Sick Audi S4 B7 Adaptive Headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10
From: WI
This looks great! I was consdering buying a replacement headlamp housing kit from Topgear AutoSport but it's a little pricey. Now I am tempted to try it myself thanks to you ;]
You mentioned there being a big difference in brighness between your first and second attempt. What did you do differently? Increased voltage? Different LED strips?
Also, how do you have them wired up? Did you just connect them to existing wiring someplace?
You mentioned there being a big difference in brighness between your first and second attempt. What did you do differently? Increased voltage? Different LED strips?
Also, how do you have them wired up? Did you just connect them to existing wiring someplace?
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 89
From: Omaha NE
Thanks MrShannon!
If you are going to spend that much on aftermarket I'd go with these:
http://www.cargym.com/audi-0508-a4-b...ht-p-1865.html
The style of the headlights you are showing are actually A5 style lights... where the link I just gave you is for actual A4 style LEDs. Also ... the A5 style you originally referred to ... they can be bought usually around $250-300 off eBay since the newer ones came out (the link I just gave you). Personally I don't think the A5 style leds flow with the body lines right which is why I didn't get a set, but that's just my opinion. The new B8 A4 style headlights in the link I gave you actually look KICK *** on a B7. I was really close to going that route actually I love em.
My first attempt was before I built the mounting rails. No change in LEDs or voltage it was just how they were mounted. Originally I had them pointing down and forward a little bouncing the light off of some reflective tape. Not very bright at all. Light from LEDs is very directional, so after I built the rails the leds were all pointing forward and much much brighter. Hope that clears it up?
The mods I did on my stock headlights weren't hard just a little time consuming. The leds that are in my headlights now are pretty bright but I'm going after super-bright with 1/2 the number of leds (12 per headlight vs. the 24 I have now) ... they look to much like jewelry to me - call me overly fussy. Really going with the strips like I did in the first place is quite slick and looks great...I just want a little more intensity out of them so I ordered some "4 chip" leds from http://www.oznium.com.
Here are the Alpena LEDs I used for V#1 & 2 (total 2 sets): http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/1/1...art-77423.html
Here are the bulbs I just got for V#3 (12 each side): http://www.oznium.com/prewired-superflux
When I suggested to a couple of my local friends that I was going to change my current led strips to 1/2 as many bulbs the reaction was very NEGATIVE. Everyone actually loves the way it looks now. It does turn a lot of heads and I get tons of compliments on them as they are. After showing one of my buddies the new bulbs however, and after showing him one of the new leds lit up with a side by side comparison, the reaction was much more optimistic. The original Alpena strips were VERY EASY to install on the hand made rails, but mounting these bulbs one by one is really going to be a BITCH I just know it. This will actually be attempt 3. Nothing really wrong with attempt #2. If you are more of a novice modder I'd stick with the Alpena strips (2nd version which is what all the pics show). It would be much much easier.
The wiring was extremely easy because I have both a citylight and a drl bulb in my S4's headlights (not sure what you have). Here is what I did:
Step 1 connect the positive strips to a positive lead for the stock drl bulb
Step 2 jump both citylight and drl bulb positive wires together with a solderless clamp connector (blue and yellow pretty sure)
Step 3 the LED ground wires to the brown wire of the stock drl bulb
Step 4 replace the standard citylight with an led citylight (or just remove)
Step 5 put a small piece of electrical tape on the positive terminal of the original daytime bulb to stop it's connection.
The LEDs actually work with the stock drl switch on my dash which is why I wired them that way. It all looks and acts OEM. Some cars have the switch some don't, and some A4 headlights are not bi-xenon so they might need to be wired a little differently.
I will be adding more to the DIY when I get time, and I'll take more detail pics as well when I crack them open before I change the LEDs.
Like I said nothing really wrong with attempt #2 as shown. I just want fewer LEDs and more intensity so attempt #3 is inevitable.
If you are going to spend that much on aftermarket I'd go with these:
http://www.cargym.com/audi-0508-a4-b...ht-p-1865.html
The style of the headlights you are showing are actually A5 style lights... where the link I just gave you is for actual A4 style LEDs. Also ... the A5 style you originally referred to ... they can be bought usually around $250-300 off eBay since the newer ones came out (the link I just gave you). Personally I don't think the A5 style leds flow with the body lines right which is why I didn't get a set, but that's just my opinion. The new B8 A4 style headlights in the link I gave you actually look KICK *** on a B7. I was really close to going that route actually I love em.
The mods I did on my stock headlights weren't hard just a little time consuming. The leds that are in my headlights now are pretty bright but I'm going after super-bright with 1/2 the number of leds (12 per headlight vs. the 24 I have now) ... they look to much like jewelry to me - call me overly fussy. Really going with the strips like I did in the first place is quite slick and looks great...I just want a little more intensity out of them so I ordered some "4 chip" leds from http://www.oznium.com.
