Convert D3S to D2S?

[jschrauwen]

I have a set of euro (Ecode) D3S, Bixenon, AFS, headlights coming for my B8 A5.
Before I install them, I'd like to try a conversion to D2S.
Aside from a slight modification (notching) of the D2S bulb base, can I assume it will fit into the existing D3S igniter?
If so, can I also use an after market 50/55W ballast with that igniter? Or would I need to replace the igniter to a D2S one?
If it's a case of replacing all 3 - D2S bulb, D2S igniter and D2S (55W) ballast, will that ballast still plug into my existing headlight harness?
My bottom line is I like achieve greater lumen output through the use of a higher wattage ballast but I'm not 100% sure of the inter - connectivity between the requisite components and existing headlight harness.

[afstud]

Theres tons more info on this at HIDplanet.com but you will have to get different adapters for the bulbs and a way to have them hold the bulb in.

[jschrauwen]

Theres tons more info on this at HIDplanet.com but you will have to get different adapters for the bulbs and a way to have them hold the bulb in.

I spent over 2 hours on HIDPlanet and there were only 2 threads on D3S to D2S - (on an Escalade and Ford F150). Neither had complete info to the process and one was a bit of a flop).

I'm not sure what you mean by different adaptors for the bulbs. From my research, a D2S bulb is supposed to fit into a D3S projector socket as long as you notch part of it's mounting base. Is this not correct?

[GilliamOS]

The only difference between D2 and D3/4S is they make D3/4S without mercury, and they startup faster. Everything else technically is the same. Just need to modify the notch and find a way to secure the bulb.

[bluetori]

This would be nice since you can get d2s in 3000k. Keep posted

[afstud]

the D3S has its own base built into the bulb, you cant take the d3S bulb out of the base and use it for a d2s i remember that for sure, so there is your problem, you have to get a D2S to d3s adapters which you can source i believe from TheRetrofitSource.com if they dont have it on there website, call or email them, they can usually get anything.

[jschrauwen]

the D3S has its own base built into the bulb, you cant take the d3S bulb out of the base and use it for a d2s i remember that for sure, so there is your problem, you have to get a D2S to d3s adapters which you can source i believe from TheRetrofitSource.com if they dont have it on there website, call or email them, they can usually get anything.

I think I'm catching the drift here. It's probably perhaps my lack of using the correct terms or names of things.
Please bear with me on this.
Just so we're on the same page, the oem D3S bulb has it's own base. That base is that metal rectangular box it's mounted to - correct?
If so, isn't that base called the igniter? If I'm on track, then a D2S bulb will not fit into a D3S igniter which would make sense.
This would lead to the possible integration of using a D2S bulb with it's own mounting (D2S) base. But to integrate a D2S bulb into a D3S xenon projector, one has to notch the base of that D2S bulb? Am I on tack so far?
A D3S bulb cannot be separated from it's base/igniter (just like the D1S) correct?
But a D2S can be separated from it's base/igniter, correct?
If I'm on track, that would mean I would also need to have a compatible D2S ballast to connect to that D2S bulb/igniter, correct?
If still on track, I'd have to find/use a D2S ballast that is compatible with the oem wiring/loom, correct?

[jschrauwen]

the D3S has its own base built into the bulb, you cant take the d3S bulb out of the base and use it for a d2s i remember that for sure, so there is your problem, you have to get a D2S to d3s adapters which you can source i believe from TheRetrofitSource.com if they dont have it on there website, call or email them, they can usually get anything.

I did chat with someone at TRS online and I don't believe there's D2S to D3S adaptors.

It seems to me, I would have to completely switch to a D2S bulb, D2S igniter, and D2S ballast.
I'd have to notch that D2S bulb in order for it to fit into the D3S Xenon projector base - I understand that part too.
But because the D3S bulb/igniter is a one piece unit, does that mean that when it's secured to the D3S projector, it's not secured through clips present for the bulb? Or is the whole D3S bulb/igniter unit secured by securing the igniter itself?

[jschrauwen]

I just found another link that has some encouraging info but sadly, it hasn't really been followed though completely. Based on the age of this link, can I assume that changes, improvements and new products have made this sort of cross-retrofitting move forward?
I also see mentioning of an adapter to fit a D2S bulb into a D1S igniter? How is this possible? I thought the D1S bulb/igniter could not be separated like the D3S?

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-the-right-way

[Lambda13]

I'm just wondering why you would want to go through all that?

Anyhow, with that being said TRS sent me a D2S replacement bulb by accident. So I have a D2S and a D3S sitting at home right now. The D2S is just a bulb, no base, no igniter/ballast/wizardry that makes it work in the base. The D3S clips into place using the base on our D3S projector housing. The D2S looks like it would have to be clipped in place separately.

