Edd W

The light output from my headlights seems very poor. Dip beam is OK but not better than I amn used to with the halogen lights on my A6, but main beam seems very poor. You can see the beam tracking exavtly where the steering is pointing and the levelling seems to work OK but there is little light, not a great deal better than just staying on dip.
Do HiD bulbs deteriorate as they age - these are 4 years old?

Hilden

I 2nd this! It's probably the only disappointment I have to date with this car. The lights I had on my former 5-series were actually way better

Mister Bally

I think mine are heads up superior to my earlier car, a 1987 Audi 5000SSq with halogen lamps.

That said, I used the software to change my car to ROW (Rest of World) allowing fog lights on without low beams as well as allowing the high wattage halogen bulb for high beam use instead of the HID lamp and shutter assembly opening at the top for high beams.

The HID lamps do indeed deteriorate. Most noticeable is when the light appears pink when staring at the lens assembly. When lighting an object, the pink beam appears as a cream color.

Edd W

No problem with colour, they are the correct looking 'very white' with no sign of yellow or pink at all - just not very powerful as you would expect.

Mister Bally

I'd consider an aiming issue or problem with the automatic height adjustment that works with the air suspension.

Mike_k

Sounds like they're not leveling properly. Have you verified on a garage or other flat surface where they're cutting off?

I just replaced one of my bulbs and it's noticeably brighter than the original light so they might indeed degrade a little over time.

Nonetheless, if properly aimed they should be quite sufficient. I came from a 2002 Q45 which was touted as having the "worlds strongest headlights" at the time. The A8 is better than that.

williebone

Are they the Originagl 4300K and do you run your Fogs in conjunction with the HIDs? Laters,

Brozee

Every once in a while I get my driver side bulb that is aimed down a little bit and not pointing off as far down the road as the passenger. I cycle the ignition and it levels properly. and YES, HID bulbs do lose their luminescense over time.

Edd W

Pretty much the first thing I considered - I park facing a white wall at work and it is obvious the aim is OK, it is just the light output is not very good.
I think I have to buy new bulbs - then enjoy the task of fitting them!

Edd W

I have not yet played around with anything so they are just the full beam headlights, so really just the dip with the beam diflector lifted.