Headlight Issue - Basic Issue (I assume), but Need Help!!

[craigr812]

A couple of days ago, I received the warning "right headlight dipped/right beam headlight" or something like that. Since then, I have driven in the morning before the sun is fully up and both headlights will come in before the right one burns out again after 1-2 minutes. I have had my car for 9+ years and do not recall ever having to change a headlight after 140k miles, so I am assuming it it just time for a new bulb. If I am wrong, let me know.

I have a 2009 A4 Premium Plus with 2.OT and M/T. Assuming I need a new bulb, I have been doing research via Autozone/Sylvania bulb guide as well as on Audi's official parts website (parts.audiusa.com). For the official Audi site, I am being told I need part # N10721805 (https://parts.audiusa.com/p/Audi_200...N10721805.html) for $178 a piece. For Autozone, I am being told the Sylvania Silverstar zXe D3S headlight (https://www.autozone.com/parts/elect...311_18273_8548) is a good choice for $180 a pop. Having never had HID headlights before, are these prices accurate? What other bulbs should I consider?

Thanks for any help that can be provided!!!

[lowestA4]

Common issue and simple wear out.

You can buy any D3S type of bulb but most likely the ballast will fail too shortly especially on a new bulb. Do yourself a favour and buy ORSAM or Philips bulbs.

[got_boost]

Also if you weren't aware, don't touch the glass of the bulb. The oils on our skin will cause the bulbs to burn our quicker than normal.

[craigr812]

Also if you weren't aware, don't touch the glass of the bulb. The oils on our skin will cause the bulbs to burn our quicker than normal.

Thanks for the reminder. I watched a "How To" video on carcarekiosk.com and they warned of the same.

lowestA4 - thanks for the tip. Are ORSAM and/or Philips bulbs about the same price? Never having bought a new set of HID bulbs, ~$360 for the two caught me off guard, but they certainly do last.

[Smac770]

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-osram-sy...n10721801~osr/
Not sure what the difference is between the 801 and 805 part numbers, 801 was original but seems Audi only has 805 now.
These are what I put in my car recently and they are working fine.

[Novarider]

Get your bulbs here. Get a 2 pack and replace both. Keep the one that's not burnt yet as an emergency backup.

https://www.hidconcept.com/collections/types?q=D3S

[craigr812]

Get your bulbs here. Get a 2 pack and replace both. Keep the one that's not burnt yet as an emergency backup.

https://www.hidconcept.com/collections/types?q=D3S

Thanks for the link (and to Smac770 as well!). From the hidconcept.com page, there are various OSRAM and Phillips options with different outputs. Which ones are best?

[SDF1]

Common issue and simple wear out.

You can buy any D3S type of bulb but most likely the ballast will fail too shortly especially on a new bulb. Do yourself a favour and buy ORSAM or Philips bulbs.

Why do you say that?? "likely the ballast will fail too"

[jfo]

It's likely the bulb, but you may want to swap them side to side to confirm. The issue will move with the bulb unless it's another problem. See the post from hid concept for the DS3....

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...50-D1S-D2S-D3S

[YotoWerks]

A little late to the party but let me see if I can offer my story.

Our 2013 was hit while parked on the road. Took it to a body shop they repaired the car and about a week later the same thing happened to mine, Driver side would power on, warm up and in about 1min it would shut off and give a warning.

It kept doing that and I found an old D3S I had laying around and threw it in the housing to see if things got better and sure enough it was the Bulb itself.

Ordered a new set and swapped them out. The passenger side is more difficult as you have to remove the airbox to get to the bulb but, I swapped both out in about 10min with a few simple tools.

I think its time you get both swapped out. There is a sale on Phillips XV2C1 right now in one of the other posts.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...50-D1S-D2S-D3S

I bought a new set for my XC90, otherwise I got the other set off Amazon.

[craigr812]

A little late to the party but let me see if I can offer my story.

Our 2013 was hit while parked on the road. Took it to a body shop they repaired the car and about a week later the same thing happened to mine, Driver side would power on, warm up and in about 1min it would shut off and give a warning.

It kept doing that and I found an old D3S I had laying around and threw it in the housing to see if things got better and sure enough it was the Bulb itself.

Ordered a new set and swapped them out. The passenger side is more difficult as you have to remove the airbox to get to the bulb but, I swapped both out in about 10min with a few simple tools.

I think its time you get both swapped out. There is a sale on Phillips XV2C1 right now in one of the other posts.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...50-D1S-D2S-D3S

I bought a new set for my XC90, otherwise I got the other set off Amazon.

I'm glad to hear the fix was as simple as replacing the bulb. I've been contemplating the issue could be ballast related based on what I have been reading on the interwebs and because I didn't understand why the bulb would work and then turn off, but considering the amount of hours on the bulbs the most likely cause is the one is burned out.

[Smac770]

I'd replace both. I replaced both of mine (172k miles on them, and I prefer my trip driving at night) since I didn't want any imbalance left/right regarding color or brightness.

[craigr812]

I'd replace both. I replaced both of mine (172k miles on them, and I prefer my trip driving at night) since I didn't want any imbalance left/right regarding color or brightness.

I do plan to replace both for consistency and because I'm sure the other one isn't too far behind; I already have to replace the one that is harder to get to due to the air box (passenger's side), so the driver's side should be a cakewalk in comparison anyways.

Some questions remain:

1) Given the situation described in my initial post, how likely is it that this is NOT a ballast issue? (I plan to swap bulbs to confirm, but just curious)
2) Follow up to the above question: why would the HID bulb still turn on for about a minute (which it did again this morning) before shutting off? Is that indicative of something beyond the bulb or is that a common thing with HID bulbs where they will "burn out" but still temporarily work?
3) If I buy a bulb (Philips or OSRAM) that are not technically OEM but at DS3, do I need to get a new ballast to match?

Thanks for the continued assistance!

[SDF1]

I do plan to replace both for consistency and because I'm sure the other one isn't too far behind; I already have to replace the one that is harder to get to due to the air box (passenger's side), so the driver's side should be a cakewalk in comparison anyways.

Some questions remain:

1) Given the situation described in my initial post, how likely is it that this is NOT a ballast issue? (I plan to swap bulbs to confirm, but just curious)
2) Follow up to the above question: why would the HID bulb still turn on for about a minute (which it did again this morning) before shutting off? Is that indicative of something beyond the bulb or is that a common thing with HID bulbs where they will "burn out" but still temporarily work?
3) If I buy a bulb (Philips or OSRAM) that are not technically OEM but at DS3, do I need to get a new ballast to match?

Thanks for the continued assistance!

1) Try the bulb swap first

2) I have no clue. Swap the bulbs first and see if it does the same thing. If it does then it might be the ballast.

3) Any D3S bulbs will work. I'd recommend sticking with Philips or OSRAM but there are many other great brands.

[Smac770]

Swap the bulbs currently in your car left/right. If the issue moves to the left, it's likely the bulb. If the issue stays to the right, it's maybe the ballast. It might also be a connectivity issue and just reseating the bulbs might clean it up.
My right bulb went out while driving one night, got the dipped message, etc. Got home, ordered the replacement bulbs, but the issue never occurred again. I ended up putting in the new bulbs a few weeks later anyway when I had the bumper apart.