Retrofit adaptive headlights into B8.5?

[kelseysautobody]

First post here in the B8 section. I recently picked up a beautiful 2013 Monsoon Grey S4 P+ with 42k on the clock. Coming from a full bolt on B7 S4 (Buy it here (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/736423-2007-S4-Great-shape-mods?p=12046533#post12046533)!) for 6+ years this car has been an absolute treat. There are however a couple features that my B7 had that are not equipped on the B8.5. One is the compass in the mirror [confused] and the other is adaptive headlights. Pretty much all B7's had AFS headlights so stepping into a B8.5 I figured most would have them as well. Guess not. Should've researched a little harder.

With no takers on my B7 yet I've been starting it up and driving it around at least once a week. Last night was the first time in a while I'd driven it at night and man did I miss having adaptive lights. The non-adaptive B8.5 lights are very good but driving each car back to back, for me at least, having corning lights seems almost necessary.

I've searched around a little and on the B8's it seems to be a pretty expensive and labor intensive undertaking but I have not seen anything concrete about the B8.5's. Has anyone done this? I've seen where you can code in for it in VCDS but does anyone know if wiring would have to be changed or additional modules beyond the headlights themselves?

[whiped]

You can enable fog lights as cornering lights in VCDS which might be a cheap free solution.

I believe the harnesses for Adaptive/Non-Adaptive are different but I am not positive. I know it is simply not plug and play.

[DannyDeez]

For the compass mirror, have you tried pressing and holding the power button on the mirror until the compass turns on?

Sorry, can't help with the adaptive lights, but I am surprised to hear that you notice them that much. Every other car I've owned had regular lights, my S4 is the first one with the adaptive. I can see them move, but it doesn't help or provide any additional benefit over non adaptive lights. Not for me at least.

[scottycs]

i have them and you can't even tell they move. I wouldn't spend $5, let alone $1,000 upgrading to them.

[kelseysautobody]

For the compass mirror, have you tried pressing and holding the power button on the mirror until the compass turns on?

Yahtzee! I do have a compass haha, thanks.

I do have cornering lamps enabled but the previous owner installed LED fog bulbs that look great and match the HID's but don't really put out that much light. I also drive with the fog lamps on most of the time so that kind of nullifies the corning lamps. I'll swap out to some normal bulbs and see if it makes a difference.

[kelseysautobody]

i have them and you can't even tell they move. I wouldn't spend $5, let alone $1,000 upgrading to them.

Thanks for the input. Strange that on the B8's it doesn't seem too functional. On the B7's I drove both AFS and non-AFS cars and it really was a huge difference when driving on dark twisty roads.

[whiped]

Yahtzee! I do have a compass haha, thanks.

I do have cornering lamps enabled but the previous owner installed LED fog bulbs that look great and match the HID's but don't really put out that much light. I also drive with the fog lamps on most of the time so that kind of nullifies the corning lamps. I'll swap out to some normal bulbs and see if it makes a difference.

I'd go with brighter fogs then. I used to have some LED ones in my car that were over 3,000 lumens each [:)]

I currently have 5k HID bulbs in and have the housings tinted. They are not as bright as the LEDs but match better.

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa435/LaxerTech/Car/20161105_000505_zps8qioje2k.jpg

My headlights are non-adaptive but with my fogs and lowbeams on It is like a wedge of solid light. So much so when I drive other people's car I feel like their headlights are out [rolleyes]

The fogs have a wider beam pattern as seen above.

[DannyDeez]

Yahtzee! I do have a compass haha, thanks.

I do have cornering lamps enabled but the previous owner installed LED fog bulbs that look great and match the HID's but don't really put out that much light. I also drive with the fog lamps on most of the time so that kind of nullifies the corning lamps. I'll swap out to some normal bulbs and see if it makes a difference.

haha happy to help!!

[kelseysautobody]

That looks a heck of a lot brighter to the sides compared to my fogs but does it really give off more light down the road? My issue with the non adaptive lights is with on/off ramps. Massachusetts and most of New England has stupidly constructed ramps with progressively sharper curves. The B7 lights would do a great job of illuminating far down into the corner, where you eyes should be. With the B8 light pattern it just seems to cut off early.

[whiped]

That looks a heck of a lot brighter to the sides compared to my fogs but does it really give off more light down the road? My issue with the non adaptive lights is with on/off ramps. Massachusetts and most of New England has stupidly constructed ramps with progressively sharper curves. The B7 lights would do a great job of illuminating far down into the corner, where you eyes should be. With the B8 light pattern it just seems to cut off early.

Yes, that is with them tinted and HIDs so it is nowhere near as bright.

The LED bulbs I had in before used to be about the same brightness as my headlights.

This is the kit I had in: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C6FPSA8/

The fan motors on the back started making noise though so I replaced them with better color matched HIDs.

If you can manage to find 5k LED bulbs that are bright let me know as I want them [:D]

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa435/LaxerTech/Car/Message_1478145890624_zpspqdjeyan.jpg
LED on pass side
HID on drivers

Sorry I don't have any pictures of them at night.

I use them primarily to light up the side of the road to watch for wild life while out in the country.

[Lensch09]

I have the AFS lights in my car and I can tell you, they make a difference.

-DL

[yjypm]

Yes, that is with them tinted and HIDs so it is nowhere near as bright.

The LED bulbs I had in before used to be about the same brightness as my headlights.

This is the kit I had in: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C6FPSA8/

The fan motors on the back started making noise though so I replaced them with better color matched HIDs.

If you can manage to find 5k LED bulbs that are bright let me know as I want them [:D]

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa435/LaxerTech/Car/Message_1478145890624_zpspqdjeyan.jpg
LED on pass side
HID on drivers

Sorry I don't have any pictures of them at night.

I use them primarily to light up the side of the road to watch for wild life while out in the country.

The driver side is HID? It looks hell a lot brighter than the passenger side.

[whiped]

The driver side is HID? It looks hell a lot brighter than the passenger side.

The HID bulbs put out light in every direction.
The LEDs are far more directional so the OP might want to take that into account.

On that note, perhaps the HIDs do produce more light, just less usable light for me... Hmmm [:/]

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa435/LaxerTech/Car/Message_1478148367182_zpsejcowgxy.jpg

[onodelta]

I know this is many years late but I have managed to retrofit adaptive headlights on my 2015 s4 today

[theFrixFix]

I know this is many years late but I have managed to retrofit adaptive headlights on my 2015 s4 today

Would you mind sharing what you had to do to get that retrofit to work? I am looking into doing the same retrofit on my 2013 S4.