Here is a mock up with some LED strip units, but the colour from them is too blue and they arn't very bright so I decided to try another option (will show that later). You get the idea of what I am trying to achieve though.
Icarus' Audi A5 Bi-Xenon and DRL retrofit to B6 headlight....
- Thread starter Icarus83
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Here is a mock up with some LED strip units, but the colour from them is too blue and they arn't very bright so I decided to try another option (will show that later). You get the idea of what I am trying to achieve though.
This is all the internal bits ready to go at this stage:
Next the black inner segment of the surroundin tray in the headlights was finished off:
I then looked at PLAN B......I said from the start I wanted to fit A5 DRLs but I've found that it just isnt possible without making a massively modified headlight enclosure. The next best thing was to look at other options:
One of the bits I had bought along the way was some flexible 'DRL strip' that also has amber LEDs in too with a switchback circuit so the white goes out and waits for the indicating to stop before bringing the white back on.
This strip was about the same width as the A5 beam channel so after a quick mock up I went for it.
This is where I am up to so far. I need to copy the shape for the other headlight and fix them down onto the front lip by screwing them from below.The end on the outside edge of the car will neatly hide the cable exiting and through below to met up with the other wiring. The chrome bits need to be painted the same metallic grey to match everything else.
It will end up that there will be three bits of white DRL running, then dim when the headlights are on. Next when the indicators are on, 2 sections will turn off being white except for the outer one (where the indicator was) and flash. When that stops the white ones will come back on together.
Lots of wiring and testing with controllers etc to prove it all works before I put the outer lenses back on and fit them to the car in the coming months.
Cheers,
Rob
Next the black inner segment of the surroundin tray in the headlights was finished off:
I then looked at PLAN B......I said from the start I wanted to fit A5 DRLs but I've found that it just isnt possible without making a massively modified headlight enclosure. The next best thing was to look at other options:
One of the bits I had bought along the way was some flexible 'DRL strip' that also has amber LEDs in too with a switchback circuit so the white goes out and waits for the indicating to stop before bringing the white back on.
This strip was about the same width as the A5 beam channel so after a quick mock up I went for it.
This is where I am up to so far. I need to copy the shape for the other headlight and fix them down onto the front lip by screwing them from below.The end on the outside edge of the car will neatly hide the cable exiting and through below to met up with the other wiring. The chrome bits need to be painted the same metallic grey to match everything else.
It will end up that there will be three bits of white DRL running, then dim when the headlights are on. Next when the indicators are on, 2 sections will turn off being white except for the outer one (where the indicator was) and flash. When that stops the white ones will come back on together.
Lots of wiring and testing with controllers etc to prove it all works before I put the outer lenses back on and fit them to the car in the coming months.
Cheers,
Rob
Hi mate
Been doing a similar project myself.
You mentioned you were doing the A6 drl. Is that the 6 led version?
I recently opened my lights up to do this conversion and although I was able to trim down the drl housing trim to fit inside the headlight unit there was just no way of fitting the hella circuit board module inside, I even used a dremmel to shave some of the circuit board but there was areas of the board that would have to be trimmed that had components on them and I had to abandon the project.Shame though ,the drl when lit up inside looked absolutley amazing.
Have you found a better way to instal this unit?
thanks
martin
This is all the internal bits ready to go at this stage:
Next the black inner segment of the surroundin tray in the headlights was finished off:
I then looked at PLAN B......I said from the start I wanted to fit A5 DRLs but I've found that it just isnt possible without making a massively modified headlight enclosure. The next best thing was to look at other options:
One of the bits I had bought along the way was some flexible 'DRL strip' that also has amber LEDs in too with a switchback circuit so the white goes out and waits for the indicating to stop before bringing the white back on.
This strip was about the same width as the A5 beam channel so after a quick mock up I went for it.
This is where I am up to so far. I need to copy the shape for the other headlight and fix them down onto the front lip by screwing them from below.The end on the outside edge of the car will neatly hide the cable exiting and through below to met up with the other wiring. The chrome bits need to be painted the same metallic grey to match everything else.
It will end up that there will be three bits of white DRL running, then dim when the headlights are on. Next when the indicators are on, 2 sections will turn off being white except for the outer one (where the indicator was) and flash. When that stops the white ones will come back on together.
