[s-cars] HEADLIGHT UPGRADE

[Fred Munro]

The xenon thing is somewhat overdone, Russ. It's hard to get a lot more
something for nothing - 55 watts is 55 watts whether the light is blue-white
or yellow-white. The ads always state "50% more light on the road" and that
is probably true based on the photocell they use to measure it. Can your
eyes use the light to see better at night? Maybe, maybe not, depends on the
spectrum. The human eye is not very sensitive to the blue end of the
spectrum. IME most of these bulbs are not appreciably better than standard
halogen bulbs. Sure, the light looks whiter, but it doesn't seem to help the
night vision. BTDT with Hella HIP bulbs. A higher wattage definitely does,
though.

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: Russ Panneton [mailto:russ at s-cars.org]
Sent: February 15, 2003 4:38 PM
To: Fred Munro
Cc: Dan Slagle; s-car-list e-mail
Subject: Re: [s-cars] HEADLIGHT UPGRADE


On Sat, 15 Feb 2003 12:48:55 -0500, "Fred Munro" <munrof at sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>Xenon charged bulbs are a waste of money despite what the advertising BS
>says about "super white burn-out-your-retinas light, looks Ricer blue in
the
>housings". Installing higher wattage bulbs will eventually cause the stock
>headlight and/or dimmer switch to fail, but this isn't much of an issue
with
>stock lights since high wattage 900x bulbs aren't that common. High wattage
>bulbs have to be relayed as the OEM Audi switches and wiring are marginal.
>
While I agree about higher wattage bulbs and potential problems with the
switch, I have to contest that sweeping statement about "xenon" bulbs.
There
ARE some good xenon filled bulbs available from Philips and others for about
$15/bulb.  The xenon gas, in addition to the usual iodine, allows the
filament
to run hotter AT THE SAME WATTAGE and does produce a whiter light -- but no
"cool blue."  Some people equate "xenon" with HID which isn't correct.
There
are a TON of phony HID "blue" bulbs out there and they ARE a waste of money.

Check out the VisionPlus bulbs at
http://www.autolamps-online.com/halogen/index.htm.  These might not be
available in 9000 series bulbs, though.

>You've got two routes for effective headlight upgrades:
>
>1. An aftermaket HID retrofit for the 900x low beam on the stock lights
>(around $500) which will improve low beam performance but leave the high
>beams marginal.
>
>2. Upgrade to Euro lights (~$700 - $900) which use the H1 bulbs for high
and
>low beam. The low beams are slightly better with 55w H1 bulbs (heat from
>high wattage bulbs here can damage the reflective coating on the plastic
low
>beam projector bodies) but relayed 100w bulbs in the high beams result in
>superb distance vision. The low beams can be upgraded with a H1 HID
retrofit
>(~$500).
>
>Fred Munro
>'94 S4
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
>[mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Dan Slagle
>Sent: February 15, 2003 11:58 AM
>To: s-car-list e-mail
>Subject: [s-cars] HEADLIGHT UPGRADE
>
>
>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>--
>[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
>Dear Listeners:  I am considering a headlight upgrade for my 95.5 S6, and
>have read the information http://www.urs4.com/technical/headlights.html. I
>realize that ultimately this is the BEST way to go; however, due to limited
>$$$, and too many upgrades pending, I am considering just replacing my
stock
>bulbs with Xenon bulbs, which are available at http://www.eurolights.com/.
>I have read that by just upgrading the Bulbs without upgrading the other
>electrical components my damage both the lenses and the other components
>overtime.  However, this company claims that their Bulbs will not harm the
>system http://www.eurolights.com/, and they state that no other upgrades
are
>necessary.  Your thoughts appreciated.  Thank you.
>
>Dan
>95.5 S6

--
Russ Panneton                          russ at s-cars.org
Nederland, CO              "Too bad ignorance isn't painful"