BI Xenon Bulbs/ Repair Shops/ Stealership
10-14-2014, 06:29 PM
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
BI Xenon Bulbs/ Repair Shops/ Stealership
Hey I have a few questions....
Wondering if any members in this forum lives in the DMV area (DC-Maryland-Virginia)
I need to find a reliable and reputable repair shop in my area.
I believe it's about time to replace my driver side headlights. At times my headlight don't come on when I start up and some days it does... Thinking it's on the last leg. My question is do I need to replace both bulbs at the same time. Also is it something more than a bulb do I need to look out for?
As far as parts go other than the stealership where would you recommend to get bulbs from? I got a quote of $180 per bulb.
Wondering if any members in this forum lives in the DMV area (DC-Maryland-Virginia)
I need to find a reliable and reputable repair shop in my area.
I believe it's about time to replace my driver side headlights. At times my headlight don't come on when I start up and some days it does... Thinking it's on the last leg. My question is do I need to replace both bulbs at the same time. Also is it something more than a bulb do I need to look out for?
As far as parts go other than the stealership where would you recommend to get bulbs from? I got a quote of $180 per bulb.
10-14-2014, 06:42 PM
#2
AudiWorld Super User
Yes, probably the bulb...
When you say bi-xenon, I don't know if you mean the base halogen ones, or the HID ones. By price it sounds like you mean the HID's. If it is halogen, I would just do the offending bulb. If HID, the issue is with color matching. Changing one will likely leave it looking somewhat different side to side with the other. Lesser known too is that bulbs, including HID's, loose a meaningful percentage of their lumens output over time. By 2000 hours they are worth changing brightness wise. If you do the math on an 8-10 year old car, you will likely guestimate you have accumulated a couple thousand headlight on hours.
The bulb is a D2S if HID. Widely available on eBay, Amazon and many indy sites, for as little as about 25% of dealer price. The typical problem is knowing which bulbs are actually the real McCoy's and which are counterfeit. All the sellers say their Philips' are "real," but good luck knowing for sure. There are a few internet sites I have skimmed with pic's that help you tell the supposed real ones from the fakes. Osram (Sylvania) is actually the typical bulb found in an Audi, but harder to source. FWIW, I took my best shot at figuring out what was likely legit, ordered them up, and put them in. I do it at 6-8 years on an HID Audi in general as a long term maintenance item. You have to pull the fender liner back to get at the D3 igniter and headlight bulb area if they are HID, so it is a little beyond the simple driveway headlight stuff. Some have also stumbled on how the ignitor interlocks to the bulb; there is a sort of safety catch built into it that is a little subtle to get right with the limited working and sight clearances.
The bulb is a D2S if HID. Widely available on eBay, Amazon and many indy sites, for as little as about 25% of dealer price. The typical problem is knowing which bulbs are actually the real McCoy's and which are counterfeit. All the sellers say their Philips' are "real," but good luck knowing for sure. There are a few internet sites I have skimmed with pic's that help you tell the supposed real ones from the fakes. Osram (Sylvania) is actually the typical bulb found in an Audi, but harder to source. FWIW, I took my best shot at figuring out what was likely legit, ordered them up, and put them in. I do it at 6-8 years on an HID Audi in general as a long term maintenance item. You have to pull the fender liner back to get at the D3 igniter and headlight bulb area if they are HID, so it is a little beyond the simple driveway headlight stuff. Some have also stumbled on how the ignitor interlocks to the bulb; there is a sort of safety catch built into it that is a little subtle to get right with the limited working and sight clearances.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 10-14-2014 at 06:47 PM.
10-14-2014, 06:52 PM
#3
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Thanks
Thanks for your input.... I do believe they're HID. They have a self leveling feature. They don't look like my DRL
When you say bi-xenon, I don't know if you mean the base halogen ones, or the HID ones. By price it sounds like you mean the HID's. If it is halogen, I would just do the offending bulb. If HID, the issue is with color matching. Changing one will likely leave it looking somewhat different side to side with the other. Lesser known too is that bulbs, including HID's, loose a meaningful percentage of their lumens output over time. By 2000 hours they are worth changing brightness wise. If you do the math on an 8-10 year old car, you will likely guestimate you have accumulated a couple thousand headlight on hours.
The bulb is a D2S if HID. Widely available on eBay, Amazon and many indy sites, for as little as about 25% of dealer price. The typical problem is knowing which bulbs are actually the real McCoy's and which are counterfeit. All the sellers say their Philips' are "real," but good luck knowing for sure. There are a few internet sites I have skimmed with pic's that help you tell the supposed real ones from the fakes. Osram (Sylvania) is actually the typical bulb found in an Audi, but harder to source. FWIW, I took my best shot at figuring out what was likely legit, ordered them up, and put them in. I do it at 6-8 years on an HID Audi in general as a long term maintenance item. You have to pull the fender liner back to get at the D3 igniter and headlight bulb area if they are HID, so it is a little beyond the simple driveway headlight stuff. Some have also stumbled on how the ignitor interlocks to the bulb; there is a sort of safety catch built into it that is a little subtle to get right with the limited working and sight clearances.
The bulb is a D2S if HID. Widely available on eBay, Amazon and many indy sites, for as little as about 25% of dealer price. The typical problem is knowing which bulbs are actually the real McCoy's and which are counterfeit. All the sellers say their Philips' are "real," but good luck knowing for sure. There are a few internet sites I have skimmed with pic's that help you tell the supposed real ones from the fakes. Osram (Sylvania) is actually the typical bulb found in an Audi, but harder to source. FWIW, I took my best shot at figuring out what was likely legit, ordered them up, and put them in. I do it at 6-8 years on an HID Audi in general as a long term maintenance item. You have to pull the fender liner back to get at the D3 igniter and headlight bulb area if they are HID, so it is a little beyond the simple driveway headlight stuff. Some have also stumbled on how the ignitor interlocks to the bulb; there is a sort of safety catch built into it that is a little subtle to get right with the limited working and sight clearances.
10-15-2014, 10:17 AM
#6
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Do you think these are safe....
Mobile: Sylvania Hid Bulb D2S: Get best Headlight Bulb - Dual Beam at Advance Auto Parts
Mobile: Sylvania Hid Bulb D2S: Get best Headlight Bulb - Dual Beam at Advance Auto Parts
Trending Topics
10-15-2014, 12:08 PM
#9
AudiWorld Super User
Probably; seems to say OSRAM so those are OE...
OSRAM and Sylvania are now the same co. The wavelength/spectrum at 4150 also makes sense as generally OE.
10-15-2014, 12:09 PM
#10
AudiWorld Super User