Lots of wiring and testing with controllers etc to prove it all works before I put the outer lenses back on and fit them to the car in the coming months.
Cheers,
Rob
Looking brilliantThis is all the internal bits ready to go at this stage:
Next the black inner segment of the surroundin tray in the headlights was finished off:
I then looked at PLAN B......I said from the start I wanted to fit A5 DRLs but I've found that it just isnt possible without making a massively modified headlight enclosure. The next best thing was to look at other options:
One of the bits I had bought along the way was some flexible 'DRL strip' that also has amber LEDs in too with a switchback circuit so the white goes out and waits for the indicating to stop before bringing the white back on.
This strip was about the same width as the A5 beam channel so after a quick mock up I went for it.
This is where I am up to so far. I need to copy the shape for the other headlight and fix them down onto the front lip by screwing them from below.The end on the outside edge of the car will neatly hide the cable exiting and through below to met up with the other wiring. The chrome bits need to be painted the same metallic grey to match everything else.
It will end up that there will be three bits of white DRL running, then dim when the headlights are on. Next when the indicators are on, 2 sections will turn off being white except for the outer one (where the indicator was) and flash. When that stops the white ones will come back on together.
Lots of wiring and testing with controllers etc to prove it all works before I put the outer lenses back on and fit them to the car in the coming months.
Cheers,
Rob
Great work and enjoying following your progress
Thanks for the comments guys, looking forward to getting them finished and on the car.
Need to ring my insurer and see how I can cover them. Although they were hand made I've put near to £400 into all the bits inc the donor A5 bits so would want to cover the all cost to replace them should anything happen. I did consider selling off the A5 bi-xenon projectors and some of the other internals that I dont need, although...thinking about it, the A5 ones probably would fit if I stuck them out further forward, they are much longer than the Valeo ones I'm using as you can see on one of my older posts. I still have all the inner bits from my old original lights so could build some to test.....before I close up the headlights.
Some 3" dipped beam units would probably be much better. and I could use the full beam functionality to have 'super full beams' made up of a pair of 55w osram nightbreakers and a pair of 35w HIDs.....hmm.
Potential to blind people when I 'flash' them out of junctions I think..... :S
Plan C? Lol.....
Need to ring my insurer and see how I can cover them. Although they were hand made I've put near to £400 into all the bits inc the donor A5 bits so would want to cover the all cost to replace them should anything happen. I did consider selling off the A5 bi-xenon projectors and some of the other internals that I dont need, although...thinking about it, the A5 ones probably would fit if I stuck them out further forward, they are much longer than the Valeo ones I'm using as you can see on one of my older posts. I still have all the inner bits from my old original lights so could build some to test.....before I close up the headlights.
Some 3" dipped beam units would probably be much better. and I could use the full beam functionality to have 'super full beams' made up of a pair of 55w osram nightbreakers and a pair of 35w HIDs.....hmm.
Potential to blind people when I 'flash' them out of junctions I think..... :S
Plan C? Lol.....
Thats an amazing amount of work you have done.
I dont know if im a bit lost but what are the functions of all your lights now?
In a row it would be indicator dipped beam and then the highbeam with the side light under it.
I take it the LED angle eyes are side light or drl and indicator?
What will all your lights be running as?
Hehe, funny you ask that as I've been having the same query in my own head when I was making them.
My intention is to have:
- DRLs - the outer quad LED unit and the white long A5 strip along the bottom.
- Dipped beam - in same original spot.
- Full beam - nearest to the grill but through the projector unit not old reflector.
- Indicator - will be the A5 strip and the old full beam projector amber LED.
- Sidelight - the old full beam projector's white LED light. There is no traditional sidelight bulb fitting in my new lights. (with DRLs do I legally need a sidelight??)
Speaking to my friendly MOT tester he feels the lights should be completely legal as far as an MOT is concerned so long as the electronics do the proper job and the indicators are clearly defined without interference from white light. I did wonder if they still need a dimming curcuit as they arn't as bright as OEM DRLs but will fit one regardless to be safe.
bastet
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Man, if you're ready to give up, I honestly need a right-side (your driver's side / my passanger side) A6 mockup. If you're ready to sell yours > please notify me. I've got two lefties (one spare/test, one final) but still need that one.
