Re: Xenon lights, help?

[ccohen5@compuserve.com]

Many thanks for your insight. I thought I was crazy at first, then 
I thought it was an adjustment issue, and had already graduated to 
your add on idea. Actually I am going to put a double set in, one 
in place of the fogs and another which will augment the brights 
which will require some surgery to the plastic lower grill.

Colin Cohen

>  > > ccohen5@compuserve.com wrote:
> 
> > I have a 4.2 A6 about to be delivered and have a 99 A6 loaner from
> > my dealer with I believe the same DOT approved gas discharge lamps
> > as I will get on the 4.2. Driving the loaner the other night on
> > some VA side roads I was appalled at how dangerous the sharp cut
> > off can be. My Euro lamp equipped 92 100 was so superior in this
> > respect as a comparison. While the GD light is bright and the
> > white color helpful, as the lights moved up and down with
> > undulations of the road, I found myself completely unsighted for
> > long enough such that even at 30 I could have easily departed the
> > track. The car has fog lights which could be switched for driving
> > lights, has anyone found the need to do this - anyone have any
> > comments, ideas, BTDT perspectives, or just plain it sucks to buy
> > a new car!
> 
>       I have experienced the same problem with my wifes A6. I also
> posted my concerns on the list and heard a lot of bull from people who
> have never driven a car with these lights. The responses I got were
> tecno jargon or I think they are "cool looking", but no one ever
> responded who actually drove a car with them. I hate them- period. Even
> my 82 year old father-in-law said what's wrong with these lights? Wait
> till you follow someone. They will no doubt ask why you keep flashing
> your lights or else think you want them to pull over.
>     The cutoff is too sharp and every curve and bump accentuates the
> problem. We live in the country and a lot of our driving is on bumpy,
> curvy, hilly backroads. As you come around a corner you might see three
> garbage pails, hit a dip and have them disappear from view. You can
> imagine how we live in fear of deer! I know Virginia is loaded with them
> too!
>      Audi has  supposedly checked the auto adjustment motors several
> times and has essentially told us that it is our imagination! My 91 200
> TQ 20v with euro lights has a much safer pattern, but not as bright.
>     I am going to  try to install PIAA 1200 Dichroic lights in place of
> the fogs. They are almost identical in size and the same wattage(55).
> 
> Here's a description from
> http://www.nextcollection.com/light/html/piaa_1000_serise.html
> I don't necessarily endorse this site but just had a bookmark for it.
> 
>   The compact 1200 lamp is only 2-1/2
>   inches in diameter and weighs just 8 oz.
>   Powerful 55 watt Quartz Halogen bulb with
>   dichroic reflector. The light beam is a
>   touring pattern that makes an extraordinary effective
> "back road" auxiliary light. The beam pattern is wider
>   than a conventional driving lamp and
>    illuminates farther down the road than a
>   fog lamp. The 1200 can be bonded to
>   almost any clean, flat surface with a
>    special bonding system. Screws are also
>    supplied if mechanical fastening is
> desired. Lamp kit available in Clear or Ion
>  Crystal, a unique lens coating that
>  transforms white light into amber with no
>    loss of candlepower. Pre-assembled
>   wiring includes lighted switch, in-line fuse
>    and relay, providing an easy plug-in
>     installation.
>