Xenon Bulb Changing

[theskyfox]

Hi guys,
On my old car, I knew exactly how to change the headlight bulbs if I needed to. Was 4 bolts, unscrew, whip out and change. However, my current car has the Xenons..has anyone got any experience on changing them? is it easy to do? I don't need to do it just yet, but experience tells me that when they blow itl wait until a cold/wet/snowey dark day when I really need them...and itl save me a few quid at the dealers.

-Andrew

[Bratty]

They are simple to change just unlock the very large cap on the rear of the unit by turning it anti-clockwise (has an emblem with an electric shock sign on it) remove the small plug then bulb is then twisted to unlock it from the lens, just follow the safety tips in the handbook especially electrics off and the fact that the bulb will be hot, (even though the handbook recommends a qualified-workshop for the job!).

Just be careful not to touch the bulb with your fingers (wear gloves or use a tissue).

If a dealership charges you for this simple two-minute task then they should be shot (after all the bulb from them is far more expensive than it should be!

Dunk

[Bratty]

I thought I would try and clarify the procedure but my computer biffness has overtaken me!

Was trying to do a "How to" but the pics are too detailed to upload onto the forum, but none the less if you are interested, you can click the links:).

By the way for demonstration purposes "The Car was removed from the Headlights". :):).

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights011.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights013.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights014.jpg
(shows how far you should turn the bulb unit)

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights012.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights009.jpg

Dunk

[theskyfox]

Thanks guys. Its refreshing to see it looks relatively easy to do. I was concerned it might be one of those easy things that they've made uber-complex just to stop you from doing it yourself. I'm assuming that Xenon bulbs themselves would be exempt from any dealer warranty? i.e. Im going to have to pay for a new bulb? as the car is covered until 2014...

[ScottyUK]

If you've a Xenon gone on your 2011 car then I'd definately be onto them. That's a faulty part as it should last a hell of a lot longer. What have you got to lose?

[Cocteau]

450 EUR to replace the bulb in my country
At first, the faulty bulb damage the ballast and the technician decide to test the bulb on the other headlight - one more blowed ballast. So I had to pay one bulb, 30% for the ballast and few more EUR for work.

[Bratty]

450 EUR to replace the bulb in my country
At first, the faulty bulb damage the ballast and the technician decide to test the bulb on the other headlight - one more blowed ballast. So I had to pay one bulb, 30% for the ballast and few more EUR for work.

So you knew the ballast and bulb were blown!

And that the blown bulb blew your second ballast unit after transposing!

Sorry 450 EUR for two ballast units and a bulb is a bargain (even at 30%) :biglaugh::biglaugh::biglaugh:.

Or is it just the fact,(which I myself have experienced more than once!!) That the cars are complex and if you have a dealership which is still in it embrionic "REPAIR KNOWLEDGE LEARNING PHASE!!" that mistakes are made and palmed off onto the punter! (A LOT!)

Dunk

[nowa]

I thought I would try and clarify the procedure but my computer biffness has overtaken me!

Was trying to do a "How to" but the pics are too detailed to upload onto the forum, but none the less if you are interested, you can click the links:).

By the way for demonstration purposes "The Car was removed from the Headlights". :):).

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights011.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights013.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights014.jpg
(shows how far you should turn the bulb unit)

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights012.jpg

http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx277/gudgin/lights009.jpg

Dunk

Hi there,

I take it that the headlight housing has to come off the get to this "back cover" and to get the headlight housing out, one needs to take the front bumper panel off right?

[Sheroo]

Hi there,

I take it that the headlight housing has to come off the get to this "back cover" and to get the headlight housing out, one needs to take the front bumper panel off right?

I managed it, yes the headlight housing comes out but the bumper panel does not need to be removed as the housing slides out. Taking the cables out was a bit fiddly but it's a simple job. Made a good saving as I managed to buy two original osram bulbs for £100 from eBay!

[nowa]

I managed it, yes the headlight housing comes out but the bumper panel does not need to be removed as the housing slides out. Taking the cables out was a bit fiddly but it's a simple job. Made a good saving as I managed to buy two original osram bulbs for £100 from eBay!

Thanks, yes, you were right, the bumper panel does not need to come off for a bulb change... Phu, I can't remember where but I did read that somewhere.

Anyway, bought 2 bulbs from Ebay for £35, changed both of them to get a "matching" colour and it all works fine

[howie.87]

I know this is an old thread but I'll chance my arm anyway.
How do you remove the headlights from the car? The links in the above post no longer and I cannot find any information out there regarding the correct procedure to do this.
I have a 2010 A4 S-Line model. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

James

[Gunnark100]

2nd post with picture:


DIY J-Code tinted front reflectors (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/319845-DIY-J-Code-tinted-front-reflectors)




I know this is an old thread but I'll chance my arm anyway.
How do you remove the headlights from the car? The links in the above post no longer and I cannot find any information out there regarding the correct procedure to do this.
I have a 2010 A4 S-Line model. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

James

[howie.87]

thank you.
I'll give it a go

[Gunnark100]

thank you.
I'll give it a go


Be careful turning old bulb out and new in...they need a bit force, but to much can brake them easy...:)

[howie.87]

noted!!

I have a head light that stops working after a few mins of turning it on. Have the fault code: "00978", Lamp for Low Beam.
The general consensus from my looking online is to switch the bulbs to check if that is the problem and if not then do the same with the ballast.
Try identify the problem component by process of elimination before buying any replacements.

Any experience of this?

James

[Gunnark100]

noted!!

I have a head light that stops working after a few mins of turning it on. Have the fault code: "00978", Lamp for Low Beam.
The general consensus from my looking online is to switch the bulbs to check if that is the problem and if not then do the same with the ballast.
Try identify the problem component by process of elimination before buying any replacements.

Any experience of this?

James

Yes you can switch the bulbs...safest way... I had something similar, only bulb stops working after maybe 10-20sek not few minutes like yours, i had spare, so in my case it was faulty bulb. Im not sure - should faulty ballast show different errors. Here is one story:


Faulty Xenon bulb / control unit - Audi A5 Forum & Audi S5 Forum (http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-general-q/17693-faulty-xenon-bulb-control.html)

[howie.87]

Turns out I was over estimating the amount of time the bulb stays on, it only survives over the minute mark.
I switched the bulbs and the problem move to the other side so pretty confident that it only requires a new bulb.

This brings me onto my next question, where is the best place to source xenon replacement bulbs (D3S)??
There are some very cheap ones out there online but they seem too good to be true.
There are ones that are priced such that they seem more like a genuine product but with shipping, import duty etc. you're in the region of what Halfords are charging.