b16drb Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 Hi All I have recently bought a 2000 "W" A8 - I am not techy but think this is a "D2" model (someone tell me what that means please.......?). The HL are (wait for it.....) "shite" - I guess you all know that anyway.......what a travesty that Audi did not fit xenon's on what is otherwise an awesome bit of kit ! Question times ? 1. Anyone know if you can but xenon's ? 2. How much ? 3. Anyone got any pro. to fit them ? Please help before I put my A8 in a ditch - driving home late one nite !!!! Daz 67 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joylove Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 You may need a whole lot of cash to upgrade to (MOT legal) Xenons. Like around £800. Try some Philips +85% bulbs or some Osram +85% nightbreakers for £20 from eBay to get started? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickGUK Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 [ QUOTE ] what a travesty that Audi did not fit xenon's on what is otherwise an awesome bit of kit ! [/ QUOTE ] They did, mine had them, it was just a cost option and the later ones had even improved zenon plus to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 [ QUOTE ] Hi All I have recently bought a 2000 "W" A8 - I am not techy but think this is a "D2" model (someone tell me what that means please.......?). The HL are (wait for it.....) "shite" - I guess you all know that anyway.......what a travesty that Audi did not fit xenon's on what is otherwise an awesome bit of kit ! Question times ? 1. Anyone know if you can but xenon's ? 2. How much ? 3. Anyone got any pro. to fit them ? Please help before I put my A8 in a ditch - driving home late one nite !!!! Daz 67 [/ QUOTE ] D2 refers to the modle platform design, D1 being the Audi V8 (looks like an Audi 100) and the D3 being the latest version of the 8 series. You could go for an aftermarket HID kit but as suggested theres a legality issue there. Having said that I've got a kit on mine (can't ever imagine how I got around with the candles I had before), and so do a lot of other guys.They cost upwards of around £120 and are a doddle to kit your self (max 45mins). I've been stopped by traffic police and put it through the MOT and no one batted an eyelid. Just do a search for HID on here. Heres something to start you off Clickme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffy3074 Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 I've just fitted a kit to my wifes A4 (B5) after she complained about the difference between her upgraded halogens and the Bi xenons on my S8. The kit was £40 inc postage from an ebayer in China and it was first class, it's made a huge difference and again an absolute doddle to fit. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Xeaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 I bought a kit from www.sharphid.com and they work really well. Easy to fit and so far totally reliable. The kit I bought is a 55w kit (usual HIDs are 35w) so as you can imagine they are fairly bright. Since then no problems - I don't get flashed, never been stoppped and had no MOT hassle. In fact, from what I read there is no reason for them to fail you for an MOT. From the sounds of it if HIDs are fitted as standard they must be self levelling etc. but if they are aftermarket there is no legal requirement for the same level of expense. Interesting. The good news is that even if you do have MOT issues then all you need do is swap the old bukbs back in - takes less than 10 minutes and no one is any the wiser.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffy3074 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 My thoughts exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 An MOT tester checks that the lights have the correct pattern and are set at the correct height, and as long as your Xenons are they are unlikely to fail the test. The argument comes with them being EU approved for road use and what could happen in the event of an accident should the other party complain about being dazzled. You could them find that you are liable for fitting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulW Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 JimR's prefacelift install here: http://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/89004.phtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 That's pretty much where I fitted mine. Just be careful when re-fitting the headlights. If you drop one of the bolts that hold the clips on into the engine bay, they're a barsteward to get back out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joylove Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 The MOT has been changed recently to check for non-OEM HID lights. Please don't call them Xenons, as all headlamp bulbs contain Xenon. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Bum... So as always, build up a bit of banter with your local MOT station and make sure they let you through . Not that I would advocate circumventing the system or that MOT testers can be persuaded to do anything other than a proper test... