re: A4 lights (now eurolights in general, long)

[C1J1Miller@aol.com]

Andrew asked about the lights on his A4, and the common "eurolights"
discussion on the list.  I'd venture to say that your A4 has good lights; if
the euros are different, it's probably not much, and not worth upgrading to
them.  That said, you could improve the lighting output by adding relays to
the power circuit, thus insuring full (13.5 volts) current to the lights.
Probably a 20% gain in light output.  Add the relays before increasing the
bulb wattage... Igor Kessel has created a nice relay schematic, which is
posted on my web site.

I've got a lot of information on european headlights versus the stock DOT
lights sold in the USA, adding relays, aiming the lights, fixing the
autocheck, links to installation descriptions, etc. on my web site:
http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/index.html
look under Repair Index, then Body
This is mostly for the type 44 turbo lights, but generally applicable to most
audis in the USA.

I've also got some info on the eurolights group purchase page at:
http://members.aol.com/c1j1miller/eurolights.html

To summarize, Audi sold pretty "aero style" lights on the 80's and early 90's
cars in the USA and canada, but with lousy light output; poor beam pattern
with lots of scatter, 9004 bulbs, etc.  The lights are typically blamed on USA
regulations (DOT), but frankly, other manufacturers managed to do OK during
this same period.

I read one review on the '91 200q (posted on my web site), for example, that
went on in detail about how poor the lights were when brand new; saying this
was a significant safety defect that 60 minutes could go after, unlike the so-
called sudden acceleration scandal.  Add to this aged and faded reflectors,
and sand-pitted glass, and a used audi's lights leave a lot to be desired.

European lights typically are designed to throw light in a long beam out in
front of the car, and have a side flare to light up road signs, etc.  They
provide plenty of light even with stock wattage bulbs installed.  DOT lights
generally throw lots of light right in front of the car, but increasing bulb
wattage typically just causes more scatter, and little improvement in your
ability to see the road.  

Some people have converted to 9007 bulbs from the 9004s, and see an
improvement; that's cheap enough to try with relays _first_, rather than
springing for a couple hundred bucks in new lights.  But, as your car
approaches 100k miles, the sand blasting and fading of the reflectors may make
the euros more appealing.

HTH, Chris Miller, Windham NH, c1j1miller@aol.com
'91 200q, with eurolights, 45 watt x2 low (H4), 65x4 high (H4/H3)