new twist on ballast replacement

[Craig4807]

LOL. I didn't ask how much the full setup would cost. But, the ballast is in and working like a charm! We have a winner folks. Do your homework and save your$elf some money!!

[sirminder]

**NEWBIE ALERT**

I picked up an 03 A4 which does not appear to have a HID system. I am very interested in upgrading my headlights to run D1S bulbs. Besides these ballasts and the D1S bulbs, what else would I need for the upgrade.

Thanks.

Subscribed

[Burtonrider1002]

well... ill say it first OEM Xenon housings are reccomended. they "supposedly" create a much better beam pattern. However, I personally have never seen any proof on this, just here say. Do you have projector Housings? and actually, do ALL B6 A4's have projector housings?

[Matt Devo]

**NEWBIE ALERT**

I picked up an 03 A4 which does not appear to have a HID system. I am very interested in upgrading my headlights to run D1S bulbs. Besides these ballasts and the D1S bulbs, what else would I need for the upgrade.

it depends. you have 3 options really:
- keep existing housings, install aftermarket H7 HID kit
- replace with OEM xenon housings (US or e-code), use OEM ballasts + D1S bulbs
- above, but with full auto-level system (motors, sensors, wiring, etc). Most will agree this is overkill and unnecessary

the quality of light output from the first two options is IMO fairly negligible, so if $$ is an issue just get a kit from DDM (H7, 35w, 4300k) and call it a day.

do ALL B6 A4's have projector housings?

yes, they do (at least in the US)

[Burtonrider1002]

yes, they do (at least in the US)

much thanks! + rep

[diagnosticator]

Okay. I already know my ballast is bad. I have read all the threads on 3 different forums. I have a possible solution I'd like feedback on.

Doing my due diligence, it seems to me that the Valeo LAD5GL is also the stock ballast for many Jaguars, Volvos, VWs, Cadillacs and the Chrysler 300C. My Audi dealer wants $400+ for it. Chrysler wants $190. Mopar wants $110. If the part is the same OEM ballast, I'd rather give $110 to Mopar and stay OEM/street legal, etc. than give Audi $400 or use a kit. The Chrysler/Mopar part number is: 5139061AA. I would like your input. Can anyone confirm my conclusions? I'll pull the trigger today if possible. These are front and back pics of the OEM from Valeo.

Yes, you are correct. All of those cars use the same ballast as our A4s do. The Mopar ballast is an excellent deal, usually the ballast cost $120 used.

[diagnosticator]

I can understand what you are saying, but GM still makes headlights that are HID's with no projector. The Older Jimmy/Enoy's and others still have this. I still say that you can put a HID in a projector headlight if you aim it right. The last car platform I worked on they installed shields into the housing while doing Joeymod type things to the headlights to make almost a perfect cutoff like we have. The law I think says if you car doesn't come with them and you install them they can ticket you, but if you have a xexon car you can't get a ticket for them.

HID xenon burners for open reflector type headlights are D1R and D2R, the quartz capsule has a large area with black shielding painted onto the capsule to provide for the limitation of light above a cutoff, similar to a projector.

[Burtonrider1002]

HID xenon burners for open reflector type headlights are D1R and D2R, the quartz capsule has a large area with black shielding painted onto the capsule to provide for the limitation of light above a cutoff, similar to a projector.

sooo... could we use a D1R bulb in a projector, but non-Xenon housing to get better results?

[Matt Devo]

sooo... could we use a D1R bulb in a projector, but non-Xenon housing to get better results?

no, the 'R' bulbs are meant for a reflector housing, and should only be used in such. Trying to use a D1R/D2R bulb with a projector would not result in better light output, and quite possibly would be a bit worse than the proper D1S/D2S bulb, assuming you could make it fit to begin with

[Burtonrider1002]

no, the 'R' bulbs are meant for a reflector housing, and should only be used in such. Trying to use a D1R/D2R bulb with a projector would not result in better light output, and quite possibly would be a bit worse than the proper D1S/D2S bulb, assuming you could make it fit to begin with

thanks for another answer. it wont let me + rep u again haha

[AudiA4Turbo22]

The only difference between a D2S & a D1S is.... the D1S has the ignitor integrated onto the bulb.

Otherwise, the bulb itself is the same exact thing.

