Poor headlights on A6

[more_teavicar]

My 2005 Avant 3.0 A6 150K mileage has very poor lights, they appear to have a dark centre to the tunnel of light - though they seem to be very good at illuminating hedgerows and overhanging trees.
I thought it may be my eyes but my GF commented on it the other night - her Fiat Punto has way better lights.

Looking on line new bulbs are £90 each - and i presume i will need four?

[PCB]

Oh, thank you! I thought I was going nuts. Our lights are bad too. The missus usually drives the car all the time. I drive me old van for work (Iveco Daily) but I drove it last night and, in comparison to my van, they were a pile of crap. Exactly as you described, a lovely globe of light for the hedgerow and trees but not much shining on down the road. Hold it on the flash feature and you're laughing. Will new bulbs solve this?

[dan2485]

new bulbs or ballast required.

the xenons are known to be bad when they get old do a search on here.

[micheal balbrig]

New osram night breaker bulbs,or Phillips Extreme will help a bit,as will cleaning the plastic lens.
The best solution I found was fitting relays,it improved the light output but the lights are still poor compared to other models.

This information is for the Halogen type,maybe yours has later type fitted,so probably not applicable,if so ignore.

[more_teavicar]

Thanks all for your comments.
How do I tell what sort of bulbs I have? And do I need four?
I thought they were HIDs?
Not put a spanner on a car since my Marina Days ......

[Gazwould]

Yep we're talking factory Xenon HID if bulbs are £90 .

Osram Night Breaker Unlimited Xenarc

Best HID headlight bulbs 2016 | Auto Express (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/93348/best-hid-headlight-bulbs-2016)

[more_teavicar]

Please - Anyone?

How do I tell what sort of bulbs I have?

And if HID - do I need four?

[niall campbell]

I have put in the Osram night breakers all 4 and they are ace.

Word of warning. The nearside ones are terrible to fit and I had to cut two lines and pull the plastic back like a tab to get my hand in

I also had to use a Ladys handbag mirror to get the bulbs in


My advice ? Go to Halfords and get them to fit them !!!

[dan2485]

Halogen headlight Example

Buy Audi A6 Headlights | Free UK Shipping (https://www.energizedcustoms.co.uk/shop/audi-a6-mk2-6-2004-2008-headlight-headlamp-passenger-side-left.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLbL8PST1wIVDBobCh3_jw hEEAQYASABEgIDOfD_BwE)

Xenon headlight Example

Buy Audi A6 Headlights | Free UK Shipping (https://www.energizedcustoms.co.uk/shop/audi-a6-mk2-6-2004-2008-headlight-headlamp-drivers-side-o-s.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLbL8PST1wIVDBobCh3_jwhEE AQYAiABEgJXTvD_BwE)

Can't be any clearer than that.

[more_teavicar]

Halogen headlight Example

Buy Audi A6 Headlights | Free UK Shipping (https://www.energizedcustoms.co.uk/shop/audi-a6-mk2-6-2004-2008-headlight-headlamp-passenger-side-left.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLbL8PST1wIVDBobCh3_jw hEEAQYASABEgIDOfD_BwE)

Xenon headlight Example

Buy Audi A6 Headlights | Free UK Shipping (https://www.energizedcustoms.co.uk/shop/audi-a6-mk2-6-2004-2008-headlight-headlamp-drivers-side-o-s.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLbL8PST1wIVDBobCh3_jwhEE AQYAiABEgJXTvD_BwE)

Can't be any clear than that.

Thank you Dan for your illuminating post!

[more_teavicar]

They are Xenon - thanks all.

[more_teavicar]

Looking at

OSRAM XENARC NIGHT BREAKER UNLIMITED D2S HID Xenon discharge bulb, discharge lamp, 66240XNB-HCB, duobox (2 units)




Price:

£71.25



on Amazon - is this too cheap to be genuine?

[Tomsea]

You can always get a new headlights for your car, a better one. But I don't think the price is £90. A pair could be £90. And it's been few years since your current headlights are serving you.

