Headlights on a USP - clear projector lens?

[eljay]

I'm just starting my quest to improving my headlights as one of them has the typical moisture inside. I've done a lot of reading of the excellent threads here, but what I find puzzling is that I would swear that I have clear lens in my housings. My car is a 2005 with a USP headlights, so I expected to see the typical single Xenon fresnel lens with circles in it, but no matter which way I shine a flashlight onto the projectors, I'd swear they don't have any circles/lines on them. Is that possible or does this mean that some previous owner switched them?

I hope that once I take them apart, the projector bowls will be in good shape, so I can get away with just cleaning, resealing the adjuster screw, and getting new D1S bulbs for them and enjoy a better output.

I have the TRS Morimoto 5.0 H1 bi-xenon kit in another car (E46 BMW) and love that kit, so I'm just debating whether to spend the money and get the black Depo ecodes plus the full TRS kit. What I like about my TRS kit is that I connected the trigger for high-beams to the bi-xenons, so for my high beams, I have the regular halogen firing plus the xenon from the main beam when the shield opens. The light is great! And certainly makes sure that other drivers who drive with their high beams on, lower their beams immediately. But I digress... back to my clear lens question.

[PreciseD]

Are your "USP" headlights Bi-Xenon?

[Charles.waite]

You can't really see the fresnel from outside.

Can you see speckles in the glass? There are hundreds of tiny bubbles that refract the light, hence why they're not "clear" from the factory.

Just get some FX-R lenses. It makes a huge difference.

[alien_brain]

stick a silica gel pack in your wet headlight, the kind you find in boxes of stuff mailed to you. this will help keep them dry. i do it on all headlights i have.

[eljay]

Are your "USP" headlights Bi-Xenon?

I don't believe so. The inside halogen lamp comes on when I activate high beams. I'll have to check if the Xenon light pattern changes too to indicate that the cutoff shield opens up. There's a distinct sound of a movement when I activate high-beam, but that may just be a relay, correct?

[PreciseD]

I don't believe so. The inside halogen lamp comes on when I activate high beams. I'll have to check if the Xenon light pattern changes too to indicate that the cutoff shield opens up. There's a distinct sound of a movement when I activate high-beam, but that may just be a relay, correct?

Then you don't have USP headlights.

[Charles.waite]

I don't believe so. The inside halogen lamp comes on when I activate high beams. I'll have to check if the Xenon light pattern changes too to indicate that the cutoff shield opens up. There's a distinct sound of a movement when I activate high-beam, but that may just be a relay, correct?

He asked that because only s4s came with bixenons stock. Yours are single xenons. Unless it looks like they've been modified (are they clear cornered?) they're likely stock. Which means you have the cloudy stock lenses too.

[Charles.waite]

Then you don't have USP headlights.

See my post above. USPS came with single xenons like every other a4 with xenons. The bixenons were S4 only.

[PreciseD]

See my post above. USPS came with single xenons like every other a4 with xenons. The bixenons were S4 only.

Nope mine came with Bi-Xenons straight from Audi. I assumed all USPs did as well.

[Charles.waite]

Nope mine came with Bi-Xenons straight from Audi. I assumed all USPs did as well.

Well mine came with single xenons straight from the factory. What year is yours? Did it have a special bixenon package?

[PreciseD]

Well mine came with single xenons straight from the factory. What year is yours? Did it have a special bixenon package?

It's an 05 and I guess so

[Charles.waite]

It's an 05 and I guess so

Nice! I was actually unaware that some A4s came with bixenons. Bummer mine only came with the poverty spec single xenons...

[PreciseD]

Nice! I was actually unaware that some A4s came with bixenons. Bummer mine only came with the poverty spec single xenons...

Well mine came with them from the factory but the dickwad that sold it took them off the car and put halogens in it. I got some OEM Bi-Xenon E Codes in there now with my B8.5 projectors.

[eljay]

Then you don't have USP headlights.

I'm quite sure I do have USP headlights. They have the gray/black inside housing and the part number on the driver's side is 8E0941003R. Those come up as S4 bi-xenon headlights. Mine is a 2005 1.8TQ Avant with 12/2004 build date.

So your inside halogen lamps don't come on at all? I would find that strange as what would they be used for then? The DRLs for me are the fogs and indicator bulbs.

[eljay]

You can't really see the fresnel from outside.

Can you see speckles in the glass? There are hundreds of tiny bubbles that refract the light, hence why they're not "clear" from the factory.

Just get some FX-R lenses. It makes a huge difference.

