Headlamp bulb swap - 2016/66 Allroad BiTDI with Xenon lights

[muddyboots]

Hi all

First post on here, just got myself a 2016/66 Allroad BiTDI and loving it so far :)

The car has HID headlights, and I'd like to upgrade the bulbs with the Osram Nightbreaker Xenarcs.

But not sure a) what bulb type they are, and b) how to get to them.

Looking on Autobulbs earlier, they suggest the bulbs are D3S and can be replaced through the wheelarch - but just checked and I don't have the access flap in the wheelarch. So I'm not convinced they are D3S either...

Any ideas how I get to the bulbs - is it a headlight out job, and if so - any guidance on how to do this?

Many thanks

[bbrown1664]

Hi all


The car has HID headlights, and I'd like to upgrade the bulbs with the Osram Nightbreaker Xenarcs.




Why do you think the HIDs need upgrading?

[muddyboots]

Hi

I replaced the OE HIDs in my last car with the upgraded Osram version and saw a noticeable improvement.
That was around 5 years ago, and I suspect the upgrades may have improved further still.
Edit to add: I do a lengthy commute across rural roads every day, and for a good deal of the year it's all in darkness - every little improvement helps!

Do you know how I go about removing the bulbs/headlamp ?

Cheers

[KevTrem]

It should have the service hatch on the liner, its quite high up in the arch, requires a T25 driver if I remember right. Other option is drop front bumper off, only takes 15 mins to do.

[Whippy53]

Halfords Mon Ami, it's why they're there.

[muddyboots]

It should have the service hatch on the liner, its quite high up in the arch, requires a T25 driver if I remember right. Other option is drop front bumper off, only takes 15 mins to do.

Thanks for the reply.

I've double checked the arch liners by torchlight ....definitely no little access hatch that I've seen photos of elsewhere. So I'm guessing it's a headlamp out job, and I did wonder if the bumper had to come off. I've had to do the same on a previous (different) car and it was fairly easy. Any idea where the various fixings are ?
I guess really I should stump up for an hour of ErWin access and download all the service manuals...

[muddyboots]

Just to follow up on this, I noticed the label on top of the headlamp unit yesterday (partially obscured until you lift the corner of a cover up).
That confirms the bulb type as a D5S, for which there don't appear to be any decent branded upgrades about.

A quick bit of reading about the D5S suggests it's a slightly lower output (25W) bulb, the idea being to keep the lumen output at or below the limit - 2000 lumens I think it was - where auto levelling and washers becomes mandatory (although my car has washers anyway, I presumed it has auto levelling but maybe not...?)

There are some 35W replacements available, but not from a brand I recognise.

[Whippy53]

If your lights do the sweepy uppy downy thing when you switch on you've got auto levelling, if not you ain't.

[johnsimcox]

My Facelift Avant SE definitely had self levelling, but not washers

[morski]

If you have the xenons then you will have washers and auto levelling. Led's just need auto levelling not washers

[johnsimcox]

If you have the xenons then you will have washers and auto levelling. Led's just need auto levelling not washers
Sorry but you have this the wrong way round. Following the facelift, cars with Xenon's did not get washers, even though the cut outs in the bumper were there. Cars with either type of LED had washers. On the C8 Sports, which have LED as standard do not have washers - again they have the cut outs in the bumper, if you have have Matrix LEDs (standard on S-Line) then they have washers as standard. Facelift Allroads had washers with the Xenons as well

[morski]

How is it the wrong way around?? Ive got cars with xenons on and all have washers and auto level. MOT states auto level and washers MUST be fitted to cars with xenon lights. I have also got cars with LEDs fitted and non of them have washers fitted. Im not discussing matrix leds as they are a different ball game.

[Whippy53]

I think the wording is 'self leveling may be fitted' and if fitted must work. The crucial word is 'may'.

[johnsimcox]

How is it the wrong way around?? Ive got cars with xenons on and all have washers and auto level. MOT states auto level and washers MUST be fitted to cars with xenon lights. I have also got cars with LEDs fitted and non of them have washers fitted. Im not discussing matrix leds as they are a different ball game.
I had a 2012 A6 Avant SE and that came with Halogen lights, manual height adjustment and no washers. If you specced Xenons (or got an S-Line where they were standard) it came with washers and self-levelling. I then had a 2015 Facelift A6 Avant SE and that comes as standard with Xenon's with self-levelling and no washers. Washers were included if you specced LED (standard on S-Line).

2014 brochure showing availability of washers as an option
36290

and similar 2015 Facelift brochure
36289

The Bi-Xenon's fitted to facelift cars are less powerful than those fitted to pre-facelift and thus negated the need for washers to be fitted as standard. The same reason why the C8 Sport does need washers even though it has LEDs