insalacosm

Hello - I just imported my 2008 A4 Avant from the US into The Netherlands and need to disable the amber "running" lights that are on the headlights. In the US, these amber colored lights are always illuminated amber color when the headlights are turned on, and become brighter when the blinker is activated. In The Netherlands, these amber lights should only come on with the blinker. In order to pass inspection, I need to deactivate the full time nature of these amber lights or change them from amber to white (in which case they can always be on).

I took the car to the local Audi dealership here and they said it is not a simple re-program as they hoped, so they will need to replace the headlights for $1000 and then may also have to replace the computer for an additional huge cost! I asked about rewiring these lights so they run off the side blinkers, but they said this method will cause an error (I assume it will just be an error indicator on the dash).

Does anyone know if rewiring the the amber running lights so they operate off the side blinkers can be done without causing an error? Another alternative is to remove the amber color lens and replace the bulb with a clear one (assuming it is orange now), but this would require removing the front lens cover of each headlight. Is it even possible to remove the front lens cover to access the orange colored lens so it may be removed?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
thank you,
Steve

A4Audi4Fun

I live in Canada. Not sure which lights you are talking about - the city lights or the ones we would call parking lights. These only flash when the blinker is activated. I have mine disabled on a 2008 B7 Avant by just changing the country setting for the instrument cluster to ROW (Rest of World) using my VCDS cable. Effect for me is, when the headlights are turned on those lights only come on whe I use the turn signal. BTW - my headlights are adaptive Bi-Xenon in case that makes a difference.

Perhaps you could upload a picture of you headlight and indicate which bulb you are taking about.

insalacosm

Hello A4Audi4Fun - I will try to post a picture but the amber bulb I'm referring to is the one next to the main headlight, in the main headlamp assembly. Sounds like this is what you were able to change through the software mod. My lights are not the bi-xenon adaptive lights, just the standard. My wife's A4 had the adaptive and they were awesome.

I contacted a custom radio install shop and he said that he should be able to make it operate through a software mod, as you have done. I also spoke a bit more with the dealer and he clarified that his hands are tied in regards to making any not standard changes to the software. So the only solution the dealer has is to replace all the components which would end up costing $1500! I'll pass along to the radio installer the details you provided, although he seems to have done this before.
thanks
Steve

A4Audi4Fun

Circled portion is what I was able to disable, except for when turn signals are activated, by setting cluster to ROW via VCDS - no hardware changes and takes about 30 seconds to recode.

insalacosm

Yes, the portion you circled is exactly what I need to disable. At the audio specialist now and passed your guidance along to him so lets hope this works! I will post the results. Thanks for posting the pic, wife had the car all day and I didn't get home from work until very late.
Steve

insalacosm

Brought it to the radio installer and he fixed it using the method you said. He's done this many times he said because the dealers aren't authorized to do it, and most garages don't know how to tweak things electronically. €45 euro and 20 minutes, what a relief! Thanks for the help!

sverreo

I am importing my A4 B7 cab to Europe from the US and found how to turn off the amber parking headlight as you did. However, did you also change to amber tail light turn signal and if so how did you do this?

A4Audi4Fun

Amber taillight probably just needs you to replace a North American tailight assembly with a European one. The colour is controlled by the colour of the plastic for that particular compartment.

insalacosm

sverreo - I did not need to change anything with the tail lights, the colors and operation are the same here in Europe. Good to hear you were able to change the way the front turn signals operate.
Steve

sverreo

You were lucky regarding the taillights. Mine does not work when I re-code to ROW. Guess I will have to change them to European.