From the pictures posted on the forum here, the fresnel lens looks quite distinct. I'll try to post pics, but no matter how I look at it, I don't see circles. Perhaps a few more beers will do it!

[PreciseD]

I'm quite sure I do have USP headlights. They have the gray/black inside housing and the part number on the driver's side is 8E0941003R. Those come up as S4 bi-xenon headlights. Mine is a 2005 1.8TQ Avant with 12/2004 build date.

So your inside halogen lamps don't come on at all? I would find that strange as what would they be used for then? The DRLs for me are the fogs and indicator bulbs.

Yes they come on when you pull the stalk back but when pushed forward only the HIDs should be on.

[eljay]

Yes they come on when you pull the stalk back but when pushed forward only the HIDs should be on.

I see. Yes, I recall now that's how my E46 headlights worked before I connected the high-beam bi-xenon to the halogen. I think the factory setup is called "flash to pass". Makes sense now. But mine come on in both cases.

Anyways, so we've established I have OEM bi-xenon headlights, which is great and the factory projector and ballasts should be quite good, correct? I just need to perhaps swap the lens if indeed they are still OEM. Are any clear lenses good enough or are some better than others like the FX-R lenses mentioned above?
Judging by my halogens coming on with the high-beam, the previous owner may have upgraded the lens too. Who knows. They certainly need cleaning and sealing and new D1S bulbs. I'll also remove the amber piece and perhaps look for some chrome amber 3157 bulbs. That may just make me happy enough not to want to get ecode housings.

[Charles.waite]

The reason the halogens are used for flash to pass is because the xenons aren't instant on, so if your lights are fully off (or just DRLs on) then the xenons can't turn on then off in nearly enough time and you'd probably damage the bulbs or ballasts eventually.

Also USP lights aren't a thing. They're just regular xenons. There is not difference between any single xenon housings besides ecode and DOT housings.

[CyberPMG]

USP is for the body kit, Sports suspension package, wheels, and interior only. It has nothing to do with the headlghts. The Xenon and Bi-Xenon headlights are part of a Lighting Package. If 2004, you got Xenon headlights with the Lighting Package. If 2005, you got Bi-Xenon headlights with the Lighting Package. Again, nothing to do with the Ultrasport Package.

To the OP: do a search for "headlight upgrade". There's an excellent DIY on upgrading the lens to the Bi-Xenon headlights including sources on getting the materials. Well worth doing.

[Charles.waite]

USP is for the body kit, Sports suspension package, wheels, and interior only. It has nothing to do with the headlghts. The Xenon and Bi-Xenon headlights are part of a Lighting Package. If 2004, you got Xenon headlights with the Lighting Package. If 2005, you got Bi-Xenon headlights with the Lighting Package. Again, nothing to do with the Ultrasport Package.

To the OP: do a search for "headlight upgrade". There's an excellent DIY on upgrading the lens to the Bi-Xenon headlights including sources on getting the materials. Well worth doing.

Everything he just said.

[Charles.waite]

Not in Europe, FWIW. Plenty of 'S4 black-housing' 2.5" single-xenon, including Germany and UK

3" Bi-X bowls (Valeo) were used on Cayenne, Touareg, Dodge Viper, Jaguar(?), Audi, and possibly some Seat + Skoda (in EU and/or ROW), maybe VW.
Unless yours are new or you never drive at night, they're probably burnt, significantly reducing output.
Even at their best, other options (thankfully documented here by the likes of evo_ski, PreciseD, etc.) seem better.
Otherwise, why did OEM's stop using it?


I hear that cold-start warm-ups are the most taxing xenon activity. AKA "don't have a strobe-light rave party in your garage by turning them on/off 20 times in a row" and "use halogen city/parking light in tunnels and garages instead" (or LED for some of you)



dessicant packs. Can be bought in bulk packets.
Or made yourself. Wal-mart Mimi cat litter + empty tea bags, pour some in and staple it closed. If moisture-saturated, I hear the oven can dry it.
After rinsing my housing lens from inside (distilled water), I put a bunch of these inside to dry it.

1) I was referring to US models because the OP is from 'Murica. But yea I'm sure Euro models have some lighting combos we never got. I love my b7s adaptive bixenons. Aiming the projectors around corners is truly awesome.

2) I've read the same things. Cold Warmup is really taxing on the bulbs and wears them out really fast. Additionally, whereas Halogens reach full brightness really quickly (much less than a second), xenons take 1-2 seconds to get bright, so they're not really feasible for "instant on" flasher capabilities unless they're already turned on.

