09-07-2016, 08:52 AM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
- Audi Why Are Headlights Dim<br>Guide to diagnose trouble and recommended solutions.
Dim OEM xenons - worn bulbs??
12-15-2010, 11:40 AM
#1
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dim OEM xenons - worn bulbs??
Both sides of my OEM xenon headlights are not as bright as they used to be.
Infact theyre worse than Halogens right now!
Anyone come across this issues??
Headamp levellers and adjusters are fine, and no vagcom Codes thrown.
Could the xenon bulbs degrade with age? Never heard of this phenomena before.
Or could it be the ballast not providing as high a voltage the bulb itself?
Ignitors are obviously ok as they turn the bulb on fine.
Any thoughts any one, dealers are stumped.
Infact theyre worse than Halogens right now!
Anyone come across this issues??
Headamp levellers and adjusters are fine, and no vagcom Codes thrown.
Could the xenon bulbs degrade with age? Never heard of this phenomena before.
Or could it be the ballast not providing as high a voltage the bulb itself?
Ignitors are obviously ok as they turn the bulb on fine.
Any thoughts any one, dealers are stumped.
Last edited by golfather; 12-15-2010 at 11:44 AM.
12-15-2010, 12:12 PM
#2
AudiWorld Senior Member
Turn on the lights and stand in front off to one side. See if the lenses look milky white. The lenses and reflectors tend to collect a milkly white film over the years. They can be cleaned but that requires disassembly of the headlight. The reflectors need to be handled with care, the silver coating rubs off very easily.
I did this on my 1995 S6 and it made a big difference.
I did this on my 1995 S6 and it made a big difference.
12-15-2010, 12:17 PM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
Both sides of my OEM xenon headlights are not as bright as they used to be.
Infact theyre worse than Halogens right now!
Anyone come across this issues??
Headamp levellers and adjusters are fine, and no vagcom Codes thrown.
Could the xenon bulbs degrade with age? Never heard of this phenomena before.
Or could it be the ballast not providing as high a voltage the bulb itself?
Ignitors are obviously ok as they turn the bulb on fine.
Any thoughts any one, dealers are stumped.
Infact theyre worse than Halogens right now!
Anyone come across this issues??
Headamp levellers and adjusters are fine, and no vagcom Codes thrown.
Could the xenon bulbs degrade with age? Never heard of this phenomena before.
Or could it be the ballast not providing as high a voltage the bulb itself?
Ignitors are obviously ok as they turn the bulb on fine.
Any thoughts any one, dealers are stumped.
12-16-2010, 05:37 AM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
12-17-2010, 09:35 AM
#6
Audiworld Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For some reason newer HIDs don't last as long as the older HIDs. My 01' A4 newer had an issue, when I got a 08' A6 in 2009, I had one bulb go out intermittently within a month. (I first thought it was the ballast, and asked the stealer to look at it when I was in for service... Audi of course doesn't cover it dealer charged me $180 to "swap bulbs from side to side" then told me it was $300 more to replace the bulbs. (Claim was the Part was $225 alone).
This is what I did:
http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-39659...2610825&sr=8-1
The OEM is either GE or Osram... mine was Ge, I replaced just the one bulb and the color of the osram was dead on... $42.17!
This is what I did:
http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-39659...2610825&sr=8-1
The OEM is either GE or Osram... mine was Ge, I replaced just the one bulb and the color of the osram was dead on... $42.17!
12-17-2010, 10:15 AM
#7
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know if this is relevant but yesterday I got a letter from Audi saying that they had extended the warranty on my Xenon bulbs and if I had had issues, to send them the fix bills.
Incidentally, I had to replace the bulbs last year so I am hoping I have kept the receipt. My issue was a dead bulb due to water condensation in the headlight. The cause for water penetration was an improperly closed back plastic panel on the headlight housing.
Incidentally, I had to replace the bulbs last year so I am hoping I have kept the receipt. My issue was a dead bulb due to water condensation in the headlight. The cause for water penetration was an improperly closed back plastic panel on the headlight housing.
Trending Topics
12-22-2010, 08:26 PM
#8
AudiWorld Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: New York
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know if this is relevant but yesterday I got a letter from Audi saying that they had extended the warranty on my Xenon bulbs and if I had had issues, to send them the fix bills.
Incidentally, I had to replace the bulbs last year so I am hoping I have kept the receipt. My issue was a dead bulb due to water condensation in the headlight. The cause for water penetration was an improperly closed back plastic panel on the headlight housing.
Incidentally, I had to replace the bulbs last year so I am hoping I have kept the receipt. My issue was a dead bulb due to water condensation in the headlight. The cause for water penetration was an improperly closed back plastic panel on the headlight housing.
01-09-2011, 04:21 PM
#9
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just to conclude this topic, changed the HID bulbs, made a slight difference.
However, the real difference was when the lens was cleaned (thanks for the tip SchwarzS6
)
Used just normal glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth and carefully cleaned the inside of the lens in situ.
There was a milky film in place on both lenses which had built up over time.
Not really obvious unless you hold a torch from the front of the lens at night.
That made a huge difference, light output is like new again
So much for stealer diagnosis scouring the technical bulletins and failing to come up with any solution... If you want a job done right, gotta do it yourself !
However, the real difference was when the lens was cleaned (thanks for the tip SchwarzS6
)Used just normal glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth and carefully cleaned the inside of the lens in situ.
There was a milky film in place on both lenses which had built up over time.
Not really obvious unless you hold a torch from the front of the lens at night.
That made a huge difference, light output is like new again
So much for stealer diagnosis scouring the technical bulletins and failing to come up with any solution... If you want a job done right, gotta do it yourself !
Last edited by golfather; 01-10-2011 at 01:32 AM.
01-10-2011, 06:14 AM
#10
Audiworld Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just to conclude this topic, changed the HID bulbs, made a slight difference.
However, the real difference was when the lens was cleaned (thanks for the tip SchwarzS6 )
Used just normal glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth and carefully cleaned the inside of the lens in situ.
There was a milky film in place on both lenses which had built up over time.
Not really obvious unless you hold a torch from the front of the lens at night.
That made a huge difference, light output is like new again
So much for stealer diagnosis scouring the technical bulletins and failing to come up with any solution... If you want a job done right, gotta do it yourself !
However, the real difference was when the lens was cleaned (thanks for the tip SchwarzS6
)Used just normal glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth and carefully cleaned the inside of the lens in situ.
There was a milky film in place on both lenses which had built up over time.
Not really obvious unless you hold a torch from the front of the lens at night.
That made a huge difference, light output is like new again
So much for stealer diagnosis scouring the technical bulletins and failing to come up with any solution... If you want a job done right, gotta do it yourself !