Audi Solid DRL Conversion

TheAnticitizen1

TheAnticitizen1

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Hi All,

I've been trying to find out how Audi make their new DRL I currently have a set like this:
2013 05 11 124829

I like the style of these lights but I would be much happier if they are a solid beam like this:
7692308106 c45ce5490f z

So I would like to convert what I currently have to the new style but I can figure out how Audi work that bar? Does any one know the secret?

I have found these for my car:
AU16L26S
But I think its too 'busy' if someone made one with just the top bar I would buy it straight away but top and bottem is too much! i don't want a mobile disco :p
 
Last edited:
I understood it to be made by passing an extreme voltage through a gas, which excites it to produce the light emitted.

That's why no one else can really make them look as good!
 
OEM all day mate!
 
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There was a thread a while ago, where somebody was going to try and put the 8P3 DRL headlight inners into an 8P2 headlight housing.

It created a bit of excitement, but it never happened. To be fair, you've got to have balls of steel to split open a perfectly good set of facelift headlights, and venture into the unknown.

I know someone did it with a set of A4 facelift headlights, and used a set of aftermarket headlight housings from somewhere like ebay. The only drawback was that he had aftermarket HID lights rather than OEM Xenons, but he had OEM DRL's.

I think those details are right, it's been a while since I read the thread.

VWVortex.com - New Led A4 B8 Headlights on A3
 
NME said:
There was a thread a while ago, where somebody was going to try and put the 8P3 DRL headlight inners into an 8P2 headlight housing.

It created a bit of excitement, but it never happened. To be fair, you've got to have balls of steel to split open a perfectly good set of facelift headlights, and venture into the unknown.


I know someone did it with a set of A4 facelift headlights, and used a set of aftermarket headlight housings from somewhere like ebay. The only drawback was that he had aftermarket HID lights rather than OEM Xenons, but he had OEM DRL's.

I think those details are right, it's been a while since I read the thread.

VWVortex.com - New Led A4 B8 Headlights on A3
Click to expand...

Ahh thanks for the link I've split headlights before on my Saxo (first car) so I would'nt be too worried I was thinking perhapes using acrylic to try and diffuse the light as it passes through..
 
TheAnticitizen1 said:
Well mines an 07 plate sooo to quote Nluk100: You would need the whole front end i.e. bonnet, wings and bumber = big job and not cheap! http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...-fitting-2011-led-drl-headlights-2007-s3.html
Click to expand...
Ah right, my bad... I thought you were just deciding between aftermarket and OEM LEDs! I'm doing the whole front end conversion for the lights at the mo too mate. Got the bonnet, front bumper, wings etc. Hasnt been cheap that's for sure!
 
Big Pumpa said:
Ah right, my bad... I thought you were just deciding between aftermarket and OEM LEDs! I'm doing the whole front end conversion for the lights at the mo too mate. Got the bonnet, front bumper, wings etc. Hasnt been cheap that's for sure!
Click to expand...

I wish I could afford it :( lol Too cut a long story short a uninsured driver drove into my car and I rather then claim on my insurance (I now have protected no claims) I paid cash for the repair, the aftermarket headlights are cheaper then the Audi official ones and make the car look a bit nicer :p I just wanted to see if I can change the DRL to look more OEM :p has anyone tried EL Wire for this?
 
I've thought about this before and EL wire came to mind, however I imagine it might be difficult to get the wire extremely straight and positioned properly within the headlight its self.

Found this online, it doesn't look to good IMO
nrgtg18.jpg
 
NME said:
I understood it to be made by passing an extreme voltage through a gas, which excites it to produce the light emitted.

That's why no one else can really make them look as good!
Click to expand...

so basicly just a cold cathode light then? nothing secret or expensive there
 
josh290 said:
I've thought about this before and EL wire came to mind, however I imagine it might be difficult to get the wire extremely straight and positioned properly within the headlight its self.

Found this online, it doesn't look to good IMO
Click to expand...

Well I was thinking I have a channel which the current L.E.D's are in but apparently EL isnt very bright in daylight
 
boost-addict said:
so basicly just a cold cathode light then? nothing secret or expensive there
Click to expand...

Not being funny mate, but the effect we are after here is not the type of light you buy from Maplins to light up the inside of your PC case!

There is imho a clear difference between other car manufacturers, and the clarity and brightness of the light from Audi's DRL's.

Especially if you look at the 8V model - it is a clear, bright and defined light strip.

I think the technology is more like a sodium lamp than a cold cathode.
 
Get some xenons or do the facelift to the 8p3 front end i coukd have sold you my xenons if i had won a facelift on ebay on the weekend but lost it by £250 lol
 
TheAnticitizen1 said:
Hi All,

I've been trying to find out how Audi make their new DRL I currently have a set like this:
View attachment 20519

I like the style of these lights but I would be much happier if they are a solid beam like this:
View attachment 20520

So I would like to convert what I currently have to the new style but I can figure out how Audi work that bar? Does any one know the secret?

