HID conversion

[nemick]

Hello,

First off, I am not at all good with car electrics, so please don't use big words. I have finally gotten to the point of not wanting to drive my A4 due to the lousy headlights. I would like to fit an HID conversion kit. I am leaning toward the DDM kit as it looks like it's reasonably plug and play. Can anyone point me at any kind of write up on installing this stuff or any DIY that might be helpful. Again, I am not an electrician and have little clue with this. Mechanical stuff is a different issue, lol

Any help or advice is most gratefully accepted. I would just like to have the most painless upgrade short of just wasting money on Silverstars.

Thanks

[PringlesInVic]

I can't speak to the DDM kit, as I haven't used it before. But my previous experience with HID kits, is that they are just that "Plug and Play". They use your factory connector, and you just have to provide an additional ground for the ballast.

EDIT: From DDM's website

Wiring / Connectors: All non OEM HID bulbs come with Plug and Play adaptors to go between the factory wiring and the
ballast (or HID Accessory) so there is no cutting or splicing needed. Industry standard AMP connectors are used to attach
the bulb and ballast.

[nemick]

That's great news, thanks. I'm wondering where the ballasts get installed etc on our cars.

[Wagonholic]

That's great news, thanks. I'm wondering where the ballasts get installed etc on our cars.

If you remove the headlights housings, you will see that there is a cutout for the factory OEM ballast. The Xenon (standard on us-spec B5 S4) headlights have a factory ballast that perfectly bolts in right over there. You can choose to mount them there, but you would then have to determine how to seal up the area from the elements. Another option would be to mount the ballasts behind the housing somewhere in the engine bay.

What type of bulb are you considering going with? I recommend only 4300K or 5000K bulbs for headlights, since they provide the most natural white light (4300K is stock on most cars with factory Xenon, including B5 S4). Anything higher, and it become too blue, and actually REDUCES light output and strains the eyes (ask me how I know). On the other hand, 3000K bulbs are very yellow and are ideal for cutting through inclement weather (i.e. fog lights, rain), but are not good for normal driving.

If you are willing to, I recommend a retrofit as well. There is an adapter bracket available for $30 that allows the H1 mini-bixenon projector to bolt right into B5 facelift housings (seeing that you have a 2001, they will work fine). The ebay projectors are a great budget option, and there is a guy on the forums that will tune them to spec and include a bracket for $30, plus the projectors. While they have very nice output, if you have the money, I highly recommend the Morimoto H1 Projectors from The Retrofit Source. Physically, they are the same projectors, but with a different cutoff shield and calibration, the output is amazing. This is the route I went and I have no regrets. The light output is better than any new car I've driven, and since they are aimed properly, they do not blind others. E-code projectors aren't even a fair comparison.

If you would like to retain the stock projectors, a clear lens is a nice option as well. Replaces the stock fresnel lens, which distorts the light and reduces output. Clear lenses will help sharpen the cutoff. They are $50, although I have a set of B5 A4 projectors with clear lenses on them if you are interested. These will bolt right into your housings, since they are the exact same part, minus the lenses.

Usually installing Xenon HID bulbs in a Halogen housing is a big no-no, but because the facelift halogen headlights actually came with a project (minus HID bulbs and ballast), it is okay to do so. Just make sure they are aimed properly. It will give you better output and prevent you from blinding oncoming traffic.

Here are some resources regarding lighting and the B5 chassis.

The holy bible regarding B5 headlights
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...and-HID-Thread

A DIY I wrote, on how to retrofit your headlights withe H1 bi-xenon projectors
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ur-Headlights!

Well, this post ended up being A LOT longer than I intended it to be. If you have any questions regarding the headlights, please don't hesitate to ask or PM me

[Nollywood]

That's great news, thanks. I'm wondering where the ballasts get installed etc on our cars.

OEM or similar slimline ballasts are housed in a recess under the headlamps.

[nynoah]

Your headlights are serious business. Better light saves lives. I and MANY other people on Audizine recommend Morimoto Mini headlight for the A4/S4. There is NO BETTER option out there. If there is let me see it.

Buy this
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...l#.Vmt8FEorLDc

And get this from another audizine member.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...leo-headlights

To recap

[nemick]

If you remove the headlights housings, you will see that there is a cutout for the factory OEM ballast. The Xenon (standard on us-spec B5 S4) headlights have a factory ballast that perfectly bolts in right over there. You can choose to mount them there, but you would then have to determine how to seal up the area from the elements. Another option would be to mount the ballasts behind the housing somewhere in the engine bay.

What type of bulb are you considering going with? I recommend only 4300K or 5000K bulbs for headlights, since they provide the most natural white light (4300K is stock on most cars with factory Xenon, including B5 S4). Anything higher, and it become too blue, and actually REDUCES light output and strains the eyes (ask me how I know). On the other hand, 3000K bulbs are very yellow and are ideal for cutting through inclement weather (i.e. fog lights, rain), but are not good for normal driving.

If you are willing to, I recommend a retrofit as well. There is an adapter bracket available for $30 that allows the H1 mini-bixenon projector to bolt right into B5 facelift housings (seeing that you have a 2001, they will work fine). The ebay projectors are a great budget option, and there is a guy on the forums that will tune them to spec and include a bracket for $30, plus the projectors. While they have very nice output, if you have the money, I highly recommend the Morimoto H1 Projectors from The Retrofit Source. Physically, they are the same projectors, but with a different cutoff shield and calibration, the output is amazing. This is the route I went and I have no regrets. The light output is better than any new car I've driven, and since they are aimed properly, they do not blind others. E-code projectors aren't even a fair comparison.