I know, I meant that if the D1S kit was $97 I would not run a D2s kit which costs $150 and modify it to fit, but most D1S kits run at about $350

[matman1t]

Great work on this one. How did you find this out? I need to find out what other vehicles used the following ballast: 2002 A4

[Craig4807]

flip the ballast over and give me the part number from the label, or take the part number and become friends with Google!!

[matman1t]

Let's see who can find it faster? Ready....GO!!!

Part number LAD5G 89032131 20/08/04 12V 2000h
739337121423302375 1000 V
S: 02.12 D1R/S-35W
H: 02.0A D2R/S-35W
The stamped number is 7302023-N 29 04



Hey Craig, Thanks so much for your help on this one!

[Audized]

Great work on this one. How did you find this out? I need to find out what other vehicles used the following ballast: 2002 A4

It's a 5G ballast for D1S system on early 2002 A4's. Only early 2002's use 5G ballasts.

[Craig4807]

Let's see who can find it faster? Ready....GO!!!

Part number LAD5G 89032131 20/08/04 12V 2000h
739337121423302375 1000 V
S: 02.12 D1R/S-35W
H: 02.0A D2R/S-35W
The stamped number is 7302023-N 29 04



Hey Craig, Thanks so much for your help on this one!

Still hunting for a good price. But, this ballast is used for these cars:
03-06 Porsche Cayenne
OEM 2002 Audi A4
04-06 VW Touareg
03 04 05 06 07 Cadillac CTS


I can't imagine it being any cheaper from a Porsche or VW supplier since they are the same auto group as Audi. You may be able to find a GM part and price...

[matman1t]

05-06 Chrysler 300C SRT 8?
I'll call tomorrow for pricing from Chrysler.

[n7plus1]

hmmm interesting thread..

[matman1t]

The Results are in:
05-06 Chrysler 300C or SRT 8 $280.00 (12 PIN) LADG5
03 04 05 06 07 Cadillac CTS $353.10 (12 PIN) LADG5
These of course are not confirmed to fit until I hold the part in my hand to verify.
It looks like these 12 pin ballasts are a little harder to come by.
And seeing these high prices, I think I'll first try to wire up the 12pin harness in my A4 to the cheaper 4pin Ballast.
Interestingly enough, there are only 2 wires in the 12 pin harness. 12V positive and negative. All I need is to figure out which of the 4pins on the ballast connector they go to??? Any body know how many wires are in their 4pin harness, and where they go? This will increase my chances of success.
or I'll be opting for a used ebay 12pin ballast for around $200.

[matman1t]

....trying to wire up the 12pin(LAD5G) harness in my A4 to the 4pin(LADG5L) ballast.
Interestingly enough, there are only 2 wires in the 12 pin harness. 12V positive and negative. Any body know how many wires are in their 4pin harness, and where they go?

(From Another Thread) Re: Xenon ballast replacement on '03 B6
I figure you have already solved this issue, but for future reference, all you need to do is extract the brown wires from both connectors and swap, then do the same with the red wires. You will end up with the 4 position connector ready to plug into the 5GL ballast. To extract the terminals, use a pin to shift the retainer inside the connector to release the wire terminal. Slide the terminal out of the connector to the rear.

This is the answer that I needed. Unfortunately, now I need the 4pin harness. Anybody selling one?

[deaner1979]

subscribed....

So... .the mopar ones fit and work? I def. need a new ballast as well?

[diagnosticator]

Speaking specifically on our audis - prove it. I dare you.

Because ive already proven several times that there's no difference in our projectors except for size

How did you "prove" that? OEM Valeo HID xenon projectors are shaped differently than the same size Valeo halogen projector used in our B6 headlight housings. The difference is easily seen visually.

[diagnosticator]

I feel the only thing that is different is the focal point is a little off from the two, but nothing that will toss light into traffic. I only say that only cause the H7 bulb is so short and the HID H7 bulb is so much longer it doesn't allow it to use the projector to it's full use, but nothing major I feel. I still run HID's in my stock non xexon car.

Actually, the distance of the filament in the H7 lamp bulb, from the lamp mounting base surface, is the same as a D1/D2 HID burner arc from the same reference plane, @ 27.1 mm. The orientation of the filament compared to the burning arc in the HID burner is ~90 degrees different, and the shape and brightness profile from end to end of the arc is a lot different than a filament in an H7 halogen bulb too. Not important? Not so, the differences in light output characteristics is completely different between the two light sources.

[eurojetta]

I just wanted to put my hat in the ring to say "Yup, this works"

Picked one up last night from my local Chrysler dealer, paid $191CDN, and it's the same as what came out. Chrysler part number was spot on too.