I'm not using the default 1W Osram LEDs in my setup. Building my own driver for these, and I'm going to use 12x 10W high-power COB LED modules. They're going to run at about 2.5 to 3 Watts each, so heat is contained as well as power usage. Light output should be twice to even four times the OEM A6 version.
Call me insane, but I sacrificed my S4 units for my projects. These pricey buggers already come with the 3" bi-xenon dipped beams, and are square in the back (flat, one big opening) which makes them easier to work with.
I'll be copy-catting your projector high-beam, though I'll be using something else. For now I won't put in LEDs (white/orange) like you did, but I will use a 50W LED module (no 10W LED with a resistor!) puffing out some 4000 to 5000 lumen. Coupled with a reflector and 78mm glass lens it should look badass. Now thát's gonna be a bright flasher
.
Sorry mate it was the right side that i done the work to and trimmed it down. I have only the Left side.Man, if you're ready to give up, I honestly need a right-side (your driver's side / my passanger side) A6 mockup. If you're ready to sell yours > please notify me. I've got two lefties (one spare/test, one final) but still need that one.
I'm not using the default 1W Osram LEDs in my setup. Building my own driver for these, and I'm going to use 12x 10W high-power COB LED modules. They're going to run at about 2.5 to 3 Watts each, so heat is contained as well as power usage. Light output should be twice to even four times the OEM A6 version.
Call me insane, but I sacrificed my S4 units for my projects. These pricey buggers already come with the 3" bi-xenon dipped beams, and are square in the back (flat, one big opening) which makes them easier to work with.
I'll be copy-catting your projector high-beam, though I'll be using something else. For now I won't put in LEDs (white/orange) like you did, but I will use a 50W LED module (no 10W LED with a resistor!) puffing out some 4000 to 5000 lumen. Coupled with a reflector and 78mm glass lens it should look badass. Now thát's gonna be a bright flasher
bastet
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I have tried to upload some pictures of them but the file size is too big. If you PM your email address i will send you the pictures
bastet
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It has been a few months, but I've been able to use your DRL strip @martyj200.
They're finally nearing completion.. Just about every single component is modified or custom built. This is by no means an easy retrofit...
They're finally nearing completion.. Just about every single component is modified or custom built. This is by no means an easy retrofit...
Visa_broke
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Visa_broke
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YOUR DOING AN AMAZING JOB THERE MATE.
MY PROJECT HAS CAME TO COMPLETION NOW AFTER 6 MONTHS.
THESE HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH 12 LED EACH HEADLIGHT WITH BI XENON PROJECTORS AND CONTROL MODULE FOR DIMMING AND ALSO INCORPORATES COMING HOME FEATURE LEAVING THE LEDS ON FOR 20 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR KEY IS REMOVED.
bastet
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Finally got around to finishing the two headlights. Powersupply and control units are 99% finished, just need to hook them up properly inside the car. All I can tell now - these are hideously bright. Mission accomplished in that respect.
Here's four images of them as they are now.
Tomorrow I'll be working on finalizing the setup and shooting some lit pictures/videos showing some of the fade stuff. They feature coming/leaving home (blinking twice in rapid succession when unlocking the car triggers leaving home; dropping 'switched 12V' triggers leaving home), but they also feature a "hidden" for-me-only feature that I tentatively call the "get lost f**ker" trick: flashing high beams quickly for 3 times will trigger a pulsed flashing of the DRL strip, even at night, thus signaling the bloke in front of you to move over to the slow lane.
The 3-time trigger is required because it means that I manually have to decide to employ the feature rather than hitting it accidentally.
@martyj200: any specs/build-pics of your setup? PM is fine too if you're reluctant to share publicly. Rest assured I have no intentions of copycatting your work.
These headlights were commissioned by me with a headlight specialists. I gave up trying myself and preferred a professional done the job.
I wanted an OEM look with VAG parts used and was at first wanting the RS6 10 led look but then decided on the TTS style 12 LED look.
They Used the LED elements from a VW TIGUAN and designed and made copper module elements to fit the copper cased LEDs. They installed bi xenon projectors and a control module for dimming and coming home functions. then they just gave them a finish. 5 months of backward and forward emailing and trial and error until they were happy with the finished job
Holy crap batman! Those look amazing! Love the black inners as a contrast to the chrome DRL reflectors housings!
I've not even touched mine since the last batch of work I did, now with 2 kids in the house I don't get too much spare time and spent the summer landscaping/decking the front and back gardens.
