My manual states:

1. Open the hood.
2. Reach behind the headlamp unit in the engine compartment
to access the headlamp bulb lock ring.
3. Firmly grasp the lock ring on the back of the headlamp
unit housing.
4. Rotate the lock ring on the back of the headlamp
housing counter-clockwise to unlock it.
5. Disconnect the electrical connector and replace the bulb.

Is there anything I need to move around? It seems like a tight fit in there!

Sounds about right. Just have some band-aids and super glue to close any superficial cuts!

You need to be a migdet with 8" fingers ... oh and did I mention be double jointed?

Depends on which side you're replacing - driver's side is a bit tighter than passenger side to get into for me, but I have big thick hands that like to catch on metal edges

On Driver side I just take the grill out,undo the screws holding the headlight in pull it out and there it is.Way less cussing going on.

_________________
02 Sport,Frankenlifted,JBA arms,31/11.50/15 LTB,Aussie locker,204,000m

First off your directions sound right.

Secondly:

I have an 03 and evidently it must be somewhat easier. It only took me a few minutes and very little cussing to replace mine and the drivers side was really easy, the passenger side was the tough one. You have very little room to get between the air box and the back of the headlight. However, I was able to squeeze my large hands in enough to unscrew the retainer, then used a flat head screwdriver to open the clip on the harness and move it enough that I could put down the screwdriver and reach in and unplug the wire harness the rest of the way. The most important thing is to not touch the bulbs with your bare fingers. For two reasons, if the lights were recently on, they are halogen and will burn your fingers or at least be very warm. The other reason is the bulb won't last as long. Something to do with the oils in your fingers (naturally) and how it affects the halogen bulbs.

Like I said, this is on my 03 and the the passenger side was tight, but drivers side wasn't too bad.

What is in the way on the driver's side of the 05 that makes that side so difficult?

_________________
"The power of imagination makes us infinite" - John Muir
DD Ride03 Limited KJ
Toy: 1961 Ford Fairlane http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3182277
Current Mods: Surco Safari Rack, K&N Filter, Curt Hitch, VR3 HU, Optima Yellow, Frankie II Prem & JBA's Gen 4.5 UCAs, Skid Row t-case skid, and more!
Coming soon:???