If you would like to retain the stock projectors, a clear lens is a nice option as well. Replaces the stock fresnel lens, which distorts the light and reduces output. Clear lenses will help sharpen the cutoff. They are $50, although I have a set of B5 A4 projectors with clear lenses on them if you are interested. These will bolt right into your housings, since they are the exact same part, minus the lenses.

Usually installing Xenon HID bulbs in a Halogen housing is a big no-no, but because the facelift halogen headlights actually came with a project (minus HID bulbs and ballast), it is okay to do so. Just make sure they are aimed properly. It will give you better output and prevent you from blinding oncoming traffic.

Here are some resources regarding lighting and the B5 chassis.

The holy bible regarding B5 headlights
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...and-HID-Thread

A DIY I wrote, on how to retrofit your headlights withe H1 bi-xenon projectors
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ur-Headlights!

Well, this post ended up being A LOT longer than I intended it to be. If you have any questions regarding the headlights, please don't hesitate to ask or PM me

Wow, fantastic information and very valuable. I have read through the links you provided and I'm currently letting it all sink in. It seems like the H1 Morimoto set up would be the way to go as I'm planning on keeping the car for the long haul . I've had it since 2004 and she's been a great ride.

[nemick]

Your headlights are serious business. Better light saves lives. I and MANY other people on Audizine recommend Morimoto Mini headlight for the A4/S4. There is NO BETTER option out there. If there is let me see it.

Buy this
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...l#.Vmt8FEorLDc

And get this from another audizine member.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...leo-headlights

To recap

I don't mean to sound stupid, but can you confirm that the Morimoto link you posted already has all the right options selected? If so, I will go ahead and order. If not, please help me select the correct options because I don't know what I'm doing, lol.

Thanks

[SS1LE02]

I bought a set of $35 eBay 6000K 35W slim ballasts HID lights and they work fine. Attach the ballasts in the recessed box under the headlamp with two sided tape and a couple of screws. Drill a hole, then square it up with a box cutter or file under the projector to run the wires through. You can then seal that up with some silicone. I ordered my HIDs in the stock size bulb. The difference is amazing.

You also might want to clean your lenses. Pull them out and wet sand the lenses with 600, then 1000, then 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Next get or borrow an orbital buffer. Use a two step buffing process. First a coarser rubbing compound, followed by polishing compound. Lastly get some rattle can clear coat and give them a couple of coats so the yellow doesn't come back in a few months.

[nynoah]

I personally use the stock Audi A4/S4 HID ballasts. You might be able to get a set of those on Audizine used. I run those with the morimoto Mini projectors with the 4500K bulbs.
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...l#.VmulCUorLDc

You will need this adapter to use the stock audi ballasts with the H1 Bulbs.
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/ac...l#.VmumnUorLDc

And get this from another audizine member.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...leo-headlights


You can chose the link with the morimoto ballasts or source the stock ones.

[Wagonholic]

Wow, fantastic information and very valuable. I have read through the links you provided and I'm currently letting it all sink in. It seems like the H1 Morimoto set up would be the way to go as I'm planning on keeping the car for the long haul . I've had it since 2004 and she's been a great ride.

Yep, the Morimoto H1 Kit is definitely worth it. I can't even outdrive them at night, on the low beams, doing 150+ in...uhhh...Mexico. High beams, it's basically daytime.
My setup is:

• Stock US-spec Valeo Housings
• Morimoto Mini H1 Bi-xenon projectors version 6.0
• Adapter bracket
• 4300K XB35 H1 bulbs
• OEM Valeo B5 A4/S4 Headlight Ballasts
• D2S to AMP adapters in order to use stock ballasts

[adam044]

HIDs are awesome, you'll never go back to regular lights once you use them.

You've already got some great advice so I won't bother to repeat what everyone else has already said. I run a KR Auto kit.

[Sly88]

Do you have to take the headlights apart by baking them or do the projectors just unbolt and then bolt the mini h1's in?

[Wrath And Tears]

There's some guides out there about doing the mini h1 swap, and I can't remember all the details.

You unbolt the stock projectors (after first removing the bulb holder) from the headlight housing and then remove them by tilting the bottom part towards you and removing it from the housing. It likes to get stuck on a small lip on the housing and slight bending, like very slight, is needed to remove it fully.

Then after you fabricate the adapter brackets for the projectors you install the mini projectors and screw the bracket to it, then the bulb holder to the bracket. After that its all plug and play.

[adam044]

Why change to mini H1's? The HIDs in the stock housing are amazing.

[nynoah]

Why change to mini H1's? The HIDs in the stock housing are amazing.

No not really. Esp after a few years of use. They scorch inside and their light output diminishes. Honestly all the S4 guys who have the stock xenons are upgrading to Morimoto for a reason. Plus the stock ones do not have xenon hi beams where as Morimoto do.

[adam044]

No not really. Esp after a few years of use. They scorch inside and their light output diminishes. Honestly all the S4 guys who have the stock xenons are upgrading to Morimoto for a reason. Plus the stock ones do not have xenon hi beams where as Morimoto do.

Few years? Damn I don't even know what I'm doing tomorrow nevermind a few years. If they get dim in a few years I'll buy another set for $50. I'm running them in Depos right now.

Could care less about high beams, no use for them.

How much are H1's and are they just plug and play? I've done no reading on H1's.

[nynoah]

Few years? Damn I don't even know what I'm doing tomorrow nevermind a few years. If they get dim in a few years I'll buy another set for $50. I'm running them in Depos right now.

Could care less about high beams, no use for them.

How much are H1's and are they just plug and play? I've done no reading on H1's.

The standard Depo speroids and bowls are terrible. I was talking about the stock Valeos.