3) the single xenons don't generally have the moisture issues that are so rampant on the BiXenons. At least not in my experience.

[Charles.waite]

On a b7 you can retrofit the adaptive bits, but I believe you need to add a control module I believe. Definitely some added wiring.

I don't think any b6 headlights had AFS so I can't imagine that could be easily retrofitted.

[eljay]

The reason the halogens are used for flash to pass is because the xenons aren't instant on, so if your lights are fully off (or just DRLs on) then the xenons can't turn on then off in nearly enough time and you'd probably damage the bulbs or ballasts eventually.

Also USP lights aren't a thing. They're just regular xenons. There is not difference between any single xenon housings besides ecode and DOT housings.

That makes sense about the "flash to pass" halogens. Thanks for the explanation.

[eljay]

USP is for the body kit, Sports suspension package, wheels, and interior only. It has nothing to do with the headlghts. The Xenon and Bi-Xenon headlights are part of a Lighting Package. If 2004, you got Xenon headlights with the Lighting Package. If 2005, you got Bi-Xenon headlights with the Lighting Package. Again, nothing to do with the Ultrasport Package.

To the OP: do a search for "headlight upgrade". There's an excellent DIY on upgrading the lens to the Bi-Xenon headlights including sources on getting the materials. Well worth doing.

Ah, yes, you are correct. It's the Lighting Package that determined whether xenons were installed.

Yes, I have read through those excellent write-ups, hence my question about the lens as I went to look at my headlights.

So, I guess I need some 3" lenses then and since chances are the bowls will be in a a bad shape after all the years, should I just get a set of new projectors too? That plus some decent bulbs and I might as well go for the full Morimoto kit with new ballasts. hmm...

[Charles.waite]

I wouldn't be super concerned about the bowls. Mine were in great shape after 85k miles when I installed my clear lenses. The clear lenses make a massive difference though.

[eljay]

I wouldn't be super concerned about the bowls. Mine were in great shape after 85k miles when I installed my clear lenses. The clear lenses make a massive difference though.

Well, I'm at 172k and who knows what the moisture inside did to the chrome on the bowls from the drying cycles.
I don't want to spend money unnecessarily, but I don't want to take the headlights apart twice if I can avoid it.
Is it possible to buy the bowls separately other than used?

[ADCS]

I think the b6 bixenon projector can be pulled out the back just like the single xenon. If that is the case it is a 10min ordeal including pulling the headlights off the car. My projectors were also perfect inside so I wouldn't worry about yours. What typically ruins the bowls is running cheapo bulbs or changing to a 55w setup. Those get way to hot.

[eljay]

I think the b6 bixenon projector can be pulled out the back just like the single xenon. If that is the case it is a 10min ordeal including pulling the headlights off the car. My projectors were also perfect inside so I wouldn't worry about yours. What typically ruins the bowls is running cheapo bulbs or changing to a 55w setup. Those get way to hot.

Alright, I'll give it a try and just go with clear lens and new bulbs and good cleaning of the housings with distilled water/amonia dillution.

I'm planning to get this lens:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...l#.VlW0Vl7tpNg

Do I need a spacer?

For the bulbs, I know that Osram CBI is the king, but a little too much for me, so I'm looking at the Morimoto XB D1S 5500K bulbs:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...l#.VlW0yl7tpNg

I have their 5000K versions that is the colour I prefer. I do not want any blueish hue, just pure white. Since they are lower quality bulbs, should I get the 4500K version as they will dim to higher K over time?
Or should I just get standard OE bulbs?
http://hidconcept.com/d1s-osram-sylv...300k-hid-bulb/

[Charles.waite]

I got 4300K Morimoto bulbs 2ish years ago now and they're great. No issues with them. Same color as OEM and brighter for sure. Though the original bulbs were 5 years old at that point so it's not surprising they were brighter.

[Charles.waite]

FYI:

[eljay]

Thanks! I just got the same email. :)

I think I will go with the Morimoto 4500K bulbs and STI-R lens with spacers. I'm debating whether to get some LED switchbacks for the indicator bulbs to get the white DRL plus amber turn signal. However, I fear they will be too white/blue for my liking. But that's a different topic.

[Charles.waite]

Keep in mind that only the bixenons can use the 3" sti-r lenses. The single xenons use the 2.5" fx-r lenses. There was so much discussion about what headlight is what I can't remember if you said what you had.

And careful with the LED markers/turn signals. You'll get bulb out warnings unless you resistor them.