HID's - Me Likey!

[Jester B]

It's kind of basic, but I'm driving a loaner from Glenmore tonight (just an A6) and it's the first car I've been in with HIDs. All I can say is "Wow"! I'm surprised at the difference, even though I've got Halogen projectors in my S4.

So, the obvious question is...how hard is it to upgrade my lights to HIDs? Are the kits on eBay any good? Is it just bolt-on with my projectors, or do I need to do more? I do like DRLs, but don't want the "low power" issues burning out the ballasts.

I didn't search the archives here looking specifically for this, so if someone knows it's there feel free to call me a lazy goof and send me packing!

[Jester B]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

Ooh, look what I found in the archives...

HID Discussion

[The_Jerbel]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

Here is the latest and greatest option...
I just ordered this kit in 5000k for my low beams

[R_Ethug]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

i have a 4300k philips HID kit in my CDN lights.. its okay.. really stock B5 lights kinda suck.. my old euro HIDs on my jetta pwn these ones.. although jordan has 1 ecode (lol don't ask) and it has pretty decent output.. but you need the true HID ecodes not the halogen ecodes..

[R_Ethug]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

oh yea since your probably looking into this now.. take my advise.. go buy a set of euro xenons from awetuning or elsewhere.. 500US ish
this way you get nice clear corners on them and no modding required

go buy a 4300k D2S xenon philips kit off ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AUDI-...spagenameZWDVW

and your set!

[Jester B]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

gonna have to see some of the many S4s at a meet and check things out...chance to "see before I buy".

Thanks for the advice, gents!

[RONDAL]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

whatever you do get the proper projector housing for the HIDs. Otherwise i swear if i see one more idiot with a ghetto fitted HID kit in his stock halogen housing blinding me i am going to smash up their front end with a bat. its worse than driving around with your highbeams on. i dont care how much you can see, we cant see a thing

[Mitcheh]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

whatever you do get the proper projector housing for the HIDs. Otherwise i swear if i see one more idiot with a ghetto fitted HID kit in his stock halogen housing blinding me i am going to smash up their front end with a bat. its worse than driving around with your highbeams on. i dont care how much you can see, we cant see a thing

You're so gangster

[The_Jerbel]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

LOL, Ryan it turns out that both of my headlight housings are HID e-codes. The shop that was doing the insurance work after my accident just didn't know how to install a bulb apparently, because one of them was upside down. Now they both put out a nice even pattern. I'm excited to see how the 55watt kit looks since there are many AW and AZ guys that swear this kit is like night and day compared to the 35watters. Comes with a lifetime warranty on ballast, bulb, and hardware too. We'll see I guess.

[R-Audi]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

I grabbed a locally sourced 55w kit for $200.... big difference from my old 35w kit. I have them in Halogen E-Codes, which has been fine in my eyes.. as to do a true retrofit you need the leveling motors and such, and in my eyes not worth while..

[Jester B]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

whatever you do get the proper projector housing for the HIDs. Otherwise i swear if i see one more idiot with a ghetto fitted HID kit in his stock halogen housing blinding me i am going to smash up their front end with a bat. its worse than driving around with your highbeams on. i dont care how much you can see, we cant see a thing

And this is part of my question. Seems to me that the stock Canadian S4 Headlight housings ARE projector housings and throw a nice, crisp pattern...just with halogen bulbs in them. For those who have done the conversions....did you also change the housings? Or are we among the fortunate few who won't blind the on-coming and don't have to buy a pile of new stuff?

[R-Audi]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

With projectors, you'll be fine. They give you a cutoff so you wont blind other drivers.(What Rondal was referring to) They may not be as clean or crisp as a set of HID based projectors, but its good enough.
I use Halogen E-Codes, and as long as they are aimed properly they work just fine.

There are a few HID suppliers on Beyond... got my 50w kit for $200, or you can get the slim kit for $250. You can get them cheaper on eBay, but also worry about shipping, and what happens if you do need a warranty replacement. For me I'd rather pay a bit extra and have them in my hands that day.

[Smarty39]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

I have a US HID kit in my halogens (non e-codes) and the pattern is okay...I think I'm going to go Mark's route and buy some halogen e-codes and throw the kit in there seeing as the price for xenon e-codes has sky rocketed in the past couple months and most places are either out of stock or charging over $650 US!!!! They used to be around $500.

[nordex]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

http://www.vvme.com/

ordered 2 sets from them and they work awesome

[Stonewall]

Re: HID's - Me Likey!

I was wondering about those VVME kits as they seem dirty cheap!