I have found these for my car:
View attachment 20521
But I think its too 'busy' if someone made one with just the top bar I would buy it straight away but top and bottem is too much! i don't want a mobile disco :p
Click to expand...

I have the same headlights as the top ones, only problem is they seem to get condensation on the inside! Have you got the same problem? Don't mean to hijack your thread sorry!
 
bailzey said:
I have the same headlights as the top ones, only problem is they seem to get condensation on the inside! Have you got the same problem? Don't mean to hijack your thread sorry!
Click to expand...

I do remember reading something in the booklet about condensation when I brought them but so far I have not had any trouble. I did recently drill a 10mm hole with an air filter in the rear cover for each headlight as I have LED dipped bulbs and they require a fan to cool them :)
 
Yeah I read that too, mine are pretty bad, really like the headlights but the condensation is ruining them! I suppose the fan will most definitely help, don't so much fancy putting fans on the back of them though, seems a bit pointless for me as I've just got standard H7's. Wonder if there is any fix for it hmm..
 
bailzey said:
Yeah I read that too, mine are pretty bad, really like the headlights but the condensation is ruining them! I suppose the fan will most definitely help, don't so much fancy putting fans on the back of them though, seems a bit pointless for me as I've just got standard H7's. Wonder if there is any fix for it hmm..
Click to expand...

sorry I meant that the fan is built into the LED bulbs I made a thread on the upgrade:http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...5243-led-headlight-bulbs-alternative-hid.html

Perhapes check the seal between the glass and the rear of the headlights?
 
yeah I had thought that but ripping them apart and re sealing is a ball ache! and I'm not a 100% sure what I would re seal them with too. I have a set of oem xenons that I've not fitted to the car although they are missing ballasts and the ballasts cost a fortune!
 
Sorry if in being a noob here... Only got my audi the other day (55 plate ) already want to upgrade the front end to the newer model. Can you not but the Bi-Xeon conversion kit and just buy the newer headlights with the DRL's I know it's not the same DRL's as the OP is talking about but would this work. Also if you want the newer front bumper do you need to do the bonnet and wings too?
 
i found this on Reddit if you wanted to see those headlights fitted.

UgVjOEX

I actually really like them....
 
jphc said:
i found this on Reddit if you wanted to see those headlights fitted.

View attachment 20535

I actually really like them....
Click to expand...

They do look nice there but does anyone have a photo of them on? I would also like to see them at night! they have a top bar bottom bar plus 4 white L.E.D's I just think when its all on that would be too much..
 
its much similar like this

 
Last edited by a moderator:
TheAnticitizen1 said:
[/FONT]



Thank you for the videos they do look nice powered on and I hear good things about Welldone!

Does anyone on this forum have a set of these lights and can provide day/night images? or a review?
Click to expand...

No one that i have seen have done this mod, but you can be our first and provide all the infos we need :)
 
Look forward to this, how much did they cost? And im guessing they came with the A38P HiD headlights aswell ? ?
 
Jonathaan said:
Look forward to this, how much did they cost? And im guessing they came with the A38P HiD headlights aswell ? ?
Click to expand...

Well I paid £210 inc P&P & VAT from FK Tuning, I don't think these will include HID. When I searched on the Welldone website for the ones in the video I could only find it on the Spanish version so I'm guessing they would not be LHD and I could not get a confirmation if they included the HID kit sooooo I have signed up to the Welldone HID bulk order thread on this forum and will purchase HID's later :)
 
Well the lights has arrived!
WP 20131031 001

They look pretty damn nice in person! After having a chat with my mate whom also happens to be my mechanic he has agreed to help me fit these tomorrow night (weather permitting) as he often works with Audi we think we can have these fitted within an hour!
Its going to be a tight schedule I'm due to move house Monday so if the work isn't completed tomorrow night I'm afraid it won't happen until next weekend!

I will post as soon as they are fitted!
 
They look good, much prefer the continuous LED look rather than individual LEDs.

I think the lights are held in by 3 screws? And you can access them without having to remove the front bumper - but somebody may be along to correct me on that. I think the third screw requires an extra long torx bit to remove if you arent taking the bumper off.

(Bumper off is much easier, but allow an hour to take it off properly IMO)
 
Make sure you take pictures as your doing it, would like to see how its done.
 
Yeah I have adjusted the lights without removing the bumper before but I think for a full install we will remove it to be on the safe side, its not a big job tbh but I'm gonna let my mate do it as he routinely does it for work it makes more sense!

I will make sure to grab some photos of the work so you can see what has been done, I will also take some photos of the custom loom I made so the DRL is on whenever the ignition is on as I wasn't happy with the Vagcom one!
 
Nice update, look really good! cannot wait to see these fitted :rockwoot:
 
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