S3 HID'S?

[Jonezy87]

i have a 2002 s3 with xenons. im looking at putting HID's ( prob 6000k) in but a few questions first:

1. Can i have hid's dipped and main beam?

2.ive still got some dipped beam ones from my old a3 with facelift lights will these fit?

3. is tyhere a conversion you can do for the fogs?

many thanks

 

[s3dave]

not sure mate but are you selling your a3 facelift lights?
cheers dave

 

[<tuffty/>]

i have a 2002 s3 with xenons. im looking at putting HID's ( prob 6000k) in but a few questions first:

Xenons, HIDs, same....

1. Can i have hid's dipped and main beam?

No... Xenons have to 'start up' so would be no good as a main beam as you would be unable to flash your headlights and I suspect there may be a law against it or at the very least would fail an MOT

2.ive still got some dipped beam ones from my old a3 with facelift lights will these fit?

S3 Xenon bulbs are DS2 IIRC, main beam is H7....

3. is tyhere a conversion you can do for the fogs?

You can get a H7 kit but suspect the combination of xenon dipped and xenon fogs might get you some unwanted attention...

many thanks

welcome

<tuffty/>

 

[S3KO4]

you can have all beams/fogs converted to HIDs, just get the right kit and fit it on, as for the normal beam they are alredy HIDs but lower 4300K you could change it to 6000K but it wont make a huge different as the S3 has a cloudy housing and there is not much you could improve on that. overall if you have the time its worth doing it.

 

[golf]

You are aware that the higher the colour temperature (K) the lower the light output? By getting 6000k you're just producing more glare and less of the light is hitting the road. The S3 projectors are awful, but you can swap them out if you're handy enough. Honda S2000 projectors are regarded as one of the best with a sharp cutoff and good colour.

 

[TheSpaceCowboy]

I thought HID's and Xenons were essentially the same thing just the gas was different?

 

[Mr.G]

Xenon and HID are exactly the same technologies. TufftyBloke has already said this!

 

[ianysm]

LED side lights and 90% brighter main beam is the cheapest option. Never use the fogs unless its super foggy anyway!

 

[Dani_B19]

Anyone got a link to the H7 fogs or just any that are better than the standard as they are *****.
Also anyone selling any fogs?

 

[1animal1]

6000k too bluey for me :/

 

[andy121]

No... Xenons have to 'start up' so would be no good as a main beam as you would be unable to flash your headlights and I suspect there may be a law against it or at the very least would fail an MOT

This is actually untrue, you can flash a HID light. Even tho they do need to start up as you correctly said, when you flash your high beam there is a barely noticeable delay

 

[Jonezy87]

This is actually untrue, you can flash a HID light. Even tho they do need to start up as you correctly said, when you flash your high beam there is a barely noticeable delay

have you got them in main beam aswel then? wouldnt it muck them up flashing them if they are meant to be warmed up?

cheers

 

[andy121]

have you got them in main beam aswel then? wouldnt it f*** them up flashing them if they are meant to be warmed up?

cheers

not in my A3,
I did in my skyline (using H7 Bulbs) and there was no problems there, also in my Mk2 i had them as a H4 bulb (so the same bulb does high and low) and that flashed fine and there was never any problems with either car

they dont need to be warmed up, thats just how they work, kinda like starting a fire, starts little and warms up nice and bright

 

[The Doctor]

So what replacement bulbs do you recommend for the side lights (LEDs?) and fogs?

 

[1animal1]

wonder how bi-xenons manage to flash same principle

 

[god_thats_quick]

Get the real Osram 5k bulbs that are a direct replacement, solved all of my not being able to see at night issues. Some of the cheap ebay bulbs are ***** and don't work properly (in my experience).

 

[Effect]

You are aware that the higher the colour temperature (K) the lower the light output? By getting 6000k you're just producing more glare and less of the light is hitting the road. The S3 projectors are awful, but you can swap them out if you're handy enough. Honda S2000 projectors are regarded as one of the best with a sharp cutoff and good colour.

I'm interested in this tell me more.
Always on the lookout for better light.
are they a direct fit ?
does it light the road up more so I can effectively see more ?
I am assuming it means prising the glass off the front of the headlight to swap them ?

James

 

[golf]

I'm interested in this tell me more.
Always on the lookout for better light.
are they a direct fit ?
does it light the road up more so I can effectively see more ?
I am assuming it means prising the glass off the front of the headlight to swap them ?

The projectors won't be a direct fit, no. Of the many xenon equipped cars I've driven the S3 has to be the worst in terms of output, cutoff and colour. If you're handy enough you can modify the exisitng shroud (the bit that holds the projector in) and put a proper projector in. A list of good projectors:

• Renault Clio/Megane Sports
• Mercedes E-class
• BMW E46
• Mazda 6 (the newer ones)
• Honda S2000

All of the above have better cutoffs, wider light output and have a nice colour flicker when you go over bumps.

People in the USA swear by the S2000's and a Yank car called the TSX. Look on hidplanet.com for more info, these guys are real xenon 'enthusiasts'.

 

[andy121]

So what replacement bulbs do you recommend for the side lights (LEDs?) and fogs?

for sidelights use white LEDs from Ultra LEDs, the problem with the ebay ones is they are designed for 12v and being used at 14v all the time kills the resistors really quickly

 

[ianysm]

The projectors won't be a direct fit, no. Of the many xenon equipped cars I've driven the S3 has to be the worst in terms of output, cutoff and colour. If you're handy enough you can modify the exisitng shroud (the bit that holds the projector in) and put a proper projector in. A list of good projectors:

• Renault Clio/Megane Sports
• Mercedes E-class
• BMW E46
• Mazda 6 (the newer ones)
• Honda S2000

All of the above have better cutoffs, wider light output and have a nice colour flicker when you go over bumps.

People in the USA swear by the S2000's and a Yank car called the TSX. Look on hidplanet.com for more info, these guys are real xenon 'enthusiasts'.

BMW E46 ones must be late 53 reg and above as they became BiXenons then, the older units aren't much better than the S3's, if at all!

 

[Effect]

if they aren't a direct fit what work is required to get them to fit ?
and also I am assuming the glass has to be prised off the front of the light to get to them.

Anyone actually done this, have you got before and after shots to show the difference ?

Regards
James

 

[golf]

I don't think anyone here's ever swapped the S3 projectors, but if you look at hidplanet.com and look at what other people have done, it's the same principle. You need to remove the lens and take the headlight apart so you can get to the shroud (the bowl which holds the projector in) and then cut it to accomodate a new projector.