Driving in France/Europe

wilko

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Hey guys, I believe there is a way to alter the Zenon headlights to work in Europe (mainly France). Does anyone know how to do this? I was under the impression that there was a lever inside the headlight unit that you moved up (or down) depending on the direction required - but I had a look today and could see of feel any lever. :uhm: Your help would be gratefully recieved it's something that I don't want to have to take the car to the dealer for if it can be helped.

BTW the car is a 2005 8P should it make any differene.
 
Xerohour found this post in the FAQs thread at the top of the page. Have a read of it before posting a question next time please.
 
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Xerohour found this post in the FAQs thread at the top of the page. Have a read of it before posting a question next time please.

Good advice, Staz, except that the quoted thread refers to Bi-Xenon headlights. I believe that the standard Xenon headlights do use a lever, but since I've not taken my 05 A3 abroad yet I cannot say with certainty.
 
I'm fairly sure that they're the same to be honest. Dave is the expert though!
 
Think you have to take car into Audi, from what I have been told it is only from the A4 up that you have a lever to adjust the headlights. My local Audi garage have quoted £50, thats both ways. I am driving down to Croatia in Sept so if anybody finds more info I also would be interested
 
I'm fairly sure that they're the same to be honest. Dave is the expert though!

My item in the FAQs certainly refers to Bi-Xenon headlights on a 2007 A3 and later. I do remember there being a lever to change the headlights on some of my earlier A3s but they all had Halogen headlights rather than Xenons.

I will have a look in Elsawin and see if it gives any more information.
 
My item in the FAQs certainly refers to Bi-Xenon headlights on a 2007 A3 and later. I do remember there being a lever to change the headlights on some of my earlier A3s but they all had Halogen headlights rather than Xenons.

I will have a look in Elsawin and see if it gives any more information.

I've just looked in Elsawin and it looks like a 2005 8P with Xenons should have a lever in the headlights to change them for continental use. Here is a link to the Elaswin page which may help:

change xenons for continental use

If your particular headlights do not have this lever then it may well be a visit to the dealer to have them changed on their diagnostic kit.
 
Nice one! You going to add that to your FAQs post?
 
I've just looked in Elsawin and it looks like a 2005 8P with Xenons should have a lever in the headlights to change them for continental use. Here is a link to the Elaswin page which may help:

change xenons for continental use

If your particular headlights do not have this lever then it may well be a visit to the dealer to have them changed on their diagnostic kit.

Thanks Dave :thumbsup: I was wondering about this too, the last 3 times I've been back to the UK in the car I've had loads of people flashing me - my thought process was something like "yes, okay, thankyou for blinding me in return, but I'm not sticking crap on my headlights, and I can't find the little lever, so keep flashing and sod off"

Will investigate when I get home! Thankyou
 
Bit of a PITA to have to take a spanner to disconnect and re-connect the battery though.

I guess that is corporate Lawyers involvement so that no one electrocutes them selves.

Anyone doing this must be very, very careful due to the HV used in Xenon lights. You must certainly make sure that the lights are in the off position.

I'd be tempted to also wear rubber gloves whilst doing it.

Paul
 
Thanks Dave R! I was looking for something totally different... think I saw a post from ages ago where the lever was tooked away somewhere... I'll take a look again tomorrow and find out if that works!

Can anyone also recommend a bulb pack for the 2005 8P? I want to make sure I'm covered for most eventualities for my trip in August.
 
Commonly known in vagcom for bixenon headlights as Tourist Mode.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Audi_A3_(8P)_Headlight_Aim_Control_(Xenon_Plus)#Adaptation

There's also a cool setting for bixenon adaptives for showroom effect so you can test your lights if the left/right is working properly while stationary.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/Audi_A3_(8P)_Headlight_Aim_Control_(Adaptive_Light)#Adaptation

As Leon rightly says search would have brought up many threads/posts

TBH the best option is to lower the beam via the top screws remembering how many turns per side, then when back just turn them back up, number of people on AS have done this before & not had issues, saves disconnecting battery & easy as pie.