LED Tail Light Question, Please Help !

[Lewis-Oddie]

Morning All,

I am wanting to purchase a set of all LED tail lights for my 2007 A6 Le Mans. My car currently has halogen tail lights and is suffering badly from water ingress so I thought sod it, perfect opportunity to upgrade to LED ones. I found a set that I really like and asked the seller to confirm whether they would definitely fit and he asked me to go away and confirm how many pins were in the connector for my rear lights. I checked last night and my car has 7 pins in the light connectors. The seller said that his lights only had 6 pins and they wouldn't work properly.

Does anybody know the difference between the 6 and 7 pin connectors ? I read on a US forum where a chap had bought these particular LED lights but then a few weeks down the line realised that his parking lights no longer worked. Could this be caused by the 7th pin not being connected ?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

[Guest 2]

Saloon?

When fitting the OEM clusters you need vcds to enable the Highline option. On the saloon with Highline you sacrifice a reverse light so as per legal requirements, reverse lights on the LHS cluster and the fog on the RHS.

Mine were upgraded from normal to Highline and required no connector modifications.


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[Guest 2]

Also you can't buy clusters from LHD cars as there is a physical modification to the innards of the cluster to shift the beam for fog and reverse.


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[Lewis-Oddie]

Thanks for your reply Chris. The lights I am looking at fitting are not OEM, they are aftermarket ones. The seller said that if my car has halogen lights as standard (which it does) then no coding would be needed. Yes it is a saloon.

[Guest 2]

If aftermarket they should be fine and you can ignore everything above as I'm sure aftermarket a have 2x reverse and 2x fog.

Are they off eBay? You could always be rude and try them within his return period.

[Lewis-Oddie]

Yeah they are off eBay. I am just concerned that they won't work full stop. Do you think they will still work ok despite one pin not working ?

[Lewis-Oddie]

I wonder if anybody has a diagram for the pins on my car ?

[Guest 2]

Yeah they are off eBay. I am just concerned that they won't work full stop. Do you think they will still work ok despite one pin not working ?

Do you have a link?

As I said above, you could use the Distance Selling Regs to "try" them out, obviously eBay isn't like this but some things just have to be done :p

[Lewis-Oddie]

Yeah, here is the link

Audi A6 LED TAIL LIGHTS (C6 /2004-2008) ✰ NEW IN BOX + WARRANTY !! ✰ 4F MODEL | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-LED-TAIL-LIGHTS-C6-2004-2008-NEW-IN-BOX-WARRANTY-4F-MODEL-/161218499225?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_146&hash=item25895f1299)

My only concern with that is that I would have to pay return postage and it is likely to be astronomical due to being in the Netherlands.

[Guest 2]

Ah didn't realise that, there is a company in Ireland which supply those, will try and find the name.

[Lewis-Oddie]

If you could find them that would be ace !

[Lukenkarl]

Have you tried Audi for a price? My genuine LED were around £260 I think (for avant) and you get 2 yr warranty. If they're more than you want to pay ask for a discount, you normally get one but only if you ask. If he / she offers 10% ask for 20% :beerchug:

[gupsterg]

At times I've seen main dealers selling them on ebay as well for similar prices as Lukenkarl got.

[mReen]

I have similar problem...
Audi A6 2006 2.7 TDI S-line here, and I willing to upgrade my tail lights.
I've checked ebay and there are some nice one LEDs I like. Check this listing - Audi A6 4F 04-08 LED REd Smoked Taillights tail light Rear Light BACK Lamp s6 | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-4F-04-08-LED-REd-Smoked-Taillights-tail-light-Rear-Light-BACK-Lamp-s6-/181311330850?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3AAudi%7CModel%3AA6&hash=item2a36ff5a22) and seller says that "*cars with s-line wiring harness might require some minor modification when installing taillights, you will have to install few resistors and modify 4 wires". Then there are similar listings for these LED tail lights, for example -
DECTANE LED REAR TAIL LIGHTS AUDI A6 4F SEDAN RED/SMOKE SET A19ELRS | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321324263872),
Clear Red LED Tail lights Taillight for AUDI A6 S6 4F 04-08 Sedan | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160737256725),
Back Rear Tail Lights for Audi A6 (saloon, 04-08), in red-black, with LED pair | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300724420542),
AUDI A6 04-08 4F2 SALOON LED RED SMOKE TAIL LIGHTS REAR LIGHTS NEW! SUPERB LOOK! | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=131053333266)
I've contacted DECTANE seller, and he asked me to check what type of plug connection I've got. Ok, I've checked that out - I have 7-pin connector, and I have original halogen tail lights (non LED). This listing is for 6-pin connector - DECTANE LED REAR TAIL LIGHTS AUDI A6 4F SEDAN RED/SMOKE SET A19ELRS | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321324263872), and this listing for 7-pin connector - DECTANE LED RÃœCKLEUCHTEN AUDI A6 4F LIMOUSINE ROT/SCHWARZ 7-PIN SET A19ELRSA | eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321318606443), and the one for 7-pin connector says "not suitable for cars with original halogen taillights". But I have 7-pin connector with original halogen tail lights.