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikw Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Well I have an MOT test due soon so I'll see what my friendly MOT man says... As for the insurance angle, I can't see why there should be any additional liability if the lights comply with the Road Traffic Act and pass an MOT test. They either dazzle or they don't and my MOT says they didn't at the time of the test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Mine's due soon too... Lets see if they say anything about mine too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b16drb Posted March 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Hi Ska Sorry for absense.......been occupied with sorting out a Central Locking Pump (CLP) problem; now sorted.So next on my TO DO list is the HL improvements. Sorry guys I am not particularly mechanically-minded and I am a little apprehensive about taking on too big a job. Now some of you say it's a doddle and some seem to imply it might be a bit tricky. Those that say it's an easy job - are we talking about having to remove HL unit or just a bulb replacement.and possibly some wiring ? Treat me like an idiot......step-by-step destructions PLEASE ! Daz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Assuming you have a pre-facelift. I think the post-facelift headlights fit differently, but the basic principle is the same. The way I did it: 1 - Take off strip below headlight (1 screw which is normally hidden by bonnet, it then pops out of the wing. 2 - Take out Headlight, two screws on top and 2 screws on the bottom with the brackets (watch you don't let the bracket screws drop into the engine bay, they're a b*tch to get back ). 3 - Attach the ballast to the strut below where the headlight came out (not the black bit, but the one below it and make sure you should have enough spare cable). 4 - Make the hole in the back of the headlight cover to fit the cable through 5 - Fit bulb & wires - be careful not to touch it with anything oily, including fingers 6 - Connect up the wiring as per the instructions you should have in the book (should be a simple fit of their connectors to the factory cables) 7 - Test 8 - Re-fit headlight. It's easier to put the little l-shaped brackets on first, then put the headlight on to them, slide back and screw in the top holes. 9 - Repeat on other side. Took me less than an hour, including a bit of arsing around with the headlight fitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Its pretty much like PsYcHe says; most guys mount the balast unit under the headlight as stated. But me being a lazy git decided to stick them to the back of the HL covers as you probably saw from the link to that other thread. Just remeber not to handle the actual bulb glass. Other than that they are plug and play units; one of the most effective mods you can do to an 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 I never even removed my headlights, just mounted the ballast to the body next to the light. Takes 10 minutes per headlight. The hardest part is cutting the hole for the wiring in the back of the headlight cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted March 23, 2008 Report Share Posted March 23, 2008 Coincidence but my DIS has just alerted me that one of the bulbs has gone south; Where are people getting their replacement bulbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikw Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 You have a choice - buy a new capsule from somewhere like this or buy another kit off fleabay. £35 for one capsule versus about £65 for the kit. I bought a pair of capsules from the company I linked to above some time ago. Not the cheapest but they responded quickly to my enquiry and shipped promptly too. Sadly I then had the ballast fail and ended up buying another complete kit. For peace of mind I'd probably go for the kit - you then have plenty of spare parts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure11 Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 [ QUOTE ] I bought a kit from www.sharphid.com and they work really well. Easy to fit and so far totally reliable. The kit I bought is a 55w kit (usual HIDs are 35w) so as you can imagine they are fairly bright. Since then no problems - I don't get flashed, never been stoppped and had no MOT hassle. In fact, from what I read there is no reason for them to fail you for an MOT. From the sounds of it if HIDs are fitted as standard they must be self levelling etc. but if they are aftermarket there is no legal requirement for the same level of expense. Interesting. The good news is that even if you do have MOT issues then all you need do is swap the old bukbs back in - takes less than 10 minutes and no one is any the wiser.... [/ QUOTE ] LostKiwi, This is a US site. How much did they charge for postage and did you get hit for customs (duty + VAT)? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 I'll have to check tonight what the postage was. I don't recall being hit for tax though. From what I remember it wasn't too bad the postage (especially since it was quoted in USD!) Safest thing to do is to email them and ask about postage in case the rates have changed. They responded pretty quickly when I asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure11 Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 TA. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffy3074 Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 The lot I bought off marked the box as a gift (Which at that price it was...) and there was no VAT/Import tax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Just found the receipt... Shipping for mine was $48 all in. Delivery was very quick too - about 7 days from memory so I guess that was airmail too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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