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  1. Dull headlights. 
    #1
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    Hi all,
    quick question about the headlights in my D3.
    They are very dull. The lenses are clear, I have replaced the bulbs as they are xenon D2S jobs. I replaced them with the standard 35 W jobs. Lunix brand.
    but they are a bit poor.

    is it worth buying the Osram 150%+ bulbs? What do y'all use or recommend? Or even the 50w offerings?

    when I replaced the bulbs on the D4 with the same brand xenon D4S or whatever they were, there apwas a massive change, but this time it's a bit pants.
    You shouldn't really see your car shadow on a road sign lite up by the car behind, when You have my lights on.

    Could it be the bulb holders or the xenon ballast things?


    Thanks!
     
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  2. Re: Dull headlights. 
    #2
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    No. I am sorry to inform you that they are a pile of £1200 each junk.
    Great when new, but the Hella reflectors tarnish after 5 years.
    If you coul see inside, the reflectors would be matt beige instead of a mirror.
    Pre2005 without adaptive lights you can replace them, a big job though. 2006 on you have to cut the lamp open to replace and then reseal.
    It was done by a German who said it was not worth the hassle as it took 2 weeks.
    Audi A8 - 2015 - 3.0TDI
     
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  3. Re: Dull headlights. 
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    Oh a rse!! Oh well.
    On full beam, looks OK though.
    Mine is a 2007 with adaptive light.
    The reflectors do look very shiny though.

    Thanks... I think!
     
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  4. Re: Dull headlights. 
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    Quote Originally Posted by A8Cruiser View Post
    Oh a rse!! Oh well.
    On full beam, looks OK though.
    Mine is a 2007 with adaptive light.
    The reflectors do look very shiny though.

    Thanks... I think!
    You can't see the reflectors without taking the light apart (or using an endoscope), they are hidden behind the lens (half-spherical glass part) and far back within the light.
    Left is how they are after 5-10 years, right is how they should be.

    Screenshot 2019-12-17 at 13.48.48.jpg
    Audi A8 - 2015 - 3.0TDI
     
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  5. Re: Dull headlights. 
    #5
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    I see what you mean.
    What a crap design.

    I might look into the 50w Xenon offerings. Have you tried them at all?
     
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  6. Re: Dull headlights. 
    #6
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    What is the ‘stuff’ that is coating the reflectors in the picture you attached?
     
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  7. Re: Dull headlights. 
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    Silver is just gone nothing coating it the coating has gone or oxidised. The 50W bulbs require 50W ballasts and probably more trouble than worth. One day I may buy two spare headlights and split them open and install modern LED modules of the size of the original projector. The guy who did this in germany was in a rush to get his car on the road again and it gave him 2 weeks of stress. If using spare lights you can try various things and fit them once to your satisfaction..
    Audi A8 - 2015 - 3.0TDI
     
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  8. Re: Dull headlights. 
    #8
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    Oh well. Thanks.

    Didn’t realise the ballasts were power rated.
     
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  9. Re: Dull headlights. 
    #9
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    I have bitten the bullet(ish) and ordered the Osram Next Gen D2S bulbs. Hopefully, the reality lives up to the marketing guff of +200% this and 20% that and blah blah blah.....

    Double the price of the normal Osrmas and 10x the price of 'other available' D2S brands.
    Here's hoping it makes a difference, as new headlamps would and are stupid £££££. Along with bumper having to the moved forward which I don't fancy doing...
     
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  10. Re: Dull headlights. 
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    Please report back your experiences with the new bulbs!
    Audi A8 - 2015 - 3.0TDI
     
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