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Hello everyone, can anyone confirm what type of bulb a 2007 Audi Q7 is compatible with? I initially ordered a set of H7 bulbs only to realize that it was incompatible. It looks like I have D1S HID bulbs but it's difficult to tell. Appreciate any help you can give me.
You got the upgraded lighting package on your '07, nice. Those look very much like same bulbs newer 'facelifted' models have, the HID D3S bulbs. But I can read D1S off the pictured sticker on yours, so that's what's in your car currently.
You can just go look up on a lighting or parts site, if unsure, and it will ask you what types headlights you have based on year and trim model, etc., that you enter, and that's exactly what I'd do to confirm on your early model Q7.
Oh, and never touch the bulb glass; I use surgical style mechanic gloves to keep from transferring anything from my hands to the bulbs during install.
Last edited by '10Q7TDI_Prestige'; May 18, 2022 at 01:27 PM.
Gotta tell ya, bought a set of the Osram Nightbreaker 'Laser' HID bulbs in a 2-pack off Amazon and those are some fabulous bulbs. Again, just be sure to look up the correct bulb type for your specific model year Q7, as the later model years post-facelift (2010) may differ from your own, as that is when the headlights transitioned over to HID as a standard feature, with bi-xenon high/low beams combined in a single bulb (D3S).
Buying HID replacements from a local store might shock you, or at least your wallet, and there are a lot of cr@p HID bulbs out on the internet that are enticingly cheap, but don't deliver on lumens output or longevity.
Thanks, Prestige for the reply! So confusing. Getting conflicting information on if I have the D1S or D3S bulb. Both look identical to me. I might buy both D1S and D3S bulbs on Amazon just in case so I only have to disassemble the headlight housing once.
Looked it up on the Osram bulb finder; your car has the bi-xenon HID D1S bulbs (used up through 2009). That's good as will likely be less expensive to replace them. Look specifically/search for packages with 2 bulbs in a blister pack as you get a better value than when ordering single bulbs.
In 2010, Audi swapped over the front facade when the car got new front/rear lighting/ was facelifted, and swapped to the D3S bulbs for headlights.
FYI, there's also a ballast/power controller wired in prior to the bulbs in same circuit, just so you know there is another piece to making these HID lights work. Those last a really long time, but not forever, so if you swap a bulb out to new ones and have issues with it blinking out our doing odd things, the ballast is likely to blame. New bulbs will often start off as a slightly diff color than they appear after a few uses, and have had time to burn-in, which is perfectly normal.
Last edited by '10Q7TDI_Prestige'; May 18, 2022 at 02:51 PM.
Prestige, upon closer examination of the photo of my car's bulb, I realized that it has D1S stamped on it (D'oh!). Thanks for looking up the correct part number on the Osram Bulb Finder and the caution regarding the ballast. Let's see if I can replace my headlight bulb without breaking any plastic clips.
Let's see if I can replace my headlight bulb without breaking any plastic clips.
I flunked that test with one of the clips that holds the headlight assembly in place. The HID headlights on my '08 are pathetic in terms of brightness, so I tried replacing one of the D1S bulbs to see if that would help, which it didn't. By contrast, the LED headlights in the other car, a 2019 Subaru, are the best stock headlights I've ever had.
I flunked that test with one of the clips that holds the headlight assembly in place. The HID headlights on my '08 are pathetic in terms of brightness, so I tried replacing one of the D1S bulbs to see if that would help, which it didn't. By contrast, the LED headlights in the other car, a 2019 Subaru, are the best stock headlights I've ever had.
If you do a little study on LED vs HID lighting you'll find the HID actually provides better lighting if you get the correct bulbs, and the lumens output surpasses that of the LED bulbs, etc. As noted earlier, poor HID headlight output is caused by 'fogged'/ obscured lenses (clean them), old & worn-out HID bulbs (replace both bulbs), and also the power controller/ ballast that regulates power flow to the HID bulb (one ballast per side) will eventually weaken and the bulbs will be dim, regardless of age. Since the D1S comes with a new ignitor unit attached to the bulb, the bulb actually lighting off is generally not a problem unless the ballast is completely gone. The ballasts can last 10 to 15 years, but they will, and do go out eventually.
I kept my 2003 Focus SVT with Hella HID headlamp housings and was shocked how long the HID bulbs lasted. Had to replace the HID ballasts at year 15, and the new Osram bulbs were blindingly bright after that...not too shabby a lifespan.
Agreed that LED lighting out front is great if done well, but most cars I see with it have a really short reach until high beams get activated. The adaptive & auto high-beams LED headlights/fogs setup on the 4M chassis car is really the only thing I like about the Gen 2 Q7.
Last edited by '10Q7TDI_Prestige'; May 19, 2022 at 06:47 PM.
Reason: LEDs
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2007 Audi Q7 Headlight Bulb Type?
Those look very much like same bulbs newer 'facelifted' models have, the HID D3S bulbs. But I can read D1S off the pictured sticker on yours, so that's what's in your car currently.
