improving allroad headlights

[bagpipingandy]

On paper yes, mine is due an mot in Feb, I will not be planning to change the bulbs and if the only thing it fails on is the lights "looking like hid" I will be happy to change them back, once fitted, it is simply a bulb change, It would be Interesting to know what A6 hid ready headlamps look like, the allroad boasts xenon headlamps, is this not sometimes interpreted as the same thing, anyone got a picture of the lamp up close, is it a different diffuser?

Regards

Andy

[allan_audi]

You shouldn't have any problems with the MOT so long as you don't go for any of the crazy coloured light. Stick to 4300k or 5000k and you should be alright.

I have a pair of 5000k HIDs fitted to my old BMW and its passed the MOT every time.

As for the reflectors, my Allroad is fitted with OEM Xenons but not sure if there's any difference. I'll try and remember to post picture later.

I did finally manage to clean/polish the lenses over Christmas and its made a big difference to the brightness.

[bagpipingandy]

I am sure mine are OEM Xenons units too, I am unsure whether the projector lens from OEM xenon lights (with bulbs) differs to one with OEM HID lights (bulbs & ballasts)?? Is there a different headlamp unit from Xenon to HID?

I too have cleaned/polished the lenses, using different grades of very fine micro mesh type sand paper making the plastic lense clear again, which did make a difference to the lights, I could then clearly see the light pattern produced from them.

Andy

[allan_audi]

I am sure mine are OEM Xenons units too, I am unsure whether the projector lens from OEM xenon lights (with bulbs) differs to one with OEM HID lights (bulbs & ballasts)?? Is there a different headlamp unit from Xenon to HID?
Andy

I'm sure there's some confusion here. Xenon and HID are one and the same, they use a gas filled bulb and a control unit (aka ballast for some reason), hence why they take a short while to warm up (flicker during startup). The control unit initially outputs a higher voltage, something like 12000V, then drops to a running voltage of around 8000V. The bulbs have no resistance as such and thats why they're more efficient and last longer.

Are you talking about the bulbs you can now get that are normal 12v bulbs but with Xenon gas inside to improve output? These can't compete with Xenon/HID units, the output on these is far better. I don't believe the figures of improvement they suggest for these Xenon filled standard bulbs.

The Xenon units which were an option on my Allroad do not use normal 12v bulbs.

As for the reflectors, I'm still not sure if they're different.

[vinpetrol]

When you refer to reflectors what do you mean ?

Vin


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[allan_audi]

When you refer to reflectors what do you mean ?

Basically the internals of the headlamp unit, there is a glass lens in front of the bulb which seems to block light travelling directly forward and the silver reflector at the back.

[bagpipingandy]

I'm sure there's some confusion here. Xenon and HID are one and the same, they use a gas filled bulb and a control unit (aka ballast for some reason), hence why they take a short while to warm up (flicker during startup).
Are you talking about the bulbs you can now get that are normal 12v bulbs but with Xenon gas inside to improve output? These can't compete with Xenon/HID units, the output on these is far better. I don't believe the figures of improvement they suggest for these Xenon filled standard bulbs.
The Xenon units which were an option on my Allroad do not use normal 12v bulbs.
As for the reflectors, I'm still not sure if they're different.

I am confused by how to tell the different a6 headlight options available, i understand you get xenon filled bulbs which are not a patch on the xenon/hids.
I thought wrongly my headlights were xenon (which i thought was, as in ready to take 12v bulbs with xenon gas), but if the allroad has the xenon/hid headlights with control unit/ballasts built in as an option then i guess i was wrong, You mention yours is oem xenon headlamps, does that mean you have a control unit/ballast allready built in to the light unit? Can you post a picture close up to see if there is physically a difference in the reflectors, sorry for being a pest but my reason is can anyone tell the difference by looking at them or is the difference potentially only in the light spread.

If any one wasn't confused, well you must be now

Regards

Andy

[allan_audi]

I am confused by how to tell the different a6 headlight options available, i understand you get xenon filled bulbs which are not a patch on the xenon/hids.
I thought wrongly my headlights were xenon (which i thought was, as in ready to take 12v bulbs with xenon gas), but if the allroad has the xenon/hid headlights with control unit/ballasts built in as an option then i guess i was wrong, You mention yours is oem xenon headlamps, does that mean you have a control unit/ballast allready built in to the light unit? Can you post a picture close up to see if there is physically a difference in the reflectors, sorry for being a pest but my reason is can anyone tell the difference by looking at them or is the difference potentially only in the light spread.

I think its confusing to refer to the standard bulbs as Xenon (although seems retailers are trying to confuse people). Xenon and HID are gas discharge lamps and operate at a high voltage. I think HID refer to the retro fit kits ie. their bulbs are designed to replace the standard filament bulbs (you pick your bulb type ie h1, h4 etc), with an additional external control unit. I've fitted a pair of these to my old BMW into the old standard headlamps. It transforms the headlamps, useless before...

There are a few giveaways of Xenon/HID lights, the delay and flicker at startup (which is why they were not normally used for main beam), the brightness of the light and the thick high voltage cable that goes to the bulb (there is a lightning symbol on the connector to denote high voltage).

The control units on my Allroad are under the headlamp.

Have you checked your option codes? This will show if you have them fitted too.

If you don't have Xenon then its best to get some HID kits off ebay and fit the new bulbs and control units.

[bagpipingandy]

My Bad, I was using the xenon word incorrectly, appologies for this, every day is a learning day!!, Also I do not have Xenon lamps on my Allroad but I fitted an HID Kit which vastly improved the lights,
so...... Xenons are high voltage bright lights, optional extra on the A6/Allroad models......., HIDs come in Kits to retrofit to a standard headlamp to give the xenon look and anything else is not very bright, a bit like myself at times!!!

regards

Andy

[allan_audi]

Here's a pic of the Xenon headlight unit, not sure if the reflectors/layout is different although Elsawin seems to suggest so.

IMG_1009.jpg