Thanks Craig4807 for bringing this to our attention!!

[muttwagon]

Someone should tell ECS about this so they can stock the same parts for cheaper, and sell them cheaper.

[JEENYUS]

Chrysler pic

just to compare the two better. everyone should rep this kid for the info he has brought to the forum.

[JeffM03]

Just to give everyone an idea of price, I got the ballast on moparpartsamerica for $97.

[stomata]

I am damned I just paid 250 on ebay to get the 5G ballast from a Germany seller....
And the stupid thing is I knew Chrysler's using the same thing and I had never thought of calling Chrysler dealership..........
totally should read this post and the the 5GL with the conversion cable... I am kicking myself right now...

[Johnnada]

Thanks man, I just save hundreds of dollars ordering it off moparpartz.com

[matman1t]

Okay, the results are official. This LADG5L swap to LADG5 works perfectly.
The LADG5(4 Pin harness connector) ballast is obviously available for cheap from Mopar, however the earlier model LADG5L(2002 A4) is available but more expensive, similar to Audi USA pricing.
Some 2002 A4 models use the LADG5L ballast(12Pin Harness Connector) such as I have.
I have concluded that if you swap out the 12pin harness connector with a 4 pin harness connector, you are able to use the newer LADG5 ballast.
The wiring is exactly the same for the two different model Ballast harnesses. There's 12VDC and 0VDC. The only thing you need to do is pull the 12VDC and 0VDC pins from the ballast and insert them into the 4-pin harness connector in the new locations. I made 2 errors in guessing where they go when I installed and powered my Ballasts. Thanks goodness for Audi Engineering, I didn't hurt anything. On the third attempt, the xenon came alive. I will include two photos that gave me a bit of a headache, the first is a picture of the correct location of the wiring swap to the 4pin connector. The second is a drawing of the method for removing the pins without breaking anything. You owe me a beer if this helps you too!

[matman1t]

Here's a drawing of the method for removing the pins without breaking anything.



Here's a picture of the correct location of the wiring swap to the 4pin connector.

[diagnosticator]

(From Another Thread) Re: Xenon ballast replacement on '03 B6
I figure you have already solved this issue, but for future reference, all you need to do is extract the brown wires from both connectors and swap, then do the same with the red wires. You will end up with the 4 position connector ready to plug into the 5GL ballast. To extract the terminals, use a pin to shift the retainer inside the connector to release the wire terminal. Slide the terminal out of the connector to the rear.

This is the answer that I needed. Unfortunately, now I need the 4pin harness. Anybody selling one?

Ref for info here: diagnosticator.

[francis_a]

+rep OP and matman1t.

I just ordered the LAD5GL. While troubleshooting, I swapped the ballasts and discovered that the xenon housings I bought had a 4-pin that was mated to a 12-pin harness. Hopefully that's the correct 4-pin so won't need to buy the plug for now.

Thanks for this great info. Brand-new LAD5GL + a way to retrofit a 4-pin plug.

[Sales@RAI]

hmm I have xenon bulbs in my halogen projector right now. Where are you getting your info on headlights?

hes saying that xenon bulbs are not made to fit halogen projectors. Do aftermarket companies make them? Sure. But there are no OEM H7 HID bulbs

[JeffM03]

Just so you guys know, for anyone with a 12-port connector who needs to swap to a 4-port, but can't find a 4-port, you can cut the 12-port down into a 4-port and make it work.

Take the wires out of your 12-port using a pin or just destroy the plastic around them:


You can re-use the 4 ports where the wires were originally IF they're still intact. (mine weren't so I chose the other side of the connector):


Cut the switch in two, making sure you do not damage the 4 ports you want to use:


Now place the wires into the now-4-port connector making sure the wires go into the ballast in this pattern:


Plug everything back in and:


Hope this helps anyone who can't get a hold of a 4-port connector in time. I was on a very tight schedule and had no other way of doing it.

[Khloro36]

Newbee here but lets see if I can explain myself.

I have an



but I purchased



Can I just connect the wires into the 12 slot since only 2 are used


basically do the reverse of what was done up top?

[JeffM03]

yeah, you can use your 4-port, but you have to switch the two wires (brown and red) around to connect in the right area.

Like this:

[itsmatt33]

props to this thread gonna save me quite a bit of money

[n7plus1]

great info...thanks for the input guys..should be a sticky imo.

[itsmatt33]

^x2