B6 A4 Backup Lights LEDs

[audi_buff]

I'm looking at getting a set of these (http://cgi.ebay.ca/1156-BA15S-White-19-LED-12v-Light-Bulb-7506-1073-1141_W0QQitemZ230431909404QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotor s_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item35a6cfe61c) .

I find my reverse lights are so dim that I can't really see where I'm going. Ended up driving onto grass because I literally didn't see it. These LEDs should hopefully fix that problem but I just don't want a bulb code error yelling at me. Would these need resistors? I'm hoping for just a quick swap out but don't want to buy them and find that it's not that easy.

Advice? Comments?

TIA

[Silverstreak98]

If the B6 is like the B5 the reverse lights are not monitored by bulb out system.

You may want to look into getting some high power LED tower bulbs which will be much brighter.

[audi_buff]

Thanks for the tip. What a price difference! It's $60 for towers versus $12 for normal LEDs. I'll pay for quality if it does the job though. Just having a bit of trouble finding ones for my car.

Cheers

[Silverstreak98]

No problem, also I would suggest that you don't go with Ebay LED bulbs, I have had bad luck with them burning out prematurely.

I buy all my bulbs from superbrightleds.com, excellent quality and great customer service IMO. I definitely recommend them. Not to mention they have cheaper prices as well (~$40 with shipping depending on what bulb you get).

They offer a couple different types of HP LED 1156 type bulbs, CLICK (http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/tail-brake-turn.html%23BA15s)

They have lots of specs on the site as well so you can figure out which bulb will actually give the highest lumen output. I have these HP LED tower bulbs.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/images/products/car/ba15/115x-18-t.jpg

Also, here is a picture of them installed on the car. I choose that tower bulb because it was the only one that had 360 degree lighting, and I wanted to utilize the reflections especially since it is a clear reverse strip. They are definitely much brighter than my previous reverse lights.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/Silverstreak98/IMG_2716.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc305/Silverstreak98/IMG_2715.jpg

[audi_buff]

Am I an idiot? Yes. I pulled the emergency fuel filler lid release in a moment of stupidity. By the time it dawned on me what I was doing it was too late. Is there anyway to re-attach it or is that a dealer-only thing? Bloody hell.

I was trying to remove the tail light (succeeded) and subsequently the reverse bulb. I want to make sure that mine is the same as yours since you have a B5.

I got stuck on the clip (http://itookthisonmyphone.com/mttm2009/A4/media6e798160d8d2416ab04f6822e5318e4c) that holds the light assembly wiring together.

Tried pushing a small flat head onto what looked like a black clip holding it together but nothing happened. I was in no mood to push it after having possibly wrecked my fuel cap lock. Do you know of a tutorial for this swap?

This is turning out to be a bit harder than I envisioned...

[Silverstreak98]

I am fairly sure that the B6 uses a 1156 bulb (cross references with a 7506 bulb) as I checked the automotive lighting guide: HERE (http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/LampReplacementGuide/)

Not quite sure what clip you are taking about in the picture, but I suggest if you are having a hard time with a clip that you warm it up (with a hair dryer or something) as plastic tends to break when cold and is much easier to work with when warm.

[audi_buff]

Went for a second go at it. Turns out I had the screwdriver in the wrong hole. There's three ways to fit it in and I was trying two. Tried the third on a whim and it popped right off.

Should've started on the left side so I didn't pull my fuel cap release cable [headbang]

Got the assembly, bulb holder and ultimately the bulb out. Finally. [wrench]

I'll go order the same ones you got. Thanks.

[Silverstreak98]

Nice work, post pics when you get them installed!

Rep appreciated [up]

[audi_buff]

Rep done already. They just replied to my email and told me that the 1156-W3X1W is the brightest, which is what I'm looking for (need rear visibility). $1 cheaper for each bulb too, plus more lumens than the towers.

I decided to change to them at the last minute. I'll see how they turn out. Depends how long they take to ship.

Cheers

[Silverstreak98]

Yep when I checked out the specs those seemed to put out the most lumens.

I've always had really quick shipping from them, but you do live in Canada so that might delay the package a bit.

[audi_buff]

Me = Pissed

Turns out the B6 DOES monitor the reverse lights. I installed both, had a moment of joy, then one of them went out. Then they alternated. Then they switched again, and the original one was out again. Got a bulb out warning. So pissed. Got charged an extra $10 for duty, so $50 for these lights that are throwing an error. I see absolutely no way to install resistors in those lights.

Do you think I have any options? Or should I just send them back?

(They look so nice when they work).

First 3 pix in this album if you want to see how they look: http://itookthisonmyphone.com/mttm2009/A4public

[John Gutmannnn]

Dude Seriously? This shouldn't be that hard to put a resistor in. Get and ohm meter and measure the resistance of the normal bulb, then of the LED, (not sure if you can do this since this the LED are a diode with a PN junction) but anyways, somehow figure out what size resistor is needed, then find the WIRE going to the light, cut the wire solder the resistor in and put heat shrink over it. I wish I had pictures to show you but I don't. I am not 100% sure on how to find out what resistance you need without actually toying with it myself.

And...you totally wayy over paid man.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/White-T25-1156-3W-12V-Inverted-LED-Light-Wedge-Bulb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem29ff3225eaQQitemZ1 80375135722QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcc essories

Almost the same as yours but with 4pin LEDs
http://cgi.ebay.com/1156-18-LED-White-wedge-Base-Light-DC-12V-Bulb-Bright_W0QQitemZ230441549832QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a7630008

Either way your ordering cheap chinese LEDs. They all come from the same places.

The bulb you listed looks like it useds a PLCC package type of the LEDs which indicates a decent amount of power, so I assume they produce nice light, but for the reverse light you don't need a tower bulb as you don't care about what direction the light goes other then straight out from the bulb.

But, maybe just say screw it and go get a 50$ HID kit for your reverse lights! :)

Hope this all helps if you need more just PM me.

-John

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[dazarooney]

Thanks for the info moyaled.

[Supermanglide]

You may need to look into acquiring some increased energy LED tower bulbs which may be very much brighter.