S4 xenon conversion ......

YS4 · 09-12-2002, 04:05 AM

Well, I finally got around to doing the install last night after work. Sorry, no pictures as I was in a big rush to get to my first French cooking course (night class at George Brown)...

Anyhow, what a huge difference the xenons are versus the stock halogens. So much brighter. Not only do they look great, but it makes for safer driving as well.. Seems like I can see twice as far. Highly recommended for everyone.

So, I did all of the install in a parking lot if you can beleive it. Very simple. I brought with me a extended 12" magnetic bit holder and driver, T30 bit, drill with a 3/8" bit, flashlight, silicone chaulking.

After removing the housings (bit of a pain in the *** if you dont have a magnetic bit). took out the stock bulbs and replaced with the xenon bulbs from HIDS4LESS. I drilled 4 adjacent holes in the back of the housing door to create a 1/2 x 3/4" rectangular hole. That is roughly the size of the biggest wire connector from the bulb.
I don't know about anyone else who has done this, but I found the toughest part was finding a location for the ballasts. The unit is too tall to fit under the housing where a factory US S4 would have one, so I stuck it to the side of the fender wall on the passenger side. It comes with 2-sided velcro.. should be fine where I put them.

After fishing the wires through the hole, I connected the wires and tested the lights. Then reassembled everything. Took some chaulk to seal the hole and I was virtually done. The whole procedure took about an hour. I did very minor level adjustments this morning but I am very pleased with the results.

The downside is the lack of DRL. They are either on or off. If you dont turn on your lights, only the parking lights will be on. But once you turn on your lights they will stay on even if you turn the switch off. I'm sure you could get around that, but feeling very lazy at the moment.. Maybe next month have a look at the DRL.

So, if you have halogens, I highly recommend this conversion just from a safety point alone. I paid 475USD with a 5 year warranty from HIDS.
I think there is a GB somewhere on the A4 boards for some at $350 USD ish... but that is only a 1 year warranty. So, if anyone in Toronto needs some help with it, just give me a shout on this board.

Ryan in T.O. · 09-12-2002, 06:20 AM

I'm assuming that the kit you have is not self-leveling or am I wrong?

--RGL

YS4 · 09-12-2002, 06:30 AM

much better just to park infront of your garage door and adjust it with a hex key.. takes 2 mins.

36valves · 09-13-2002, 12:01 PM

to prevent blinding oncoming traffic. I'm glad my car's got factory xenon, if I had a S4, I would put them in anyways.

5FreshFish · 09-13-2002, 04:37 PM

so I get this with the addition of a 5-pin relay:
Position 0: all lights off
Position 1: city lights only (and rear park lights), no park front lights, no xenons
Position 2: xenons and front park lights, no city lights

All lights will turn on and off on command with the ignition in the "run" position. If the ignition is off, Position 2 doesn't turn on the xenons.

The link below showed me how to pull the relays and add the jumper wire. I performed "Option 3" to completely disable the system.

However, I'm looking into wiring a DRL circuit to switch on the high beams at a reduced voltage when the ignition is on. Currently, I have to turn on the city lights as my DRLs but they're not real DRLs, legally speaking.

5FF
01 S4

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext7.shtml

5FreshFish · 09-13-2002, 04:47 PM

but I will bet the vast majority of those who upgrade from halogen to xenon do not bother to do it. The factory self-leveling system has sensors at the front and rear suspension, motors in the headlight housings, and some smarts to tell the motors what to do. I haven't read of anyone attempting this, so the benefit must be negligible compared to the cost.

5FF
01 S4

YS4 · 09-13-2002, 04:55 PM

5FreshFish · 09-13-2002, 04:56 PM

but it trims your headlights up or down on the fly. The system moves your headlights down when you accelerate from a stop because your back end will squat. It will move them up when you brake because your front end will dive. It's supposed to detect the difference between the front and rear suspension readings to determine how to adjust the lights. If there is no difference detected, the motors return to the "home" or "level" position which is where you've set them in your driveway.

