ModestW12

Does anyone else have these airplane style reading lights in their D3 or has anyone seen these before? There is one on each side and they come on along with the individual dome lights in the rear roof cluster.

Also, does anyone else have a long wheelbase D3 with factory black headliner or have you ever seen one with it?

richard-tx

Got executive seating?

ModestW12

I do not. The car came equipped with the less common bench seat configuration in the US W12's but it does have the rear seat refrigerator. It's an odd choice combining the two.

awdinut

How's this for freaky timing...I just TODAY put a set of these in my W12 ! I have only ever seen them on Euro-only Audi Exclusive A8s ; and even in those Exclusive A8s these lights are rare to see. Most often they are in the Audi Exclsive cars fitted with the Office Paket option which have a table and a Fax machine and those lights are there to be used to work by during commutes I'm guessing.

Does your car have Audi Exclusive badges on the door panels ? I did not think the lights were offered in the US even on Exclusive A8s, so I am quite surprised to learn there is another A8 with them. It will be interesting to see if any other members come forth.

My set came from Germany; the very same light fixture (Kardanische Leseleuchte) is still available in the Quattro GmbH parts catalog because they are being used in Exclusive Euro D4 A8s. I installed them in my car because I want the circumscribed, aim-able aspect and also the higher intensity and whiter color temp output of the new fixtures.. And to me, having the stock reading light fixture throwing (warm) light every where is at odds with the new lights, so I took the bulbs out of the stock fixtures when I wired in the Exclusive lights to the reading light switches.

I had a PDF manual from Quattro GmbH on how to position and install the lights, but I have to say it was still a bit nerve racking to cut holes in my Alcantara headliner ! I'm glad its over and the pain will start receding in the distance.

ModestW12

Thanks awdinut, that helps me understand things better.

My current W12 did not come with long aluminum Audi Exclusive badges in the door panels but I'm starting to get the feeling this was a very special order for a US car.

After I drove the car home, the salesman that sold me the car met with the previous owner's agent about the warranty transfer paperwork. During their meeting, the agent provided some more background on this car. The previous owner is a celebrity and has some sort of lifetime car arrangement with Audi so it seems he was able to order things otherwise not available even through the Audi Exclusive US sales channels. At least that would explain the black headliner in a US long wheelbase D3.

awdinut

My guess was going to be that the car was ordered by AOA for use by an Audi exec and could therefore be fitted with things not available to us. Or, they could have been retro-fitted; but nobody would be THAT crazy.