Headlamps..

[ChrisBee]

been driving other cars for the last couple of weeks while my A4 received some tlc. Hadn't realised my headlamps were so bad, even my wifes 1-series is much better.

Anyone got any easy (and cheap) ways of upgrading the headlamps, they don't have many street lamps up this way..

Cheers, Chris

[paul b]

The A4s and A6s of the 2000-2004ish generation have bad headlamps. Its not the bulbs, I've fitted uprated bulbs with no difference.

To improve light, you're best off fitting a HID kit. These are technically illegal as an aftermarket part, although many people do it and its accepted nowadays. If fitting them you should inform your insurance company. Some allow it with an increase in premium, some just let you fit it with no change at all.

EDIT: As said in another thread, headlamp washers and levellers should also be fitted. Most people don't do this though.

If you're like me with no headlamp washers then you would need a new bumper painted to your colour etc etc. Would cost a fair bit. The headlamps are the weak part in the Audi design, the worst part of the car.

Paul

[ChrisBee]

Thanks Paul, glad its a design fault and not just my car. S'pose you just get used to the headlights. My wifes 1-series is much better without xenons, just std lights, drove my mates Saab 9-3 the other day, didn't like the interior of the car, but would def swap the headlamps.

Possibly looking for a new car soon - something avant-ish, so think i'll keep my eyes open for something with xenons, guessing they are better, but not that common.

Cheers, Chris

[STEWY L]

Thanks Paul, glad its a design fault and not just my car. S'pose you just get used to the headlights. My wifes 1-series is much better without xenons, just std lights, drove my mates Saab 9-3 the other day, didn't like the interior of the car, but would def swap the headlamps.

Possibly looking for a new car soon - something avant-ish, so think i'll keep my eyes open for something with xenons, guessing they are better, but not that common.

Cheers, Chris
we've had the shortest day now chris, soon it will be light until 10pm:biglaugh:
stewy.

[ChrisBee]

Hadn't thought of that Stewy... it'll probably still take a while for it to reach us. Bit slow to catch up round these parts.

[STEWY L]

Hadn't thought of that Stewy... it'll probably still take a while for it to reach us. Bit slow to catch up round these parts.
and i'll probably be stuck at work that week:biglaugh:

[ChrisBee]

Yep, my paternity leave is over and come the 5th Jan I'll be back full time. REALLY not looking forward to that, got a lot of flexi time to make up and looked at the inbox this morning and there are over 500 emails - glad there is a delete all function. If it's important I'm sure it'll come back!

On a different note - puzzling and pondering over a new car at the minute. Was looking at an X5, but think that might be a bad idea. Looking at the A4 Avant and Passat Estate, both the 2.0T engine, for the same price I can get an 06 A4 with 40k ish on the clock or an 08 Passat with 7k on the clock... what to go for.... :confused:

[paul b]

Yep, my paternity leave is over and come the 5th Jan I'll be back full time. REALLY not looking forward to that, got a lot of flexi time to make up and looked at the inbox this morning and there are over 500 emails - glad there is a delete all function. If it's important I'm sure it'll come back!

On a different note - puzzling and pondering over a new car at the minute. Was looking at an X5, but think that might be a bad idea. Looking at the A4 Avant and Passat Estate, both the 2.0T engine, for the same price I can get an 06 A4 with 40k ish on the clock or an 08 Passat with 7k on the clock... what to go for.... :confused:
An X5 is never a good idea! :p

Usually for the money of a more standard A4, you can get a Passat with more equipment. That's something good to consider.

But if you're all about driving and you like Quattro, I don't think you can get that in a 2.0T Passat? Whereas I think you can in the A4.

Paul

[ChrisBee]

An X5 is never a good idea! :p

Usually for the money of a more standard A4, you can get a Passat with more equipment. That's something good to consider.

But if you're all about driving and you like Quattro, I don't think you can get that in a 2.0T Passat? Whereas I think you can in the A4.

Paul

I know its like swearing on here, but still like the X5. I think it might have something to do with the tonka trucks I had as a kid :D

I am keen on the quattro and can't get that in the passat unless you get the diesel 4motion or the R36 (possibly on the 3.2 as well??), but the major deciding factor (as the mrs reminded me last night) is if the buggy fits in the car. She did pick what must be the biggest in the world - just fits in the boot of my car now.

Cheers,
Chris

[paul b]

I know its like swearing on here, but still like the X5. I think it might have something to do with the tonka trucks I had as a kid :D

I am keen on the quattro and can't get that in the passat unless you get the diesel 4motion or the R36 (possibly on the 3.2 as well??), but the major deciding factor (as the mrs reminded me last night) is if the buggy fits in the car. She did pick what must be the biggest in the world - just fits in the boot of my car now.

Cheers,
Chris
Well, the Mrs has decided against the X5 then, BMWs traditionally have small boots.

To fit the buggy, is it a case of fold seats or do you want the buggy to go straight in the back? The 05-08 A4's rear seats don't fold flat, which may hamper you there. I'm not sure if this is the same as in the Passat, but the Passat has 585 (I think) litres of room with the rear seats up, which is massive.

Paul

[Naseem]

I know its like swearing on here, but still like the X5. I think it might have something to do with the tonka trucks I had as a kid :D

I am keen on the quattro and can't get that in the passat unless you get the diesel 4motion or the R36 (possibly on the 3.2 as well??), but the major deciding factor (as the mrs reminded me last night) is if the buggy fits in the car. She did pick what must be the biggest in the world - just fits in the boot of my car now.

Cheers,
Chris

If it's buggy/pram/travel system space you need (lol), have you considered an A6 Avant? (Even the saloon has a large boot). I was looking at the A4 until we found out we'd have a little one coming along. Basically we needed something that would fit the pram and shopping bags in the boot, and if we went away then space for luggage too. I just bought a 2004 A6 Avant 1.9TDi a few days ago for 4k. You should be able to be pick up a bargain at the moment.

Here's mine: http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=56948

Good luck.

[ChrisBee]

Hi Paul, the buggy goes in my A4 saloon now, but once it's in there isn't much space left. There is plenty space at the back of the boot, but the biggest bit of the buggy hampers access to that.. does that make sense??

The plan was to go and try out the A4 and Passat this weekend, but the mother in law had a wee bit of a fall and broke her neck :yikes:. Literally. So that kinda got put on hold while we paid a million pounds a minute to park at the hospital. Going to give it another try this weekend... but the passat does look a lot bigger inside.

Naseem, haven't really looked at the A6, but it is on the list... not seen many as clean as yours does, and if I do get one it'll probably never be that clean.

Cheers,
Chris

[Naseem]

Sorry to hear about your mother in law, hope she's gets better soon.

Regarding the A6, it wasn't that clean on the outside when I got it. It'd been sat under a tree for about a month! lol However, after driving it to work yesterday in the snow and ice it looks like it might have not been cleaned at all!

[paul b]

As Naseem says, hope she's well again soon. :approve:

You can tell its the time of year, my mother-in-law broke her arm twice (the same arm) in December, in two different incidents!

Paul

[Naseem]

Yeah, people seem to be having accidents quite often at the moment. A mate of mine lost his car on the ice and fractured spine in 3 places. He's a rally instructor and he'll be in bad way mentally if can't get back into i think; I'm hoping he recovers to his former state.

[ChrisBee]

Cheers.. as they say, if its not one thing its your mother (in law). :D