Adaptive headlight retrofit?

[LawDawg]

Arrrrrgggghh!!!! Just realized that the '11 Prestige that I just bought doesn't have this feature. I got a great car, but had to pass on ADS cars to keep it in my price range. I also am dealing with not having adaptive cruise because I hear it's actually a PITA. BUT...no adaptive xenons is the last straw. Is there a comprehensive DIY anywhere that anyone knows of to do this? I've searched and found that a few people have done it, but haven't found a write-up yet. This really grinds my gears...

...In other news, I freakin' love this car.

[A4-B6]

Subscribed, same want.

[NWS4Guy]

you need the headlamps that have the ballast which is not on US cars that does the side to side in addition to the US mandatory tilt, and unless something has changed since the last person tried this, you will also need the wiring harness for it, since the one in your car will not have the connections to plug into this new headlamp. Once that is done, you need access to VCDS to change the coding in the car to tell the ECU you have adaptive to activate it.

[MrFunk]

Probably more work than it's worth. It's a nice to have but by no means a need to have - especially if you live in the city.

[infinkc]

thats going to be a very costly retrofit as you need new headlights. For that price your better off just buying ecodes and live with the brighter light output. Unless you live in the hills and drive mostly at night, there is no reason for adaptive lights.

[LawDawg]

you need the headlamps that have the ballast which is not on US cars that does the side to side in addition to the US mandatory tilt, and unless something has changed since the last person tried this, you will also need the wiring harness for it, since the one in your car will not have the connections to plug into this new headlamp. Once that is done, you need access to VCDS to change the coding in the car to tell the ECU you have adaptive to activate it.

Of course Seattle would know (where I'm from;). It looks like the lamps can be had here for about $1250 (add $175 for adaptive). http://www.oemplus.com/headlamps-eu-bixenon-p-947.html Beyond that, I've done a lot of OEM upgrades over the years (RNS-E, Nav antenna, Bluetooth, Sirius, Glovebox CD into my B6 USP; lots of stereo stuff over the years; etc., etc.), so wiring doesn't scare me unless it's REALLY complicated, or I'm without clear instructions. I can't figure it out on my own, but I follow instructions like a champ.

Just need to know definitively what to buy and how to do it. Also does anyone know if the xenon bulbs and ballasts that I do have will transfer over to the Euro or Canadian AFS units, thus meaning that I would only be buying the housings, left-right ballasts, and the necessary wiring? I already have a VAG-Com.

[LawDawg]

Agreed. If I do nut up for this, I'm def. going ecodes and then it's simply an additional $175 for the adaptive feature on the housings. It's whether or not the "other stuff" makes this a prohibitive mod from a cost or complexity standpoint.

[NWS4Guy]

Here was the first extensive discussion on it back in Nov of 2010 (search here is great BTW)

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...aptive+ballast

[LawDawg]

Here was the first extensive discussion on it back in Nov of 2010 (search here is great BTW)

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...aptive+ballast

Oh, there's search button? Thanks for the link, read that one last night...after using search...which I referenced in my initial post. Not my first rodeo. That having been said, you're all over the technical questions, so I appreciate all the knowledge you drop on the forum. I'm sure my new-to-me S4 is going to benefit from it. Go 'Hawks.

[B8Addict]

Are canadian models different from US? I have a Premium + model in Vancouver BC which is the prestige package in US and mine does have adaptive headlights. weird..

[EyeCentric]

Any updates on this? Interested