Here are the Alpena LEDs I used for V#1 & 2 (total 2 sets): http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/1/1...art-77423.html
Here are the bulbs I just got for V#3 (12 each side): http://www.oznium.com/prewired-superflux
When I suggested to a couple of my local friends that I was going to change my current led strips to 1/2 as many bulbs the reaction was very NEGATIVE. Everyone actually loves the way it looks now. It does turn a lot of heads and I get tons of compliments on them as they are. After showing one of my buddies the new bulbs however, and after showing him one of the new leds lit up with a side by side comparison, the reaction was much more optimistic. The original Alpena strips were VERY EASY to install on the hand made rails, but mounting these bulbs one by one is really going to be a BITCH I just know it. This will actually be attempt 3. Nothing really wrong with attempt #2. If you are more of a novice modder I'd stick with the Alpena strips (2nd version which is what all the pics show). It would be much much easier.
Step 1 connect the positive strips to a positive lead for the stock drl bulb
Step 2 jump both citylight and drl bulb positive wires together with a solderless clamp connector (blue and yellow pretty sure)
Step 3 the LED ground wires to the brown wire of the stock drl bulb
Step 4 replace the standard citylight with an led citylight (or just remove)
Step 5 put a small piece of electrical tape on the positive terminal of the original daytime bulb to stop it's connection.
The LEDs actually work with the stock drl switch on my dash which is why I wired them that way. It all looks and acts OEM. Some cars have the switch some don't, and some A4 headlights are not bi-xenon so they might need to be wired a little differently.
I will be adding more to the DIY when I get time, and I'll take more detail pics as well when I crack them open before I change the LEDs.
Like I said nothing really wrong with attempt #2 as shown. I just want fewer LEDs and more intensity so attempt #3 is inevitable.
Last edited by TrickS4; Sep 19, 2010 at 04:28 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10
From: WI
Thanks for the tips on how to wire them up. I am considering putting a strip or two along the very bottom on the front bumper where there are some small vent holes. I imagine it would look slick with the LEDs in the headlamps too. Getting the color to match sounds like the real trick.
This is the front of my car, you can see the space in the middle below the grill that I am talking about.
You're right, that "devil eye" kit does look better than the one I found earlier. I found a retailer on eBay called Racer Innovation that seems to stock the B8 style housing for under $300 shipped, so I will likely give that a try.
What I am confused on is the requirements for the headlights themselves. They talk about a HID kit which I am fairly certain I would need. When I looked at their selection, apparently I can select a color. I just want it to match the LEDs, so I hope/assume they will be the 6000K white variety. But they talk about the 6000K being for "low beam" so, do I need a second kit for high beam?
Also, it looks like you lose the orange turn signal on the outside of the headlamp. I kind of wonder if the LED blinks or how it actually operates.
Something else that bothers me right now is my Audi does not have automatic DRL. When I turn the car on I have to turn a **** on the dash and that turns on the four turn signals. I was expecting my headlights to be on automatically like my '95 VW Golf did. Is that a setting on the computer that I have to enable in order for the LED's to come on automatically or do you just turn them on manually all the time?
This is the front of my car, you can see the space in the middle below the grill that I am talking about.
You're right, that "devil eye" kit does look better than the one I found earlier. I found a retailer on eBay called Racer Innovation that seems to stock the B8 style housing for under $300 shipped, so I will likely give that a try.
What I am confused on is the requirements for the headlights themselves. They talk about a HID kit which I am fairly certain I would need. When I looked at their selection, apparently I can select a color. I just want it to match the LEDs, so I hope/assume they will be the 6000K white variety. But they talk about the 6000K being for "low beam" so, do I need a second kit for high beam?
Also, it looks like you lose the orange turn signal on the outside of the headlamp. I kind of wonder if the LED blinks or how it actually operates.
Something else that bothers me right now is my Audi does not have automatic DRL. When I turn the car on I have to turn a **** on the dash and that turns on the four turn signals. I was expecting my headlights to be on automatically like my '95 VW Golf did. Is that a setting on the computer that I have to enable in order for the LED's to come on automatically or do you just turn them on manually all the time?
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 89
From: Omaha NE
A Vag-com cable may allow you to set country settings to Canada which would give you basically park lights on all the time (I could do that on my B6). There is a better way though.
If needed you can check the headlight wiring harness for a "key on" 12v power source and make that feed the leds. That's how I had hooked up my lower running lights but maybe your wiring is different don't know. And yes the turn signals are actually moved to the inside part of the headlight like the B8 has them but I have no idea what the leds do when a blinker is on. Check YouTube maybe?