Now the dark nights are rolling in I should get my act together and finish mine......
bastet
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Thanks! And yes - you should finish up yours. They're looking great as well, get that stuff going! I still dig your orange main beam indicator..
Anyway - the lights are now fitted and (knock on wood) fully functional. I've just passed my MOT with these lights (yay!), so it functions according to the law.
Both LEDs, standing at a small distance, DRL mode:
Both LEDs, kneeling a bit, DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, view from the side, DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, view from above, DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, view from front, close range (so less blinding), DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, dimming while indicating (note the cut indicator reflector!), dim mode:
Screenshot from a movie clip I shot yesterday night. Note that the yellow-ish glare on the street are my halogen fog lights! Just to show how insanely bright the LEDs are.. This is the leaving home feature, the LEDs light up to DRL mode when unlocking the car:
During dimming, you can actually see that the chrome reflector still does it job: there's a little L-shaped light beam now. The outer edge is also chrome, so when viewed in full, it should look like a faint U-shaped bar. I like the subtleness of a faint reflection over the distinct outline of a shaped bar, so I'm really glad this worked out. In the first two pics you can make out the smaller outside portion of this shape, next to the indicator.
And to finish it all: here's a short video of locking/unlocking the car:
The setup is based on Arduinos, catching input signals through voltage dividers (we're safe up to 30V input signals!). Power is supplied by a 15A buck converter, capable of doing 150+W (a bit overkill). This can handle input voltages of up to 35V, so even a double voltage jump start won't kill my Arduino's or my LEDs - it won't even pop a fuse. No, I have not tested it and no, I will not either .
Features:
- fade in when unlocking the car (catching 2x blinking signal in rapid succession), to DRL mode (leaving home)
- DRL when switched 12V is applied
- fade to dim mode when parking lights are enabled (main beams turn on, or leaving the car parked)
- instant-off, fade-in after 0.5s delay when indicating is detected
- remain lit when switched 12V is lost, wait for 30 seconds (coming home), then fade led-by-led back to off
Hidden feature:
There's a fourth input signal which I'll code to a specific main beam pattern. This allows the strip to blink rapidly in full brightness regardless of other inputs (during the day, DRL will turn off/on/off/on/off/on etc.; during the night, it'll flash from dim to DRL rapidly). This is an emergency or 'get out of my way' feature.
The code will not be relased for that because it's likely not legal.
Anyway - the lights are now fitted and (knock on wood) fully functional. I've just passed my MOT with these lights (yay!), so it functions according to the law.
Both LEDs, standing at a small distance, DRL mode:
Both LEDs, kneeling a bit, DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, view from the side, DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, view from above, DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, view from front, close range (so less blinding), DRL mode:
Right-hand LED, dimming while indicating (note the cut indicator reflector!), dim mode:
Screenshot from a movie clip I shot yesterday night. Note that the yellow-ish glare on the street are my halogen fog lights! Just to show how insanely bright the LEDs are.. This is the leaving home feature, the LEDs light up to DRL mode when unlocking the car:
During dimming, you can actually see that the chrome reflector still does it job: there's a little L-shaped light beam now. The outer edge is also chrome, so when viewed in full, it should look like a faint U-shaped bar. I like the subtleness of a faint reflection over the distinct outline of a shaped bar, so I'm really glad this worked out. In the first two pics you can make out the smaller outside portion of this shape, next to the indicator.
And to finish it all: here's a short video of locking/unlocking the car:
The setup is based on Arduinos, catching input signals through voltage dividers (we're safe up to 30V input signals!). Power is supplied by a 15A buck converter, capable of doing 150+W (a bit overkill
). This can handle input voltages of up to 35V, so even a double voltage jump start won't kill my Arduino's or my LEDs - it won't even pop a fuse. No, I have not tested it and no, I will not either .Features:
- fade in when unlocking the car (catching 2x blinking signal in rapid succession), to DRL mode (leaving home)
- DRL when switched 12V is applied
- fade to dim mode when parking lights are enabled (main beams turn on, or leaving the car parked)
- instant-off, fade-in after 0.5s delay when indicating is detected
- remain lit when switched 12V is lost, wait for 30 seconds (coming home), then fade led-by-led back to off
Hidden feature:
There's a fourth input signal which I'll code to a specific main beam pattern. This allows the strip to blink rapidly in full brightness regardless of other inputs (during the day, DRL will turn off/on/off/on/off/on etc.; during the night, it'll flash from dim to DRL rapidly). This is an emergency or 'get out of my way' feature.
