Is this the headlight ballast?

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Jun 10, 2007 | 11:42 AM

rbl

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Is this the headlight ballast?

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/26976/battery_box1.jpg"></center><p>(referring to the silver box with the yellow hazard triangle)

Upon changing my battery for the first time, I now discovered that one of my ttda tubes that I shoved underneath the headlight was actually tucked into a dead-end.

I think the location of the ballast changed per model year?

Jun 10, 2007 | 12:27 PM

JustJeff

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No, it's the 'power supply'. "Ballast", more properly called the 'ignitor' is inside the headlight

Power supply changes the 13.5 DC to 85V AC to drive the lamps.

Ignitor is similar in design to a flouresent tube ignitor, commomly called a "ballast" that smooths out voltages.

the Xenon needs to fire at 2000 volts or so to start, then it settles to 85V to drive the lamps

<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/ignigtor.jpg">

Jun 11, 2007 | 10:52 AM

Astronut

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Which usually fails, supply or igniter? >>

Reason I ask is my drivers side has been intermittent and now is out completely. The bulb is good so I need to replace the igniter and/or the supply.

These parts <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E46-M3-Audi-TT-A8-Mini-CLK-Xenon-D2S-D2R-AL-Ballast_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQihZ001QQ itemZ110130941899QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW">here</a> and <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-BMW-E46-Audi-TT-A8-Mini-XENON-Ballast-Computer_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQihZ009Q QitemZ190119311994QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V">here</a> are not really a ballasts? Why are they referred to as Ballast Computers?

I really need something like <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Audi-TT-Headlights-Xenon-Ballasts-Ignitors-HID-KIT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQihZ009QQitem Z190120124528QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW">this</a> then? Or just the part you've shown?

Jun 11, 2007 | 11:12 AM

JustJeff

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Ignighter usually fails inside the headlight ~$50. eBay guys don't know what they are talking about.

"computer" maybe close to the truth, as this power supply actually boosts the voltage to fire the lamp, then drops it once the lamp has stablized.

Jun 11, 2007 | 11:16 AM

JustJeff

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last link you show there are components from a '00 TT, the *external* mounted P/S...

those parts are *not* interchangable with the headlight mounted alum. box P/S or ignitors

<img src="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/oem_xenonparts/DSC04337.jpg">

Jun 11, 2007 | 11:33 AM

Astronut

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Thanks for the answers!

I have an '00 with the supply mounted under the headlight. So I can't use <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E46-M3-Audi-TT-A8-Mini-CLK-Xenon-D2S-D2R-AL-Ignitor_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQihZ009QQ itemZ190120158948QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW">this</a> or <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Bosch-XENON-HID-IGNITER-Ignitor-BMW-E46-Porsche-Audi-TT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQihZ014QQitemZ 330132926591QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW">this</a>? That last one says for 2000 TT but I don't have a P/N to verify, haven't found where the ignitor is located yet.