[Gazwould]

D2S HID Xenon Bulb 2 Bulbs Headlight 35w Lamp Light UK 4300k | eBay (https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/D2S-HID-Xenon-Bulb-2-Bulbs-Headlight-35w-Lamp-Light-UK-4300k/222300106039?_mwBanner=1)

[more_teavicar]

Ok - but are you recommanding them through experience of because you did a search?

And do I need four bulbs - two dip two main?

[more_teavicar]

Anyone? please?
And do I need four bulbs - two dip two main?

[M1tchy]

Post a picture of your headlight unit and I can answer you


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[more_teavicar]

Thank you34289

[M1tchy]

Definitely one xenon for the right hand light. The one on the left is halogen.


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[Guest 2]

Thank you34289

Yes thats a bi-xenon headlamp, the left hand bulb is an incandescent DRL bulb, the right hand projector is your xenon dipped and high beam, hence the name bi-xenon.

[more_teavicar]

Sorry if I am being dense - does that mean there is one or two bulbs for dip/main?
Could you please post a link for the bulb I need?

DRL - I thought when the switch was set to Auto the dip beam was illuminated?

[M1tchy]

You have two sides to your light, left and right.

In the left hand side you have 2 bulbs. One in the centre and one at about the 2 o’clock position. Turn your side lights on the top right bulb will come on. Flash your full beams and the centre bulb will come on (at least I think it will). Turn your headlights on and the right hand light will come on.

I’m fairly sure you have xenon for supper and halogen for full beam. If the above works I’ll get you links to the bulbs you need


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[more_teavicar]

Yes that is correct - are there two bulbs in the xenoin unit?

[M1tchy]

No just one in the xenon side. If they are bi-xenon a shutter upend to give full beams but if what I wrote above is how yours work then they are just xenon for dipped beam.


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[M1tchy]

This is what you’d need... it’s a d2s bulb.

Philips Xtreme Vision D2S Gen2 Xenon Bulb 4800K Single (https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-parts/car-electrics-and-car-lighting/lighting1/car-bulb/?48177031V&&cc5_846)


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[more_teavicar]

Sory - I am trying to look at the lights by myself - i may have got it wrong.
With the ignition on, light switch on . only the outer lights are on. Seems like as you described - when on dip only half the light is visible, switch to main and there is an audible click and all the light show,
I do appreciate your help - and patience!

[M1tchy]

Yeah that’s correct. So you don’t have bi-xenon which would do high and low beam. You just have xenon light which just do dipped.

The d2s bulb is what you need. Can get them from a number of places at varying prices


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[more_teavicar]

when on dip only half the light is visible, switch to main and there is an audible click and all the light show

What I meant was half the xenon, then on main - all the xenon. The inner of the two lamps does not come on.

[M1tchy]

Ah right, got you. Do the inner lamps work when you flash the main beam? That the only thing I can think of. Still only one bulb in the xenon side, the sound you hear is a shutter opening on the xenon projector


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[lynalldiscovery]

I like xenons but do find as they have such a clear cut off line there is no light bleed over like you get with halogens, so anything beyond the light range is invisible, whereas the halogens will bleed some light beyond their normal range so you can pick things out.
What you have is probably one of the best set up lights you can currently get (ive not tried leds yet) my discovery has the same xenon/halogen set up and down dark lanes its awesome.

Im sure you have now worked out bi xenon means the one light each side does low and high beam, but as they take a split second to fire up they use a shutter to switch the beam patterns and the extra halogens are basically long range driving lights which come on with high beam.

[more_teavicar]

The inner ones on mine don't light up whatever combination of ignition/light switch/column switch I try ......?

I thought one possible explanation is both bulbs have failed but on reconsideration surely there would be an error warning.

Honestly, my girlfriends Punto has far better lights.

Looking online, I have found a reputable supplier who lists two Osram buls that appear to be the same but with a £20 difference - can anyone spot a difference?

