Headlights on the New Generation A3

[h5djr]

According to the Product Update document that my dealer showed me and other articles, including one in today's Auto Express, it seems that that Xenon Headlights will only be available as an option on the S-Line and S3 and not on the SE or the Sport.

I have checked on the German Audi website and according to the German price list the Xenon headlights (with the LEDs) is available as an option on ALL models.

Is this another case of Audi UK deciding what UK customers can and cannot order for some strange marketing reason.

I currently drive an SE and when I come to change I would like to have a similar vehicle with the new 170 common-rail diesel engine and add the options necessary to bring it to the same standard as my current one. But it seems, although I have Xenon headlights on my current A3 I will not be able to have them on a replacement thanks to someone at Audi UK. There is certainly no way I would order an S-Line or S3 as I much prefer the 'softer' suspension and standard seats of the SE.

 

[mcc49]

Ye it does seem like Audi UK is trying to make people spend money on the higher trim level. That or they are trying to further distinguish their S-Line/S Range with the lesser range, offering standard xenons without the LED on the other models would be a more sensible move if this is that case as many people find xenon lights a 'must have'.

Thing that gets me is that all the press release and website pics shows the A3 with LED DRL which gives out a false sense of it being standard on all A3. I actually thought that was the case will I read through the A3 Launch pack so I could imagine all the annoyed customers getting their new A3 in August/Sept only to find it hasnt got one of the key defining feature of the new A3.

 

[newbiecrg]

well Dave I would say that you can spec Xenons on the new SE, just not in the normal way... Some Audi dealers told me I could not order a new left hand drive UK spec. Turn out I searched until one told me no problem Sir...

Audi dealers can order all the spec they want... it might take longer to get the vehicle but they can spec what ever they want. (well at least most of the spec anyway)

Pedro

 

[h5djr]

I hope your right Pedro.

I have just written a letter to Audi UK asking them to justify their position.

It does seem that every picture you see of a new Cabriolet or new A3 shows the LED DRL headlights. If those are only going to be available on a few of the models it makes you wonder why they bothered. Apart from the S3 Sportback everything else is so minor.

 

[Amchlolor]

Thing that gets me is that all the press release and website pics shows the A3 with LED DRL which gives out a false sense of it being standard on all A3.

It is (or was, a few months back) a similar story with the new A4.
Every single photo and test featured cars with the LED DRL's.
Turns out you can't (or couldn't, at that time) have them here.

 

[h5djr]

Turns out you can't (or couldn't, at that time) have them here.

You can certainly get them now. I've seen at least 4 A4s with the LED DRLs Xenon headlights on the last couple of weeks, including a least a couple in Scotland last week. Not sure what models they were as I was seeing them from the front.

The UK A4 price list is similar to the A3 - standard on the S-Line with halogen headlights and halogen DRLs on other models.

 

[mfspen]

I have checked on the German Audi website and according to the German price list the Xenon headlights (with the LEDs) is available as an option on ALL models.

Is this another case of Audi UK deciding what UK customers can and cannot order for some strange marketing reason.

What makes it all the more strange is that this facelift is effectively a run-out model, before the all-new A3 comes out in MY 2011.

You would think the last thing they would want to do is put obstacles in the way of potential customers !

 

[mister.c.]

I totally agree with your post David and the other comments raised.

As I posted on a separate thread, I find this equally frustrating. I'm a 55 plate Sport owner (with Xenons) who selects his new lease car in a few months and who would choose an A3 without hesitation if Xenons were available on the Sport. It feels a bit daft not to even offer the option three years later, on the 'run out' model as mentioned above - especially when they'll make a fair whack of cash as the option is not overly cheap. I find Xenons on a car essential - not overly bothered in paying the premium for the S Line; the sport is adequate for my needs.

Even if they want to differentiate between the S line & S3 with the LEDs and the so called 'lesser' models- fine! just allow the Sport / other models to have Xenons as an option without LEDS. Overall it just seem a daft decision to me to stop offering the option.