So what do I do, any ideas?

[Guest 2]

Link 1 - The harnesses aren't any different on the pre-facelift saloon whether SE/S-Line.

Re the halogen statement, this usually relates to the Highline coding which has to be enabled for the Highline LED brake light clusters or vice versa.

[mReen]

So what do you think, should I get tail lights with 7-pin connector and ignire note about original halogens? Will I need to do some coding fir them?

P.s. 7-pin connector is actually a plug with 10 holes and 7 of them are with contacts, 3 empty.

[Guest 2]

You would be better contacting the seller, I can only recommend the OEM LED clusters as they were fitted to my car.

[Lewis-Oddie]

I am in the exact same boat as you buddy. My car has halogen lights but has 7 pins in the connector. I'm tempted to order the ones that I really want but the seller says certain functions may not work as the lights I want are 6 pin only. So confusing but I think ultimately I am going to have to take the plunge and order some.

[doberman]

I have the Dectane ones for 2 years now. They are fine!


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[Lewis-Oddie]

I have the Dectane ones for 2 years now. They are fine!


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Which ones did you buy, the 6 or 7 pin ones ?

Would you be able to check your connectors to see how many pins your car wiring loom has and how many pins the lights have ?

[doberman]

I didn't even know there were different connectors!
I will check later if the weather allows. I have to do it outside on the road you see...No heated garage here!


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[Lewis-Oddie]

I didn't even know there were different connectors!
I will check later if the weather allows. I have to do it outside on the road you see...No heated garage here!


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Haha. That would be fantastic if you could check for me buddy. Just out of interest, did your car have halogen lights or LED lights as standard before you upgraded them ?

[Guest 2]

I dont think the connectors are any different, I went to led from halogen without any issues

[doberman]

I had the halogen ones. The car looks really nice now!


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[Lewis-Oddie]

I think i'm going to order them. Would be great if you could confirm how many pins are in your car. It's driving me crazy ! I'm also suffering from the bulb error warning message, think the bulb holder connectors are *****d

[doberman]

Just had a look.
The car has 7 pins and the lights have 6.
It feels faster now. Probably because it's 1 pin lighter!
:-)


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[mReen]

Did you have to do any vcds coding, or it was plug'n'play?

[doberman]

No coding. Plug and play. One of the LEDs stopped working after 2 years and it looked a bit odd having a small gap. I got a new pair and replaced them. It must have been a one off fault.
I still have a spare light (drivers side) which you could try and see for yourself, but I am not sure it's worth the shipping.
Unless you are not far and want to drive over. It takes 2 minutes to fit it.


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[Lewis-Oddie]

No coding. Plug and play. One of the LEDs stopped working after 2 years and it looked a bit odd having a small gap. I got a new pair and replaced them. It must have been a one off fault.
I still have a spare light (drivers side) which you could try and see for yourself, but I am not sure it's worth the shipping.
Unless you are not far and want to drive over. It takes 2 minutes to fit it.


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Thanks for taking the time to check and confirm mate, really appreciate it. I think I'm going to go ahead and order some. I'm torn between two different types now though, Arghhh !

[doberman]

What types?
Do you mean 2 different designs?


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[Lewis-Oddie]

What types?
Do you mean 2 different designs?


