Headlamps general brightness

**MFGF** · 24-07-2012,02:30 PM

Have the plastic lenses gone opaque? I have seen a few posts from A6 C5 owners and Passat owners complaining of this. They report success using polishing compounds on the surface of the headlamp, followed by a sealing agent to try to prevent re-occurrence. I can't remember this being reported on any C6 models, but then maybe the climate over there promotes the effect more?

A couple of posts are here:

headlight poor
Frosted glass ?

Just a thought,

MF.

**Eric242340** · 24-07-2012,02:59 PM

Thanks for the reply and I do much appreciate the input, but this car is 2007 and the lenses look like new.

**gupsterg** · 30-07-2012,07:21 AM

Recently I realigned the headlights within my body of my car... as the workshop who done work on it had not done these properly

...

My car had some Osram Xenarc D2S 35w 66040 bulbs which I think are 4300K...

I had no issues with my bulbs but whilst I had easy access I though why not view and note P/N etc

Whilst rooting around I found out these have been discontinued by Osram... so any one wondering about lifetime of a Xenon bulb it must be high as I think mine are original so would be about seven years old

The new replacements/superseded bulbs are 66240... bit more searching revealed this link:- Osram Xenarc 66240 D2S

Another good read link:- HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum - Everything you ever wanted to know about HID bulbs..

In above linked thread after the discussion of the type of bulbs/manufacturers there is a section which highlights lots of useful info about HID bulbs

According to some spec sheets, at around 1500 hrs of use, an HID bulb is only emitting around 75% of its brightness. So assuming linear lifespan (which is likely not a valid assumption, but for clarities sake we will assume it is), at around 3000 hrs, the bulb is at 50% brightness.

**Eric242340** · 30-07-2012,12:59 PM

Thank you and I do appreciate the help. My manager tells me they fixed the problem, but has not told me how as yet. Will reply on the thread when I get details.

**gupsterg** · 14-08-2012,12:58 PM

After realigning the head lights within the body... I proceeded to have the car booked in to local Audi dealer for the HID bulbs alignment checked & adjusted within the head light...
And WOW what a difference it made... and double WOW WOW when no charge

Service advisor hand be keys, said "Thank you sir, may you enjoy the rest of your day"....

Puzzled for a moment thinking he had forgotten to hand me an invoice... I said "Thank you, have not got an invoice for me?"....

He replied "It's under goodwill sir"...
This is twice the local main dealer has surprised me... and in good way

**six_or_out** · 15-08-2012,03:27 PM

Whats changed Gup? Are they brighter?

I occasionally get cars flashing their full beam at me thinking that I've got full beam on....just standard Xenon lights though.

Six

**gupsterg** · 15-08-2012,03:59 PM

When I first got my car the lights were good regarding brightness, focus and where they hit/lit road up...

When I recently had work done to car which entailed certain front end parts to be removed so engine and gearbox would come out... they replaced headlights not as they where before...
They where so misaligned within the headlight cavity that where they were flush with the wings and had even gaps around where they met bumper and bonnet, etc they did not...

I will try and find and post the photos of these gaps,etc

So when I drove at night the light was unfocussed where they hit/lit road up and seemed to make them seem less bright/intense...

As you can understand a change in mounting position of headlights would mean that the previous adjustment for bulbs would then be out when used... if that make sense...

Hence the bulbs needed to be realigned... which resulted in light from headlights to be better focussed on road resulting in better brightness IMO