[V8] euro light install WOW!

[Seamus O'Carey]

Damn, now I really wish I could install my Euros.  I have the right one
pretty much repaired and useable, but the left one still needs a lens and
reflector.  :/

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 11:15 PM, Ed Kellock <ekellock at gmail.com> wrote:

> They're in and wired and I still have to aim them properly and reassemble
> the grill, but WOW!  I had to move my car to make room for a neighbor to
> spray his peach tree for aphids so I went for a little drive around the
> neighborhood.  My god.
>
> My previous 89 200q had euros but I don't remember them throwing anywhere
> near this much light.  I don't recall what bulbs were in it (it was
> recently
> for sale again in Wyoming).
>
> These are 55/100 H4s in the main light bucket and 100 watt H3 bulbs in the
> high beam position, so that's 400 watts on high beam.
>
> The wiring harness I used was one I got from Competition Ltd. in Michigan
> back in the mid 90's.  It was designed to allow the use of 55/100 9004s in
> the stock DOT headlights, without triggering the bulb out warning.  I
> really
> had no idea what was what with it, just installed it, and kept frying the
> ground lead in the 9004 connecters.  I pulled it in frustration or when I
> decided to trade it on another Audi way back when.
>
> It had 2 relays, but I believe I was only ever using one of them because it
> was only designed to run the high beams.  I have become exceedingly more
> familiar with it and with a couple of small modifications it seems to serve
> quite well for my euro light setup.
>
> The ground lead to the stock wiring ground was pigtailed to both relays so
> I
> split that out and made them individual.  I had to extend the freed up
> ground lead and the trigger wire for the 2nd relay to the other end of the
> harness to use them. I didn't want to double up anything, wiring everything
> one for one.  I connected the lows to the stock wiring and each set of
> highs
> to its own relay.  I didn't use any of the internal wiring in the euro
> lights themselves.  I bought a pair of heavy duty H4 3-prong connectors and
> used a collection of butt connectors, insulated female ends, and insulated
> ring ends to connect everything.  Autocheck is happy so I don't have to
> worry about defeating that.
>
> The low beam seems a bit weak, even considering I haven't aimed them yet
> and
> I am comparing them to 400 watts of high beam.  But I do wonder if the
> voltage reaching them through the stock wiring isn't a bit weak as well.  I
> always though the stock lights were weak, even for DOT units.  I feel like
> a
> wiring whiz now and see that I could easily relay those as well.  The way I
> have the highs relayed, if one of the relays gives up the ghost I will have
> a remaining matched pair of highs.
>
> I could kick myself for not doing this install sooner.  I've had a pair of
> euros for the CGT, since before I got the urq, which they will now go into
> instead.  I had no idea this was so straight forward.
>
> So far the whole thing is far from elegant, but it's been a fun exercise.
>  I
> had to repair one of the relays because the tiny little wire that wraps
> around the spool a billion times had broken.  I was able to reattach it but
> it certainly wouldn't be hard or expensive to replace them.  They are
> almost
> 15 years old after all and not Bosch bits.
>
> I took power from the jump start post, but I think I want to add in a fuse
> there, one for each relay.
>
> I knew this would be a big improvement in the 200, but have never thought
> it
> was really necessary in the V8.  I believe I have seen the light.
>
> Ed
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 9:22 AM
> To: 'q - Quattro'; 200q20v at audifans.com
> Subject: euro light install, 91 Avant
>
> I got them with the car when I bought it 3 years ago Feb. They've been
> sitting in boxes since. I had to fix one of the adjusters which was
> disconnected inside so I had both of them apart to get a better look at
> that
> and cleaned all the reflectors. Got the driver's side mounted and started
> looking at wiring. I have a harness I bought for the 87 5kcstq I had years
> ago to run higher watt bulbs in the stock lights. I think I can use it to
> power these euros. It has two relays etc. Tomorrow I will install the
> passenger side light. Last night I figured out which tab is which on the
> light. I need a connector. Is there an appropriate connector available
> anywhere at the local auto parts store or wherever? Otherwise I'll just use
> individual insulated tabs.
>
> TIA,
> Ed
> COS
>
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