5FF
01 S4

YS4 · 09-13-2002, 07:14 PM

there will be no nose diving or rear-end squatting.:-)...mmmmmm maybe ill go with 1000lbs front and 1200 lbs rear...

northerns4 · 09-13-2002, 07:17 PM

09-12-2002, 06:20 AM	#2
Ryan in T.O. Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,000	Sweet... I do miss the xenons that were on my 328ci.... question for you I'm assuming that the kit you have is not self-leveling or am I wrong? --RGL

09-12-2002, 06:30 AM	#3
YS4 AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 10,790	no it's not, even still, most self-leveling systems on cars are unreliable anyways.. much better just to park infront of your garage door and adjust it with a hex key.. takes 2 mins. __________________ 2007 Mini Cooper S 2007 Toyota Tacoma 2001 Sequoia Ltd.- Silver/Grey

09-13-2002, 12:01 PM	#4
36valves AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 2,525	True, butI thought all xenon equipped cars are required to have self leveling by law,... to prevent blinding oncoming traffic. I'm glad my car's got factory xenon, if I had a S4, I would put them in anyways. __________________ '07 GTI - Candy White 4-dr 6-sp, sunroof, 35% Tint, Clear-bra, Yellow fogs, clear side markers, open front grills, Euro light switch, Golf ball ****, Euro springs, OEM LED tails '01.5 S4 - Santorin/Onyx 6-sp, xenon/ecodes, LED tail lights, 35% tint, debadged, RS4 grill, AWE center vent boost gauge, 710N's, Stasis Tracksport c/o (500/600/sport)... Sold!! '01.5 A4 1.8tqmsx - Silver/Onyx, 35% tint, debaged, UUC SS, APR boost gauge... Sold!! '90 CQ - T-red/black 5-sp, no A/C and loud exhaust mod :-(

09-13-2002, 04:37 PM	#5
5FreshFish New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 155	I removed relays 214 and 209, and added a jumper wire.... so I get this with the addition of a 5-pin relay: Position 0: all lights off Position 1: city lights only (and rear park lights), no park front lights, no xenons Position 2: xenons and front park lights, no city lights All lights will turn on and off on command with the ignition in the "run" position. If the ignition is off, Position 2 doesn't turn on the xenons. The link below showed me how to pull the relays and add the jumper wire. I performed "Option 3" to completely disable the system. However, I'm looking into wiring a DRL circuit to switch on the high beams at a reduced voltage when the ignition is on. Currently, I have to turn on the city lights as my DRLs but they're not real DRLs, legally speaking. 5FF 01 S4 http://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext7.shtml

09-13-2002, 04:47 PM	#6
5FreshFish New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 155	All cars with xenons factory-equipped do have self-leveling... but I will bet the vast majority of those who upgrade from halogen to xenon do not bother to do it. The factory self-leveling system has sensors at the front and rear suspension, motors in the headlight housings, and some smarts to tell the motors what to do. I haven't read of anyone attempting this, so the benefit must be negligible compared to the cost. 5FF 01 S4

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09-13-2002, 04:55 PM	#7
YS4 AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 10,790	well, I dont want city lights, so when you figure out how to use the highs as DRL's, let me know. __________________ 2007 Mini Cooper S 2007 Toyota Tacoma 2001 Sequoia Ltd.- Silver/Grey

09-13-2002, 04:56 PM	#8
5FreshFish New Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 155	Actually, the self-leveling doesn't take the place of proper aiming... but it trims your headlights up or down on the fly. The system moves your headlights down when you accelerate from a stop because your back end will squat. It will move them up when you brake because your front end will dive. It's supposed to detect the difference between the front and rear suspension readings to determine how to adjust the lights. If there is no difference detected, the motors return to the "home" or "level" position which is where you've set them in your driveway. 5FF 01 S4

09-13-2002, 07:14 PM	#9
YS4 AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 10,790	it's a moot point for me anyways, cause i'm installing suspension so stiff......... there will be no nose diving or rear-end squatting.:-)...mmmmmm maybe ill go with 1000lbs front and 1200 lbs rear... __________________ 2007 Mini Cooper S 2007 Toyota Tacoma 2001 Sequoia Ltd.- Silver/Grey

09-13-2002, 07:17 PM	#10
northerns4 AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 122	any problems with alignment?

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