S4 Headlamp Adjustment for Continental Driving

[PBSmith]

Can anybody advise how to adjust the xenon headlights for driving in France, without taking my S4 to a dealership?

Thanks

Paul

[Dave Avant]

The handbook says take it to a specialist!!! :zx11:

But from experience alot of the projector type headlights esp Xenons, have a lever to swap the beam pattern over. But some require a small amount of mechanical adjustment ie srews etc.

Have a look and see if you can see a lever, you never know.

[Dave Avant]

I guessed at yours being a 2003 model.

It will probably be easier to remove the headlight which is quite simple, it held in place with 4 bolts. Make a note of its position, mark with something sharp, so when you put it back it should be in the same place. The is an adjsutment screw on the top of the headlamp aswell, make sure this doesn't move.

Not sure where the ballast pack is, usually on the back of the lamp unit, but this may need to be removed first. Remove rear panel to access headlamp bulb. Next to where the bulb is situated there is a lever that looks like a spring clip;

Lever down - Driving on left - UK
Lever up - driving on right - Continent.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Sadly, if it is a 2003 S4, there is no lever in the Xenon housings. You have to get the specialist beam benders from the Audi *******. :zx11:

[RickT]

or just buy the same ones from ebay for 50% cheaper..

RicKT

[Teutonic_Tamer]

or just buy the same ones from ebay for 50% cheaper..

Good point, but you then need to be careful of getting the correct ones!

[andy2]

Would this be the same for 2005 A4 Xenon bulbs?

[PBSmith]

Thanks for your response Dave, the S4 is a 2004 model is this worse?

I have looked but can't see a lever, to be honest there's not much room to be able to see.

Any additional advice would be great.

Cheers.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Thanks for your response Dave, the S4 is a 2004 model is this worse?

I have looked but can't see a lever, to be honest there's not much room to be able to see.

Are yours "Bi-Xenons", or the earlier "Xenons"??

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Would this be the same for 2005 A4 Xenon bulbs?

Are yours "Bi-Xenons", or the earlier "Xenons"??

An echo . . . ;)

Yes, an important question, because the two different systems do differ!

[PBSmith]

How do I tell?

[andy2]

they are just described as "Xenon Plus headlights" - (Without the adaptive lights). Xenon on both dipped and main beam (is this what the "bi" means?)

[Teutonic_Tamer]

How do I tell?

At night, park your car facing a wall/fence/garage door, about 6 foot away. Turn on dipped headlamps. You should be able to see the horizontal dip cut-off, and also the 15 degree left "kick-up". With the engine and radio off, and the front windows open, switch between main beam and dipped beam - looking at the beam pattern, and listening.

If you do have Bi-Xenon, the beam pattern of the dipped part is physically altered by a metal flap behind the glass "eyeball" projector lens. You should hear a prominent mechanical "clunk" from the headlamp assemblies when cycling between dipped and main (don't confuse this with "normal" electrical relays). Also, the actual pattern of the "dipped" output will "fill" to a full beam. Don't get this confused with the supplementary H7 halogen main beam output (this is used in conjunction with the Xenon bulbs, when dipped beam is switched on, and is used by itself during headlamp flash when no lights are on), which will look much yellower.

On normal Xenons, the Xenon dipped beam pattern does not change.

Adaptive forward lighting is another enhancement to Bi-Xenons, and actually twists the beam of light around corners!

If either of you do find you have Bi-Xenons, post the results of your tests again, and I'll look in my favorites to find a suitable linky - PM me if I forget! Got other things on my mind at the mo - look in my sig ;)

HTH, rgds

[andy2]

Pretty sure that would make mine a Bi Xenon.

I'd be interested to hear how the RS4 compares with the S4- I'm considering upgrading and wondering whether I could manage with just the S4, or whether I should save the extra and go for an RS4...