Adjusting headlight for driving abroad

[jvbates]

Guys,

Anyone know how to you adjust the Bi-Xenon's on a 2003 B6 S4 for driving on the right, when on the continent? From what I've read (nothing for B6 S4 - unfortunatly!) you have to adjust a lever built into the back of the lamp unit!

Some posts say you have to remove the whole unit to get to it, whilst others say you can just about reach it without rmoving the unit! Was hoping to do it whilst on the Eurotunnel!

Anyone else done it - or do you all buy beam deflectors?

 

[dan_b]

I've seen quite a few threads on this with never any answer - I'm planning a trip to France this winter with the A4 myself and have the same question about adjusting Xenons. Much as I like blinding on-coming traffic, it's probably not the best thing to do!

 

[jvbates]

I checked the manual when I got home and basicaly it says it needs adjusting but to take it to a qualified technician - i.e take it to the dealers!

There must an easier way! Plus I had a quick poke around in the engine bay too... and there's no way I could get my hand anywhere the back of the lights - it's too full of V8!!! :icon_thumright:

 

[colemanlee76]

it's too full of V8!!! :icon_thumright:

What is a gross tasting vegetable drink doing under your bonnet!

I bought headlight deflectors for mine, went to put them on the car but there is no obvious place on where to put them

Im sure there is a link on here somewhere, try using the search function on the navigation bar

 

[jvbates]

A bit more research last night turned up these...

...OEM Audi Xenon beam deflectors!

I've emailed VAG parts and Audi accessories for prices. Fingers crossed :thumbsup:

 

[dan_b]

Good Sleuthing there - post up your findings...

 

[PetrolDave]

I used those on my B6 S4 when I went to France last year - you can get them from www.audi-accessories.co.uk

 

[jvbates]

I tried Audi accessories and my local dealer but I'd left it too late as both had to order the part and couldn't get it here in time. Went with the stick on type instead!

Seemed to do the trick - didn't get flashed at all!

 

[banny]

Can you adjust the normal A4 headlights for the continent. off to south of france in October, cant stand those stick on things.

 

[SimonP]

My S3 has the little levers, consequently I was rather irritated to find that our B6 family transport didn't have them as well. I spoke to our dealer who said that some earlier B6's had the lever but they were phased out (probably a cost reduction measure). Their advice was to dip the headlights to their lowest setting and just go.

Three long distance trips to the continent later and this option has worked a treat, you get the odd flash from truckers but other than that have never been stopped. If I'm on a back road in the dark and needed better light then I've always just un-dipped them and gone for it.

Given that speeding to excess, overtaking on bends, tailgating to within inches, pulling out without looking and much more are all de-rigeur on the continent anyway I didn't feel in any way guilty about having slightly irritating lights

Those OEM beam adaptors do look like a preferable squeaky-clean law abiding option though, how much did they cost?

 

[RPSXR]

.....how much did they cost?

BUMP

 

[andyccr]

A4 Xenons should have a little lever as described inside them, I'm sure I saw them when I fitted my cabriolet Xenons a few months ago. The headlamps on B6s come out with 3 or 4 screws really easily if you can't get to the back of them.
Andy

 

[patchelect]

I just joined this group because of an intro from another group (the membership of which is driving me crazy with their juvenile posts).

I'm interested in general headlight adjustment. I saw mention of screws and levers but looking at the units briefly I can't say thant anything jumped out at me. My self-leveling US Spec lights (I'm in the states) seem too low at the dipped setting although on high they light up the road nicely. On the low setting the cut-off is so defined that there's no light beyond the "edge", a real PITA when driving in areas that there's on-coming traffic or the fellow in front of me is too close to "blind".

Can anyone offer either a good descriptor of the job or a good publication to consult?

Thanks.

 

[SimonP]

A4 Xenons should have a little lever as described inside them, I'm sure I saw them when I fitted my cabriolet Xenons a few months ago. The headlamps on B6s come out with 3 or 4 screws really easily if you can't get to the back of them.
Andy

The levers aren't there in all A4's, the local dealer described it as a "cost reduction" measure but was as baffled as I was as to why they couldn't just add a quid to the asking price....

 

[SimonP]

I just joined this group because of an intro from another group (the membership of which is driving me crazy with their juvenile posts).

I'm interested in general headlight adjustment. I saw mention of screws and levers but looking at the units briefly I can't say thant anything jumped out at me. My self-leveling US Spec lights (I'm in the states) seem too low at the dipped setting although on high they light up the road nicely. On the low setting the cut-off is so defined that there's no light beyond the "edge", a real PITA when driving in areas that there's on-coming traffic or the fellow in front of me is too close to "blind".

Can anyone offer either a good descriptor of the job or a good publication to consult?

Thanks.

This is a problem with the projector lenses, you get a complete cut off between the projected beam and around, rather than a wash effect from reflector lenses where you get some dimmer light reflected around the beam area.

If you have self-levelling then you will need the VAG-COM tool before you can adjust the level, see the FAQ on the Ross Tech website, http://www.ross-tech.com/. It's probably easier to go to an Independent Audi specialist and get them to do it, unless you have a long term need to fiddle with your car.

I have the same problem with my S3, which I've never got around to sorting out, it's only "slightly" too low.

 

[patchelect]

Looks like the best option right now is back to the dealer since the car has an extended warranty. It's just that they are a 30/40 minute drive away and unless I can get a promise to attend to it while I wait, it means a two car drive to drop it off and then to return and pick it up.

Thanks for the input.