So a few days after seeing the facelift, hearing about the new engines which offer more MPG and better CO2, and looking forward to the new A3, I've something to think about!

Be interested to see what kind of avoiding your question response you get back David!

 

[newbiecrg]

If it is not available I do not think it is to differentiate lesser specced models... After all I consider Xenons an upgrade in safety.... I don't buy that reason...

Thing is most salesman don't have a clue or can't be bothered to really dig and find out what can be done to get what the costumer wants.

Lots of people here slag Inverness Audi... well my car was the first left hand drive car they ordered, they have never done it... But they took the time and effort to find out what was needed to order it and register it as a UK spec car... Lots of trouble for them but I can't complain.

If I order a new Audi in the UK again, left or right hand drive I will order with them, even though I am in London...

Pedro

 

[h5djr]

It is certainly a point I will take up with the salesman I use at my dealers. If anyone can find out if I can have them he can. He does a huge amount of deals with lease companies and companies fleet buyers all over the country. Normally he does not now deal with 'ordinary' customers and has his own office away from the normal sales team in the showroom. But as I have been dealt with him for all of my 6 A3s over the past 10 years, he is more than happy to still deal direct with me.

My current A3 is the first car I've owned with Xenon headlights and I would hate to have to give them up know. If they are not going to be available I will consider keeping my existing car longer and waiting to see what happens with the replacement A3 in 2011 or consider a different car altogether.

 

[mister.c.]

If it is not available I do not think it is to differentiate lesser specced models... After all I consider Xenons an upgrade in safety.... I don't buy that reason...

Maybe you are right.. - but I can't think of any other reason other than perhaps a potential shortage of supply of Xenon plus with LED units (like the tFSI 1.4 engine)? For those people like yourself, who consider Xenons an upgrade in safety, then surely Audi are dropping a clanger and potentially turning away custom by not offering such a 'safety' option across the full range as it previously had done? Perhaps David and I are seriously in the minority for classing Xenons as an essential option in Sport SE (or standard guise).

But Audi know their marketplace so I guess there is some logic for the UK changing the policy, like they believe the new LED lights and Xenons are so desirable that people will be drawn and will pay the extra for the S Line and Xenons so Audi UK make more cash...Aah that could be the reason!

 

[mister.c.]

Did you ever get anything back from Audi Uk and or your salesman?

 

[dsl55]

are they charging for them while they can get away with it? think day time lights of some description are going to be law on new cars at some point so surely they won't be able to use them as a cost option?

am amazed they won't allow just xenons for lower spec cars though

i ordered my a3 mid march and have been trying to find out if it will be facelift or not but now i know the drl's won't be appearing on that many a3's for a good while i'm not bothered that it's actually going to be a 'current' model

 

[mcc49]

A new A4 zipped past me today on the way to work, looked like the SE trim and the thing that caught my eyes were that it had the DRL on. Thing is it wasnt LED DRL but were halogen ones instead resulting in a yellow look instead of the white effect. So I read up on the spec sheet and it does seem the A4 has DRL as standard across the range and LED DRL on S-Line, I then looked at the A3 Cabriolet specs and found out they too all have DRL as standard which are presumably the halogen ones with LED as optional with Xenons.

So I am guessing that all new A3 will come with Halogen DRL as standard with LED as an optional extra with the S-Lines.

Also the thread with the new A3 Cabriolet Sport pics also shows the DRL strip on the headlights which I presume are halogen which would explain why all the new A3 pics shown have the DRL strip on the headlights.

 

[dunk]

all 8p a3s have DRL whether its halogen or xenon - its just a coding option with vag-com to have usa setup (front lights only) or scandanavian (front and rear)

if you have xenons then they are on as the DRL
if you have bixenons, then they have 21w normal bulbs as the DRL
if you have halogens then they are the DRL