Finally decided I wanted Euro lights on the Avant. From Blaufergnugen site (audiquattroparts.com, I think), were listed at $239 ea., so $478 for pair. Called them up to order, they're now $430 a pair. Yes, they're in stock accd'g to salesperson.

ray, are these the same replacements lights that illuminate the bright bluish white hue? I was thinking of retrofitting my 98 a4 with the 99 lights as well as the fogs. please let me know if you thought of the same thing and found them cheaper from audisports. I've been hearing that many companies make the lights only to find out they don't illuminate anthing like the factories.
thanks in advance
k

Why do you want the Euro headlamps? Are those the blue-white blinding ones?
Are the clear side markers legal in USA?
Are these Hi intensity/ different reflectors or Xenon?

So many questions, so little time.

<i>Why do you want the Euro headlamps?</i>

I bought mine because the stock '97 headlights (different than 99.5 & 2000 projector-beam lights) because the lights were terrible. The European lights have a much broader, even pattern with no dark spots. Only thing that took me a while to get used to was the razor-sharp cutoff at the top of the beam.

<i>Are those the blue-white blinding ones?</i>

You're thinking of the HID (Xenon) headlights which are optional on new A4's for MY2000.

<i>Are the clear side markers legal in USA?</i>

I'm assuming you meant "corner-markers" and not "side-markers". Technically, the clear corner-markers do not meat DOT spec and thus are illegal for us "on-road" in the U.S. BUT, I would highly doubt that you'll ever get pulled over for having them. I've had them on my A4 for about 2 years now and I've never been hassled by the police and I've had no problems passing the PA state inspection. The only difference between the "clear" corner-markers and the stock ones is the orange reflector that DOT mandates all cars have on the front-side of the car.

<i>Are these Hi intensity/ different reflectors or Xenon?</i>

European lights usually have a glass lens (versus plastic type on stock lights), and a different beam pattern (as I mentioned above). They are not "high-intensity" (HID/Xenon) BUT you could buy European versions of the Xenon lights. Confused yet??

...with naming them. They're also known as "E-code" lights, which signifies lights which conform to the European specification.

From the Stern Lighting FAQ:
"What does "E-code" mean? It's a quick way of referring to a European-specification headlamp. The "E-code", signified by a capital "E" in a circle on the lens of the lamp, signifies that the lamp has passed the ECE (European regulatory) tests for light output, durability, quality control, beam pattern, etc. The United States does not subscribe to ECE auto safety regulations, which is why US-market cars do not come equipped with ECE headlamps. "

I believe that Bosch is not the maker of lights for A4's anymore. So these must be old stock of 98 or 99 lights before the switch to projector beam lights.

There is a Euro projector beam light for the A4 made by Valeo which is different and (hopefully) better than the U.S. DOT version of the projectors.

How do I know about this light? Because I've got a set in my possession from Greedspeed. I was at the top of their list for these lights and I hope to install them this weekend.

The corner lights are definitely different than the U.S. lights. Also, these lights have "city lights" as all Euro lights do.

And, (Andy Hedin take note) these lights have a plastic front face. They have done away with the glass housings.

Greedspeed has installed some of these lights and they claim that they are better than the U.S. projectors and all previous U.S. A4 headlamps. We'll see.

And let us know what you think!

nt

Well, what's the big deal? So I paid about $650. I think it was $629 + shipping. I believe that I have the only set of these that Greedspeed had for sale. They have ordered more, but if your wait is anything like mine was, it will be several months before any are for sale.

I wanted better headlights and was waiting on the previous Euro headlamps when I heard the projectors were coming. I hope they were worth the wait and cost.

Since I have a 98, I'll have to cut a small amount of material off of my fenders (the material behind the existing headlights). I am very nervous about this modification (cutting metal from fender) so until I'm completely ready, nothing is going to happen. I'm trying to locate an owner of a 99 or 00 A4 with projectors who is willing to pull one headlight and let me look at their fender. This will be a big help in moving forward.

I guess I should take pics of the whole thing for others to follow.

nt

MUCH better light pattern than US candles.

Rest let you do the research,lazybones.

might prevent proper reinstallation of the originals when I go to sell the car. Way I look at it the $650 wouldn't be that bad if you could put the originals back in and sell them when your ready to swap cars. And considering Greedspeed wants $1600 for the xenons, that doesn't seem like a reasonable option.

Andy:

Thanks for taking the time. I've been reading the newsgroup for a few weeks, wondering if I should make this change to our Audi. I'm new to this environment and don't know about the archives yet, so I was hoping someone like you would pop in and straighten me out. And so now I know the difference. I hope I can return the favor sometime.

A friend of ours said they had the Xenons with the A6. As soon as I saw them (from the driver's seat), I wanted them. They had a sharp cutoff on top. From what you say, they may not have had the Xenons, but the Euros - unless the Xenons do the same thing.

Wouldn't that sharp cutoff be related to the reflector set, rather than the light source?

Am I confused?

H

Harvey