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Audi_A6_3.0_2006/p/car-parts/lighting1/car-electrics-and-car-lighting/car-bulb/?48177031N&1&fb875d44d5894f504fdbefa74ecf61d5c2f4cefe&000384

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Audi_A6_3.0_2006/p/car-parts/lighting1/car-electrics-and-car-lighting/car-bulb/?481770310&1&d9a2d93a52f442d1db84f425544d083c58bffbb9&000384

[inspectorman63]

Different product code

[M1tchy]

The first set seem to have a better output (70% increase claimed). Apart from that nothing I can see. Same voltage rating etc. I’ve seen them for over £100 each


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[more_teavicar]

And the first set are the cheapest!

The fitting, power, temperature are the same. The product code seems to be the supplier code rather than Osram.

I have been looking at a pair on Amazon for £71. I am aware there are a lot of fakes out there.

The site I have quoted has a 14% off code for this weekend which makes them comparable and hopefully genuine (Europarts clone site)

[Gazwould]

More expensive ones mention a 4 year Osram guarantee .

[more_teavicar]

The inner ones on mine don't light up whatever combination of ignition/light switch/column switch I try ......?

Anyone know why?

[Guest 2]

The inner ones on mine don't light up whatever combination of ignition/light switch/column switch I try ......?

Anyone know why?


CAR - Exterior Lighting - Daytime Running Light

[more_teavicar]

CAR - Exterior Lighting - Daytime Running Light

Sorry - what do you mean? Ah - lightbulb (pun) - I see what you mean!

MMI

[Guest 2]

Sorry - what do you mean?

on your mmi control panel on your centre console

press car

scroll to exterior lighting

select daytime running light

change setting to on

[more_teavicar]

Currently the dipbeams come on with auto - does this mean they will still come on if DRL are set to "on"?

[more_teavicar]

Thank you!

[Guest 2]

Currently the dipbeams come on with auto - does this mean they will still come on if DRL are set to "on"?

yes the clue is in the name, daytime running light.

lights will work as normal.

[more_teavicar]

Marvelous! Thank you. Just nipped out and altered them, working now.

They are a horrible insipid yellow - does anyone know what fitment they are and what the maximum rating legally and rating wise is please?

[PCB]

OK, here's how mine are...
DRL are set to on and the headlight switch set to AUTO. When dip beams are on only the outer lamp lights up (plus DRL strip of course). When main beam is selected, it's still the same outer lamp that's on, just a bit brighter. When FLASH is selected, the inner lamp also comes on but is a halogen.
Drive along a dark road and see the difference between your main beam and the flash
Flash is much better. But driving around holding the flash is a bit inconvenient and also doesn't help you with the dip beam.
I agree, I have a van with standard halogen lights which are much better. I'll be changing the car bulbs when I get a chance. Trouble is, they're really bright to look at. I can't help thinking it's a direction problem.

[Guest 2]

Be aware that the facelift lights behave differently than the prefacelift as the design is different in case the thread creator gets confused.
PCB I would suggest getting the headlights checked by a mechanic for level.

[dan2485]

Marvelous! Thank you. Just nipped out and altered them, working now.

They are a horrible insipid yellow - does anyone know what fitment they are and what the maximum rating legally and rating wise is please?


This is because they are using the main beam halogen lamp on a reduced voltage/current setting, trying to make them brigter by changing bulbs will not make any difference.

I prefer them off as your just shorting the life of the bulbs by having the DRL's on.

[Guest 2]

This is because they are using the main beam halogen lamp on a reduced voltage/current setting, trying to make them brigter by changing bulbs will not make any difference.

I prefer them off as your just shorting the life of the bulbs by having the DRL's on.

OP has a prefacelift car and has bi-xenon, this bulb is only used for DRL.

[more_teavicar]

OP has a prefacelift car and has bi-xenon, this bulb is only used for DRL.

I was starting to get confused ... ;)

So - does anyone know what fitment they are and what the maximum rating legally and load wise is please?