Re: Driving lights

[Frank Amoroso <famoroso@svbank.com>]

J. Smethers wrote:
> 
> List,
> 
> I have an '86 4KCSQ and I'm not satisfied with the stock lighting.  I would
> like to know of any good upgrades for lighting (Euro, etc).  I do not mind
> installing lights on the bumper, and I would suspect that is what I will
> have to do.  I checked the FAQs, but I'd like to hear other success stories.
> Thanks in advance.
> Regards, Jeffrey Smethers
> smethers@fast.net
> '84 318i
> '86 4000CS Quattro
> 
> I do not blame you US (ie DOT) lighting on 1980's Audis is wholly 
inadequate!!!

Replace your DOT units with dual bulb (H4's & H1's) "euro units," mine 
are from Hella. You can also use the single H4 version (I've tried both), 
the reflector is larger but the wattage / aiming options are reduced as 
you can aim the H1's independantly on the dual bulb units. Next wire in 
relay's, I chose PIAA ones: up to 150 Watts for the H4's and up to 110 
Watts for the H1's. The lighting is absolutely mind boggling / pavement 
melting. This should (yeah whatever) be enough. But if you are like me, 
then you are not satisfied until you've spent more money than you have, 
so you can install a set of PIAA 90 Pro's into the bumper. Wire in the 
relays, replace the PIAA toggle switch with two factory foglight switches 
and snap these into the blanks in the instrument cluster housing (very 
clean install). Isn't overkill great??? I have a '73 914 with 3.3 Turbo 
911 brakes, see what I mean. Ummmm!! Love those binders. I'm a braking 
and lighting fiend.

For the bumper mounting move the turnsignals into the lower grill and 
have fun cutting for the 90 Pro's, it is an extremely tight fit. Also 
replace the bulbs in the 90 Pro's as follows: Projector Beam fog lights 
with 85 watt H3's, Driving lights with 90 Watt H1's. I've spent much time 
with the Tech Guy at PIAA and these are the highest wattage you should go 
with the included wiring harness. You will be a very happy camper with 
this lighting system. 

I also upgraded all ground / power cabling with 4 gauge car stereo wiring 
and replaced the battery cable clamps with brass units. All I really long 
for now is the high-intensity gas disharge Bosch Litronic headlights from 
the 993 Turbo, these truly are Nirvana for people who are trying to see 
where they are speeding at night. Feel free to give me a call, 
303-530-7096, for more details and specs (I have part numbers and many 
sources for the assemblies, THEY ARE NOT CHEAP) on lighting upgrades, for 
the earlier models. I can talk for hours, as evidenced by this message.

Also you can upgrade to Euro H4 & H1 lights on your BMW quickly & cheaply 
as your 4 round headlights are of a standard size, I believe 200 mm 
round.

I have recently become quite enamored with the Audi V8's and am curious 
if anyone has done any lighting upgrades on this particular model. Euro 
assemblies, etc??? Let me know.

Also, if anyone near Boulder, CO would like to get together for some 
general Audi talk and bench racing I'm game.

FYI- I recently visited the Audi dealer in CO Springs and they had 5 Euro 
A4, 5 speed, 1.8t's. They were very sweet looking. The Audi dealers had 
some big pow wow there a few months back and supposedly they got to flog 
the A4's pretty thouroughly around the mountains. I asked the dealer if 
he would sell me the headlight assemblies (single bulb H4 units with 
glass lenses), but since the cars were not US models he said they would 
either be shipped back to Europe or, gasp!, destroyed. Do any current A4 
owners have any feedback on the quality of the headlights? I believe they 
have integral fog lights and polycarbonate lenses???

Finally, I'm contemplating the purchase of an A6 QW, and I would like to 
replace the single bulb (9004) DOT headlights with either: 1) the US 
projector beam S4/S6 units or 2) whatever unit was used in Europe. Does 
anyone have any opinion on these. Or could anyone compare / contrast 
numbers 1 & 2 above.


					THANKS.


Frank Amoroso
'87 4000q w/ plenty 'o lighting and stereo
'73 914 2.0 w/ plenty 'o lighting, stereo, and BRAKES