As far as the lower LEDs I don't know. I disabled mine because I felt it was just way to much. I'll probably just go HID in my fogs. I still haven't removed my lower LEDs but definitely plan on it. Mounting them in those lower vents might be cool.
Yes you'll need the HID kit because stock HID bulbs won't fit. There was talk of adapters that would make OEMs work, but no one seems to know where to buy them.
If needed you can check the headlight wiring harness for a "key on" 12v power source and make that feed the leds. That's how I had hooked up my lower running lights but maybe your wiring is different don't know. And yes the turn signals are actually moved to the inside part of the headlight like the B8 has them but I have no idea what the leds do when a blinker is on. Check YouTube maybe?
As far as the lower LEDs I don't know. I disabled mine because I felt it was just way to much. I'll probably just go HID in my fogs. I still haven't removed my lower LEDs but definitely plan on it. Mounting them in those lower vents might be cool.
Yes you'll need the HID kit because stock HID bulbs won't fit. There was talk of adapters that would make OEMs work, but no one seems to know where to buy them.
Last edited by TrickS4; Sep 22, 2010 at 10:25 AM.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 89
From: Omaha NE
Thanks landon4216! Just wait until I install the NEW LEDS!!! I may start this weekend. Going to 12 4-chip superbrights per headlight should be wicked.
MrShannon: in regards to your drls in the lower center vents, this eBay seller "Get-Store"
http://stores.ebay.com/get-store offers this replacement grill with drls already in it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...item20b1c3ba49
at $150 the price isn't bad and it would save you a ton of work!
MrShannon: in regards to your drls in the lower center vents, this eBay seller "Get-Store"
http://stores.ebay.com/get-store offers this replacement grill with drls already in it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...item20b1c3ba49
at $150 the price isn't bad and it would save you a ton of work!
Last edited by TrickS4; Sep 24, 2010 at 02:32 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10
From: WI
Ooh, nice find! With the blacked out trim it would match my Titanium package too. I wonder if I would need to pull the chrome Audio ring logo off my existing grill to snap it into the replacement one. I was thinking it would be cool to put a layer of plexiglass behind the logo and light it up with some LED's so a nice subtle halo effect. If i got the replacement grill I could mess with that without needing to disassemble my car at all...tempting...
I got a reply from Racer Innovation that said I did not _need_ an HID kit for their Devil Eye headlamp kit as I could install the stock lamps. I think I want the HIDs tho. The problem for me is understanding what to get. Maybe I should just order the Devil Eyes and see what's in there.
I got a reply from Racer Innovation that said I did not _need_ an HID kit for their Devil Eye headlamp kit as I could install the stock lamps. I think I want the HIDs tho. The problem for me is understanding what to get. Maybe I should just order the Devil Eyes and see what's in there.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 89
From: Omaha NE
I got a reply from Racer Innovation that said I did not _need_ an HID kit for their Devil Eye headlamp kit as I could install the stock lamps. I think I want the HIDs tho. The problem for me is understanding what to get. Maybe I should just order the Devil Eyes and see what's in there.
Last edited by TrickS4; Sep 26, 2010 at 12:37 AM.
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10
From: WI
The seller of the grill says it won't fit my car, so that's out, at least for now, and that's ok. I think you're right that the extra led rings could be a little ricey. I'm happy with the grill as-is, and I think the DRL LED's will be plenty. Also, the blacked out devil eyes will add to the blacked out titanium package.
Speaking of blacked out light housings, I found some smoked LED tail lights from another ebay seller. Ever seen them before? I don't see them anyplace else so it's hard to guess quality. The look good in their pic.
The HIDs sound cool. I found a lamp replacement guide from Sylvania that is supposed to help pick the right size, but it mentions a low and high beam. The replacement kit is supposed to be a "dual beam" lamp that uses reflectors or something to make the high beam. I don't understand how/if that works. The replacement kit also appears to be a different size from the stock non-hid lamp size so I am trying to get a better understanding before spending the money. The truth is that I plan on ordering them tomorrow anyway. Even if I have to get the HIDs later, at least then I will know what I am working with.
I did order some rubber floor mats today, including a trunk liner, so the spending has begun.
Speaking of blacked out light housings, I found some smoked LED tail lights from another ebay seller. Ever seen them before? I don't see them anyplace else so it's hard to guess quality. The look good in their pic.
The HIDs sound cool. I found a lamp replacement guide from Sylvania that is supposed to help pick the right size, but it mentions a low and high beam. The replacement kit is supposed to be a "dual beam" lamp that uses reflectors or something to make the high beam. I don't understand how/if that works. The replacement kit also appears to be a different size from the stock non-hid lamp size so I am trying to get a better understanding before spending the money. The truth is that I plan on ordering them tomorrow anyway. Even if I have to get the HIDs later, at least then I will know what I am working with.
I did order some rubber floor mats today, including a trunk liner, so the spending has begun.