Bootleg E-codes

[Chris4Reef]

Hey guys found this guy on eBay that is selling E-codes so I gave them a try. He accepted an offer for 750 shipped from china and they arrived today after a week. I plugged one in just to see if it works and sure enough they are good. Not sure if they are "real" but for 750 it was worth a try. Also they include bulbs and ballast.

Here are the unboxing pics and I will post up his eBay link. I believe E-codes go for 1200 without bulbs so it seems like a good deal.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170105/189873361b63115934570a8ebc2b603d.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170105/60328cca974af2e1a22401747cb633bd.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170105/9f81b41cc695934520c4e1415fb04e31.jpg


Will post the link and better pictures when they are installed on the car.

Edit: Here is the link, I'm no way affiliated with this guy, just thought it was a good deal for people that want E-codes without the high price tag.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272468447320?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[SteveYem]

The ballasts do not appear to be OEM but the rest of the headlight assembly sure looks legit in the photos.

[TexasDfwS4]

Subscribed

[A.C.]

No love for the B8??

[infinkc]

No love for the B8??

Ecs sells the B8 ones.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-tyc-parts/european-xenon-headlight-set/1337091e1337101e/

[A.C.]

Ecs sells the B8 ones.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-tyc-parts/european-xenon-headlight-set/1337091e1337101e/
Thanks!

[Dirt]

AG Autohaus, a vendor here, frequently has OEM ecodes on sale for $1000 shipped. No bulbs or ballasts, but you just swap your current ones over. And you won't be able to beat Arjun's customer service.

[AudBoost]

Ecs sells the B8 ones.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-tyc-parts/european-xenon-headlight-set/1337091e1337101e/

I was just looking at these. I wonder if anyone has tried them yet?

[Q5OnTheMove]

Awesome! The more sellers the better.

Competition is a good thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JettaGetUpandGo]

AG Autohaus, a vendor here, frequently has OEM ecodes on sale for $1000 shipped. No bulbs or ballasts, but you just swap your current ones over. And you won't be able to beat Arjun's customer service.

I just bought a set from Autohaus. They should be here by the end of the month. Can't beat the price for OEM.

Knockoff matte aluminum mirror caps or pedals are one thing, but condensation in the headlights or electrical issues due to faulty ballasts are another. For $250 more I think the OEM parts are worth it.

[Q5OnTheMove]

I just bought a set from Autohaus. They should be here by the end of the month. Can't beat the price for OEM.

Knockoff matte aluminum mirror caps or pedals are one thing, but condensation in the headlights or electrical issues due to faulty ballasts are another. For $250 more I think the OEM parts are worth it.

Who is to say these aren't OEM, just not marked up as much?

These could be just as good but without a higher markup and still be OEM.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[14S4GWM]

Who is to say these aren't OEM, just not marked up as much?

These could be just as good but without a higher markup and still be OEM.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


I searched the part numbers listed on ebay and couldn't come up with anything, maybe someone else can confirm

[AmrS4]

These are probably made by "spyder" or depo

I think the oem's are made by Magneti Marelli could be wrong though.

[SteveYem]

These are probably made by "spyder" or depo

I think the oem's are made by Magneti Marelli could be wrong though.

My OEM ecodes are made by AutomotiveLighting. I believe the same is true for my OEM US spec headlights.

[JettaGetUpandGo]

Who is to say these aren't OEM, just not marked up as much?

These could be just as good but without a higher markup and still be OEM.

Very unlikely if they are coming from China. I bought Valeo brand LED tails for my Touareg for half the price of OEM. Valeo was the OE supplier for the Touareg LED tails, so they were exactly the same without the official part number. They shipped from Latvia or somewhere in Europe. That could be the case here, but since no brand is mentioned and again, it's China, I doubt it.

[jlaudio]

My OEM ecodes are made by AutomotiveLighting. I believe the same is true for my OEM US spec headlights.

yes, same company. Automotive Lighting AL is a subsidiary of Magneti Marelli



These are probably made by "spyder" or depo

I think the oem's are made by Magneti Marelli could be wrong though.

i bet you are right on who makes these.

@op let us know how these work out. i'm interested in seeing the beam pattern and led strip brightness. post pics once you install!

[Dirt]

I just bought a set from Autohaus. They should be here by the end of the month. Can't beat the price for OEM.

Knockoff matte aluminum mirror caps or pedals are one thing, but condensation in the headlights or electrical issues due to faulty ballasts are another. For $250 more I think the OEM parts are worth it.


Couldn't agree more, and I installed my OEM ecodes last month. [up]

[Chris4Reef]

Ive seen the AZ install guide but for anyone that installed, what is the torx size that I need to buy? T?

[SteveYem]

Ive seen the AZ install guide but for anyone that installed, what is the torx size that I need to buy? T?


I do not remember which size is needed, but a few years ago I bought a Husky (HomeDepot brand) multi-bit ratcheting screwdriver set which included various Torx bits. It has been very useful when working on the S4 and was less than $15. Not the best quality, but has been getting the job done for 3+ years.
As an alternative if you cannot get your hands on the proper Torx driver, you can use a properly sized flat-blade screwdriver to turn a Torx screw. I've done it many times in a pinch.

[JettaGetUpandGo]

Ive seen the AZ install guide but for anyone that installed, what is the torx size that I need to buy? T?

T20, T25, and T30 will cover 95% of torx screws on VW/Audi. You can buy a set that includes T10-T30 for $10 or $15 at Sears or Home Depot).

I believe the instrument cluster uses a T9. That's the only oddball one I can think of.

EDIT: $9.48 for the main set (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Torx-Screwdriver-Set-5-Piece-20210002/204465105), $5.49 for the smaller sizes that you will likely never need (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-in-1-Precision-Torx-Screwdriver-Set-70381H/204664390)

[whiped]

Ive seen the AZ install guide but for anyone that installed, what is the torx size that I need to buy? T?

It is a T30. T25 will also work but you may strip some of the screws. [up]

[Chris4Reef]

Thanks guys I bought that multi tool which helps.

Here is the picture of the two headlights. Driver is the ecode and pass is oem. I don't see a difference but that's just me

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170105/04c7f1b56c1c2533f440352fc3be1459.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170105/5c42019101296d07dc0794615fb28c12.jpg

I don't have a vagcom so these error codes are annoying so I'm probably going to take it off until I find someone that has one

[whiped]

Notable difference with ecodes:
Clear side markers
Slightly less dimples on the lense (This should be visible if you look at it)

They should just plug-n-play with no errors [confused]

[JettaGetUpandGo]

They should just plug-n-play with no errors [confused]

Sidemarker lights need to be disabled because they are non-existent on the e-codes.

[whiped]

Sidemarker lights need to be disabled because they are non-existent on the e-codes.

Ha! Thank you [up]

I disable those on every car I hook my laptop up to. They're just ugly :)

[Lensch09]

AL (Automotive Lighting) makes the OEM ones. These appear to be OEM housings.

The electronics on the other hand... those appear to be knockoff.

-DL

[Lbsigman]

AL (Automotive Lighting) makes the OEM ones. These appear to be OEM housings.

The electronics on the other hand... those appear to be knockoff.

-DL

We can always use our own electronics and swap them onto the ebay housings, no?

[14S4GWM]

We can always use our own electronics and swap them onto the ebay housings, no?

You should be able to as long as all the holes match up, that's what everyone does with the ecodes.