Xenon Headlights

[inskip]

Hi
Having the same problem. Audi support don't seem to know what to do. Surely if we can't use 'stickers' there must be a user configuarable lever or something to make this happen without dissassembling the front of the car!
Audi say don't use stickers, not sure they would work anyway with self levelling lights (or adaptive lights).
I go to France at least twice each month. I can't possibly take the time to make an appointment with my dealer and visit, wait for the work to be done on the way out and then on the way in (apart from the fact that I am illegal driving from the dealer to the boat/tunnel and vice versa!) let alone the cost
Anyone know how to raise this at a senior level within Audi or anyone know anyone in the motoring press?

[Photo_wizzard]

I am replacing my Saab (with Xenon headlights) with an A6 Allroad with adaptive xenon headlights (the ones that "steer"). How can these possibly be tamed with any kind of stickers as they not only self-level but move from side to side when you drive around corners. As a photogrpaher I know enough about lenses to know that you cant stick a pieece of tape in front of one and expect it to cut the light off just where you need it!

SURELY Audi should add a switch on the dashboard that simply moves the beam across to the other side. If you have to go to a dealer (1 hour drive away) then it has to be the day before and the day after driving to France, and you STILL have to risk blinding someone on the way home.

OR is it just not necessary to adjust these type of lights, the beam is much more confined than the old lenses on Halogen lamps. - I would be very grateful for anyone elses experience but I did actually drive across the Continent in the Saab without making any adjustment and never got flashed once

[Clinterous]

Have you looked in your handbook?

I only mention because whilst looking in mine at the weekend (was changing a bulb), there is a switch under the headlamp unit to redirect the light.

Not sure if this applies to all A6's with differing vintages.

[Photo_wizzard]

I haven't collected the car yet, but I'll look in the handbook. I believe, from looking at other blogs, that if there is a switch it's awkward to get at. It seems insane that there isn't an easy method - what are they trying to do - make work? hmmmm!

[Froggy]

They are changed over using a switch, but it's not easy to get to because of the rest of the engine gubbins being in the way.

To do the switch over electrically would require additional motors in the rear of the light assembly at some considerable cost for something that only affects a tiny minority of drivers.

And yes the beam pattern is pointing the wrong way, it's not symetrrical , and I have been flashed abroad in both my old S3 and my current A4. If you point the car at a plain wall with the lights on you'll see the pattern raises up to the left. This is to provide better illumination of the near side of the road .

[Photo_wizzard]

Thank you Froggy.

I take your point about the small number of drivers needing to have access, but it's not THAT small a number when you consider that each time anyone goes to the continent, if they are forced to drive to their dealer twice, they are essentially breaking the law if unable to re-adjust their lights, unless they make special plans to drive only in daylight.

It is incredibly inconvenient, and a problem that, when we simply had to stick a piece of plastic or masking tape to the lens, didn't exist. The switch / lever or whatever, should at least be accesible by simply opening the bonnet.

I motor abroad about 5 times a year - that's approx. £600 per year in fees plus 10 hours driving to and from the dealer!

[marklilley]

I am waiting for Audi Workshop in France to get back to me to tell me if this can be done and how much it will cost. (2 days wait so far) I need to change my Audi A6 1999 Xenon Headlights for driving in France and to pass their equivalent of the MOT. Any ideas anyone?

[Photo_wizzard]

Well, we went to Swizerland, through Germany and Austria, and although most of my driving was in daylight, we did travel a bit during darkness but never once got flashed.

It's not good enough really and Audi should make provision for the lights to be adjusted with the flick of a switch by the driver, either under the bonnet or on the dash. However, if you are doing a quick trip and are unable to get your lights adjusted, don't lose too much sleep over it. You may not be entirely legal but it's possible no-one will notice!

[Photo_wizzard]

Are you by any chance the Mark Lilley - famous dealer in deisel cars?

[Photo_wizzard]

I already have a thread on this subject, but it really is a bit of a scam, this switch businees, in my opinion. It should and could be easily accessible to change the beam whilst on the Euro tunnel. £60 plus all the wasted time visiting a dealer (1 hour away in my case) each time you go abroad is ludicrous

Stickers will not work! The reason being that the lights are not trained through a fresnel lens as were the halogen old bulb lamps. You will remember the patterns for creating the pattern of light on the road / pavement. The new lights are trained through a carefully designed lens, if you look at the beam whilst foggy you'll see that it inverts in front of the car. it would be impossdible to position a sticker anywhere that would effectively blank the stray beam from oncoming drivers, particularly on adaptive headlights that "steer" the beam as you drive around bends.