the screw? I am hesitant to remove the screw because it is very hard to see it and work with it. If I backed the screw out, would that allow me to snap the clip in the groove, or is it the screw that holds the clip in place? This is all for a 1999 Miata.