[JeriQo]

I have a set of euro (Ecode) D3S, Bixenon, AFS, headlights coming for my B8 A5.
Before I install them, I'd like to try a conversion to D2S.
Aside from a slight modification (notching) of the D2S bulb base, can I assume it will fit into the existing D3S igniter?
If so, can I also use an after market 50/55W ballast with that igniter? Or would I need to replace the igniter to a D2S one?
If it's a case of replacing all 3 - D2S bulb, D2S igniter and D2S (55W) ballast, will that ballast still plug into my existing headlight harness?
My bottom line is I like achieve greater lumen output through the use of a higher wattage ballast but I'm not 100% sure of the inter - connectivity between the requisite components and existing headlight harness.

just get a replacement d3s dude.. why all the hassle? thats like you wanting to spend money making a 9005 to h7 conversion.

[bluetori]

No they don't offer everything in the d3s output.

[afstud]

you are correct on all of that but its more a pain than its worth... the d3s is held in place by the base of the bulb which is the silver box / igniter piece why do you want to go through all of the trouble anyways?

[jschrauwen]

you are correct on all of that but its more a pain than its worth... the d3s is held in place by the base of the bulb which is the silver box / igniter piece why do you want to go through all of the trouble anyways?

I live well into the countryside. Less then 10% of my driving is within any illuminated city or town at night. So, predominantly, 90% of my night time driving is in the country or on an un-illuminated highway. I prefer to have as best possible lighting from whatever car I own. To those ends, I looked to the options available for my Audi's bixenon D3S AFS headlights. The only viable option initially was to use either one of the higher end Philips or Osram D3S bulbs. However, it seems that those that have made those changes to those bulbs saw little to no appreciable improvement in lumen output. It seemed that most were actually interested in the esthetics value those bulbs provided. At just under $200 for a set of those designer bulbs, I thought I'd look to other options. And I found some.
The D3S and D1S are actually the same type of bulb set-up with the exception that the D3S uses a more environmentally friendly gas then the D1S. And that the D1S uses 85V whereas the D3S uses 43Vfrom their respective ballasts. What they also have in common is that their bulb/igniter is a one piece unit and cannot be separated. And their square bases both use the same 4 pin MQS connector from the ballast. The D2S bulb does come separately from it's iginiter and they are easier and cheaper to find/buy.

There's now an adapter available that's the same shape/size of the D1S/D3S igniter. It's designed to take a D2S bulb. This adapter lends itself to being powered by a higher wattage D2S ballast. There's a 50W D2S ballast available that delivers a true 50W at 85V. There's also a true 50W D2S 4200k bulb available that will produce 5300 lumens as opposed to the oem 35W 4200k with 2800-3200 lumen. Now that's what I call performance in usable lighting output and something I've been looking for.

[bluetori]

Do you have link for these parts?

[jschrauwen]

I believe that that D2S bulb adapter performs the same function as an igniter and is the same size/shape of the D1S/D3S igniter. This means it can be held in place by the same bulb/igniter wire clip that would hold the D3S bulb/igniter in place to the D3S bixenon projector. The only catalyst to this is that for the D2S bulb to sit flush into the projector base, it has to have an extra tiny notch made to the outside of the plastic round base. It's a less then 5 minutes with a dremel and you just use your old D3S bulb base as your guide/template. Other then that, the D2S bulb will sit tight and flush into the projector.
bluetori - look to XeVision for some of this stuff. It's for aircraft/aerospace uses and certain provisions have to be observed. Things like having to provide a signed and notorized waiver for certain products.

[cfdp]

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/mo...onversion.html

[adamazing]

I understand the driving factor behind the project, but I would still try out a set of top end Philips bulbs before hacking up my OEM assembly for something not necessarily guaranteed to be any better.

[jschrauwen]

I understand the driving factor behind the project, but I would still try out a set of top end Philips bulbs before hacking up my OEM assembly for something not necessarily guaranteed to be any better.

Agreed. A set of Philips Fatboys (DL-50?) coupled with XEvision 50W or 70W ballasts would decimate any of those retrofit attempts.

[SDF1]

Did you get it working?

[mike@hidconcept]

Not possible to use D2S bulbs with D3 ballasts. Unless you swap out ballasts to use D1/D2 type, you need D4S bulbs w/igniters to light up by using D3 OE ballasts.

[jschrauwen]

Not possible to use D2S bulbs with D3 ballasts. Unless you swap out ballasts to use D1/D2 type, you need D4S bulbs w/igniters to light up by using D3 OE ballasts.

I addressed that by saying to use the xevision 50W or 70W D2S ballasts.