Re: fog lights/driving lights

[rdh@genrad.com (Robert D. Houk)]

   >Since this thread re-emerged regarding rewiring lights to brighten them,
   ...
   If you don't re-wire you don't get any improvement in light output. However;
   My (not so) random sample of two of these 55/100 watt bulbs make me wonder
   if the effort and cost is worth brighter light.  I refer here to the quality 
   and durability of the bulbs. I installed mine in late May. By the end of 
   July I had re-installed the OEM units.  Why? After two months use, the low 
   beam on the left headlight was intermittent, actually it only worked after a 
   10 min warm up period.  The right high beam worked once in a while too, 
   though once it was on, it seemed to stay on. 

   Perhaps mine came from a bad batch, but I'd like to heare some success 
   stories before I invest time in re-wireing.

Well, I can't speak for whatever bulbs/cars/etc. you have; but I have several
data-points from the past. I have put the 55/100 "H4" halogens (either Cibie
or Hella, Philips replacement bulbs usually). in, over the years, a Capri
quad-headlight system, a Subaru quad-headlight system, and a Mitsubishi dual
headlight system. The 100wt High beams were a noticeable and substantial gain
in light output. The Capri I used stock wiring (total 400wts high beam! Wow!
was that bright!). On the Subie, I ended up using a relay cuz the voltage
drop was about a volt and a quarter, so I won back a full volt at the high-
beams. On the Mitsubishi, I just put in a bigger fuse, only lost .5 volts
getting to highbeams, nice and bright. All bulbs lasted years. The only car
I kept long enough to replace the bulbs was the Mitsubishi, and the bulbs
lasted 3-4 years before low-beams burnt out (and they burnt out within a few
days of each other! talk about consistent!!). The replacements lasted another
3 years until I sold the car... (total of about 80K miles, and one set of
replacement Philips H4 bulbs).

Now, about the Audi electrics/wiring . . .

					-RDH