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Yeah sorry mate I meant two different styles. At first I really wanted these ones

Audi A6 LED TAIL LIGHTS (C6 /2004-2008) ✰ NEW IN BOX + WARRANTY !! ✰ 4F MODEL | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A6-LED-TAIL-LIGHTS-C6-2004-2008-NEW-IN-BOX-WARRANTY-4F-MODEL-/161231825698?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_146&hash=item258a2a6b22)

They are full LED, every function on those ones is LED

Then I saw these ones

Back Rear Tail Lights for Audi A6 (saloon, 04-08), in red-clear, with LED pair | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Back-Rear-Tail-Lights-for-Audi-A6-saloon-04-08-in-red-clear-with-LED-pair-/370902267308?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item565b7f75ac)

I think they are very similar to the dectane ones. On those ones the reverse and indicator lights are just standard halogen bulbs.

Decisions !

[doberman]

I didn't know that the indicators were halogen to be honest. I will have a look at my spare one and see.
Anyway, I didn't buy the first option myself back then because they reminded me of the stock ones, they looked like a Mercedes, and because the new Audis have no clear on them; the whole light is red.
Wife preferred them too, and that was it...
:-)


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[Lewis-Oddie]

I didn't know that the indicators were halogen to be honest. I will have a look at my spare one and see.
Anyway, I didn't buy the first option myself back then because they reminded me of the stock ones, they looked like a Mercedes, and because the new Audis have no clear on them; the whole light is red.
Wife preferred them too, and that was it...
:-)


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I had a Mercedes C Class Sport before the A6 and loved the rear lights on that. I'm not sure whether they would look good on my A6 though. The ones you have definitely look more "OEM"

[mReen]

Then I saw these ones

Back Rear Tail Lights for Audi A6 (saloon, 04-08), in red-clear, with LED pair | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Back-Rear-Tail-Lights-for-Audi-A6-saloon-04-08-in-red-clear-with-LED-pair-/370902267308?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item565b7f75ac)

I think they are very similar to the dectane ones. On those ones the reverse and indicator lights are just standard halogen bulbs.

Decisions !

I was in contact with that seller, and he told me he has 7-pin model as well. Shame he replied too late, as I already ordered 7-pin version from Germany (Dectane).

[AlyM]

Which Dectane ones did you end up ordering?

[doberman]

I have the 6 pin lights onto the 7 pin car. I am not sure there is anything that doesn't work correctly.


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[Lewis-Oddie]

I have the 6 pin lights onto the 7 pin car. I am not sure there is anything that doesn't work correctly.


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The only one function I can possibly think of is the parking lights. Any chance you could check it out for us ? I remember reading on here about them possibly not working

[Lukenkarl]

The only one function I can possibly think of is the parking lights. Any chance you could check it out for us ? I remember reading on here about them possibly not working
My parking lights work. But I have genuine Audi retrofit LED (avant) Part number 4F9 052 200

[mReen]

Well, I've received 7-pin tail lights from Dectane, what can I say... Do not order 7-pin lights, even if you have 7-pin connector :) 7-pin tail lights are suitable for US version of A6, which has only 1 reverse light and only 1 fog light, and absolutely different wiring. You will get tons of errors and half lights not working. I found that out only after receiving 7-pin tail lights... And I decided to disassemble my original lights to check *** they have 7-pin connector. To my surprise 7th pin IS NOT in use! So basically, I have 6-pin connector! 7th pin has wire attached, but inside the light there is no bulb attached to it, it's just an empty space! Here are details of connections:
Right Hand: 1+5+7 - empty, 2 - reverse light, 3 - ground, 4+6 - brakes + running lights, 8 - fog lights, 9 - there is a wire in connector, but NO bulb for it, 10 - indicators.
Left Hand: 3+5+9 - empty, 10 - reverse light, 7 - ground, 6+8 - brakes + running lights, 4 - fog lights, 1 - there is a wire in connector, but NO bulb for it, 2 - indicators.
So I guess, tail lights with 6-pin connector should work just fine. I've already contacted with seller, lets hope we will sort it out, as I have no clue what to do with a set of tail lights for US version. Not to mention, seller assured me that I need to order 7-pin tail lights, and I was under impression that he should know all these details, what a mistake.

[a.daniel]

Hello everyone! I have the same problem on my 2005 Audi A6 4F as Lewis-Oddie...just bought new led tail lights to replace the old halogen lights. I realised when I mounted everything that either the old rear lights and the connectors have 7 pins :confused: and the new tail lights have only 6 pins... I've contacted the seller and waiting for an answer... I am just curious if you Lewis or someone else found an workaround in case the seller says that it's my problem and have to keep the lights...:1zhelp:
Thanks a lot.
Daniel