[urq] HIDS

[Eric Renneisen]

As I understand it, the drawback to the Silverstar bulbs (aside from
cost) is significantly reduced lifespan compared to normal halogens.
(Might want to tuck an extra in the K1, Steve.)  If you have to replace
them more often, and shell out $20+ for each one, it won't be long
before you're into HID territory...

Another option I've not seen mentioned is returning to the original 4
rectangular setup and getting a kit that replaces the sealed beam lows
with HID units.  The benefit there is that you're getting a
lens/reflector that's been designed from the start to work as HID rather
than one of these hack kits.

I've got no experience with them, so they may be poorly designed.  I
know there were problems with the original Sylvania Xenarc HID sealed
beam replacements, then they were redesigned, then they were
discontinued, so I guess the bad rap killed them off.  All the current
kits I've seen use a projector design.  That's probably a good thing
performance-wise, but might look a bit goofy on the car.

Speaking of looks, I kinda like the original quad look, and it would
facilitate removing the high beams for extra cooling on the track.
However, I'm not sure I'm willing to risk damage to the brand new
headlight trims I have stashed away.  Those have got to be two of the
most rare parts Audi ever made, only being used on the '85 and '86 N.
Am. market urqs.

Eric R.
'86 urq
'93 urS


-----Original Message-----
From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of Buchholz, Steven
Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 4:37 PM
To: urq at audifans.com
Subject: Re: [urq] HIDS


Thanks Steve ... that is precisely the detail I was looking for ... my
position was the same as Ingo stated, and it seemed to me you could even
investigate creating an extra circuit so that the "flash to pass" switch
activated only the H1s, but the high beam switch would activate the high
beams in the H4.  It may not have been possible depending on the
internal construction of the headlight switch ... but now I know it
isn't even worthwhile considering the dual capsule H4s.  

... I must say I'm liking the SilverStars though on the motorcycle ...
maybe that will be my next experiment.  

Steve B
San José, CA (USA)
> 
> Well, yes, there is a reason not put them on the brights.  HID 
> ballasts and bulbs don't like to be turned on and off rapidly, which 
> you would do if you "flash to pass".  The new Audis with "bixenon" 
> HIDs use one bulb with a movable shutter that changes from low to 
> high.  The dedicated high beam is still a halogen bulb, which can 
> survive the flash.  If you don't flash to pass, then an HID high beam 
> would be great.
> 
> I don't like the idea of the "dual bulb" H4s that use two HID capsules

> for the above reason as well as the fact that the two bulbs cannot be 
> positioned properly due to the nature of the HID capsule. On a true H4

> bulb, the high and low beam filaments are coaxial, which is not true 
> of the dual bulb HID. Some of the HID kits that you can find now use a

> motor or solenoid to move the bulb so that the capsule is in the 
> proper position for low and high beam.  So, when you go from low to 
> high beam the bulb moves without turning off the capsule.
> 
> To me, the ideal HID H4 replacement would be the motor/solenoid 
> equipped, single bulb unit with 4300k color temperature.  You MIGHT go

> to 6000k if you want a little more blue (I don't, I would rather have 
> the extra brightness of the 4300k bulbs), but you definitely do not 
> want more than 6000k.  I drove an ur quattro with 10000k bulbs, and 
> they were awful.  The light was an eye- straining purple and did not 
> provide even as much light as a halogen.
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