FastrNU

My front right xenon low beam has gone to sleep. After I recovered from hearing a NAPA price of HID of $200+ bucks, I read in the owner's manual that (and I'm paraphrasing) I will almost certainly die from the dangerous high voltage in the ballast.

Question, what should I do to prevent death in this procedure. Is there a step-by-step procedure anywhere? (I might also upgrade my fogs while I'm in there to PIAA Ion Crystal which were mentioned as being yellower and therefore superior in rain and fog.)

Thanks for any help.

GrrrA8

Turn car ignition off.

1. There is a trim strip below the headlight assembly- remove the phillips head screw from this strip (inboard side of strip) and remove the
strip by pulling the inboard end out away from the headlamp assembly until the middle tab on the strip is free of the body and then pull the other side (outboard side that goes into the fender) straight towards the front of the car.

2. Open the hood and remove the two plastic screw-cover caps on the frame above the headlight assembly- these just pry off to reveal two phillips head screws.

3. Using a longish magnetic screwdriver (so you don't lose the fastener), remove the two phillips head screws from the bottom of the headlight assembly that you can see behind where the trimstrip was.

4. Remove the electrical connector from the back of the housing (lower corner) by pressing the wire connector lock radially in towards the connector and pulling straight back while pressing on the wire connector.

5. Remove the two top phillips screws that were below the plastic caps removed earlier.

6. You can now wiggle the headlight assembly straight forward and several inches, until you can reach the turn signal electrical connector.

7. Remove the turn signal connector/bulb assembly by turning the base of the bulb 1/4 turn CCW.

8. The headlight asssembly should now be free to remove.

9. Remove the corner turn signal assembly from the headlight assembly- close inspection of the retaining mechanism should make it clear how to remove it. Hint- the corner assembly slides forwards on the headlight housing.

10. You'll need a Torx T-25 "anti-tamper" security bit to remove the back of the headlight bucket for the xenon housing. Sears has these.

11. Install the new headlight in reverse order, and repeat for the second side. When installing the phillips screws on the bottom of the headlight assembly it may be helpful to masking tape them onto the screwdriver to avoid dropping them into the belly pan.

You can thank Skiracer for most of the above.

PaulW

<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/taidaninstall.html">http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/taidaninstall.html</a</li></ul>

FastrNU

Thanks GrrrA8 and PaulQ. That's great and a real help. Luckily my son's an A6 owner and has a set of those recessed torx drivers. I'll let you know how it works out. Any ideas on a best place to buy xenon bulbs?

dimitristx

Wow, Paul; isn't is easier just to click on the garage opener's remote's button?!

Ross:D

I picked up a pair of xenon bulbs for $48 on ebay last month - that's right folks, <b>two</b> brand new OSRAM D2S HID bulbs for less than half of what the dealer charges for <b>one</b>.<ul><li><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-New-OSRAM-Xenarc-D2S-Xenon-HID-bulbs-OEM-66040-LEXUS_W0QQitemZ8047969215QQcategoryZ36476QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">here's the guy I bought them from</a></li></ul>

Ross:D

Yes but Audi owners like stealth; no one knows you have a Taidan remote. 8^)

PaulW

Buy a pair, get the good ones, about $70/pair shipped? on ebay

PaulW

Like Ross Says!

FastrNU

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/96846/fstrnu.jpg"></center><p>Thanks, I'll check it out now. Which brands are best? And what temp K? Do you know what OEM temp is?

Thanks.