The code will not be relased for that because it's likely not legal.
Thanks! And yes - you should finish up yours. They're looking great as well, get that stuff going! I still dig your orange main beam indicator..
Anyway - the lights are now fitted and (knock on wood) fully functional. I've just passed my MOT with these lights (yay!), so it functions according to the law.
Both LEDs, standing at a small distance, DRL mode:
View attachment 70388
Both LEDs, kneeling a bit, DRL mode:
View attachment 70389
Right-hand LED, view from the side, DRL mode:
View attachment 70390
Right-hand LED, view from above, DRL mode:
View attachment 70391
Right-hand LED, view from front, close range (so less blinding), DRL mode:
View attachment 70392
Right-hand LED, dimming while indicating (note the cut indicator reflector!), dim mode:
View attachment 70393
Screenshot from a movie clip I shot yesterday night. Note that the yellow-ish glare on the street are my halogen fog lights! Just to show how insanely bright the LEDs are.. This is the leaving home feature, the LEDs light up to DRL mode when unlocking the car:
View attachment 70394
During dimming, you can actually see that the chrome reflector still does it job: there's a little L-shaped light beam now. The outer edge is also chrome, so when viewed in full, it should look like a faint U-shaped bar. I like the subtleness of a faint reflection over the distinct outline of a shaped bar, so I'm really glad this worked out. In the first two pics you can make out the smaller outside portion of this shape, next to the indicator.
View attachment 70395
And to finish it all: here's a short video of locking/unlocking the car:
The setup is based on Arduinos, catching input signals through voltage dividers (we're safe up to 30V input signals!). Power is supplied by a 15A buck converter, capable of doing 150+W (a bit overkill
Features:
- fade in when unlocking the car (catching 2x blinking signal in rapid succession), to DRL mode (leaving home)
- DRL when switched 12V is applied
- fade to dim mode when parking lights are enabled (main beams turn on, or leaving the car parked)
- instant-off, fade-in after 0.5s delay when indicating is detected
- remain lit when switched 12V is lost, wait for 30 seconds (coming home), then fade led-by-led back to off
Hidden feature:
There's a fourth input signal which I'll code to a specific main beam pattern. This allows the strip to blink rapidly in full brightness regardless of other inputs (during the day, DRL will turn off/on/off/on/off/on etc.; during the night, it'll flash from dim to DRL rapidly). This is an emergency or 'get out of my way' feature.
The code will not be relased for that because it's likely not legal.
Looking good my friend. Impressive work gone into them. And yeh haha Iv got the silver Philips indicator bulbs at home waiting to be installed into the headlights haha
Visa_broke
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I AM NOW PUTTING THESE HEADLIGHTS UP FOR SALE.
MY CAR IS FOR SALE AS I HAVE JUST BOUGHT MY BROTHERS 2010 AUDI TTS
Outstanding work guys. Just read the whole project thus far.
I'd love to see how the A5 DRL's fair up inside the B6 headlight housing.
As they are naturally triangular in shape, I'd love to see them wrapped around the B6 shape instead which is obviously rectangular.
Fully locked on now..
I'd love to see how the A5 DRL's fair up inside the B6 headlight housing.
As they are naturally triangular in shape, I'd love to see them wrapped around the B6 shape instead which is obviously rectangular.
Fully locked on now..
Northampton_ofn
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Love all of these projects guys.
Can anyone who has done the projector upgrade recommend a good quality bi-xenon projector upgrade that will bolt straight in to the low beam aperture to run a d2s bulb? Oem from another model if possible but definitely metal reflector bowl
Can anyone who has done the projector upgrade recommend a good quality bi-xenon projector upgrade that will bolt straight in to the low beam aperture to run a d2s bulb? Oem from another model if possible but definitely metal reflector bowl
bastet
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I got mine from a local Dutch webshop: retrofitlab.com - they have ready-to-fit xenon conversion options (including bi-xenon lenses with some socket options including D1S/D2S/H1). He's got ready-made adapters to fit them into the OE housings. Work like a dream.
