HID's going dim

[ThatGuyAlex]

Ok so i have a

-2002 A4 B6 with HID lights (they came stock with the car)

Now the problem:
- The lights have gotten dim. and the driver side is still bright some what, as for the passenger side........ its almost as bright as my foglights. Someone said the Ballast are getting old. Is this true. Or is it the bulbs?

The bulb size is D1s.

Now do u guys think its the bulbs or ballasts?

And where can i find the cheapest bulbs if i need them. I hate driving at night

here are some pictures! (they might look bright in here but they are dim as hell. And u can see the diffrence between the right and left side)

[Gallep]

I didn't think HID's went dim... How clear/clean are your headlight plastic viewing surfaces?

[02B6]

you must be a 3.0? I didnt think they came stock on the 02. I could be wrong. Mine came with halogen.

[ThatGuyAlex]

I didn't think HID's went dim... How clear/clean are your headlight plastic viewing surfaces?

Its clear

[ThatGuyAlex]

you must be a 3.0? I didnt think they came stock on the 02. I could be wrong. Mine came with halogen.

They are HID. i have leveling motors and i have had HID before. They are HID.

And yes. they are dim. Instead of them being blue when u look at them. One now has a light purple tint and the other is getting dimmmer and whiter to yellow

[Gallep]

Huh, well I'm sure a quick call to the dealership asking if HID's do go dim should clear things up.

[gdawg'05a4]

Purple color usually means the bulb is going. On an '02, not surprised they're starting to wear out.

[ThatGuyAlex]

Huh, well I'm sure a quick call to the dealership asking if HID's do go dim should clear things up.

They did not help at all. lol

[ThatGuyAlex]

Purple color usually means the bulb is going. On an '02, not surprised they're starting to wear out.

Thats what i was thinking. Do u know anyhere to get new bulbs that is not expensive

[gdawg'05a4]

Thats what i was thinking. Do u know anyhere to get new bulbs that is not expensive

Check out AkinaBoy on eBay. He's popular with the Audi crowd and the HID bulbs/kits/ballasts he sells. Very reputable.

[ThatGuyAlex]

Added some pictures so u guys can see the diffrence

[02B6]

ebay for cheap and good. If that doesnt clear it up. maybe ballast going bad?

[heateris]

Thats what i was thinking. Do u know anyhere to get new bulbs that is not expensive

check the classifieds, i think some is selling a set of 6000k bulbs right now.

[gdawg'05a4]

The ones in classifieds are D2S. B6s are D1S bulbs.

[absolutegtr]

If you want you can switch the bulbs to the other side, and if the problem follows, then that means that it is indeed the bulb that is bad.

If the problem does NOT follow then that will indicate a bad ballast.

+1 for akinaboy, I bought my OEM Xenons off of him and when one of my 6000K bulbs started to go dim and change color...he refunded them and gave me a new set

[ThatGuyAlex]

ebay for cheap and good. If that doesnt clear it up. maybe ballast going bad?

I hope not

[ThatGuyAlex]

If you want you can switch the bulbs to the other side, and if the problem follows, then that means that it is indeed the bulb that is bad.

If the problem does NOT follow then that will indicate a bad ballast.

+1 for akinaboy, I bought my OEM Xenons off of him and when one of my 6000K bulbs started to go dim and change color...he refunded them and gave me a new set

that sounds like a plan. Thank you sir.

Also im gonna go through him for the bulbs also!

[jessefrank]

+1 to what absolutegtr said about switching bulbs from side to side to se if the brightness follows the one bulb.
I'd say with 99% confidence it is the bulbs that need replacing.

I too have noticed that my HID's are not as birght as they should be (or used to be when I bought my car some 35k ago used). My car is also a '02 1.8t. After driving in my Nissan Titan it is as if my Audi has the low wattage halogen bulbs in it...like an old jeep of something.

From what I've read about HID's is that overtime their lumen output decreases...how long it takes or to what extent they decrease I have no idea, but I've noticed this in my other vehicle as well.
I installed two ebay sets in my Nissan Titan lows/fogs and IMO the low beam output/brightness from new has decreased in the last 12k miles/2 years. They are no where as dim as the HID's in my Audi, but I swear they aren't as bright as they used to be.

Let us/me know how it turns out. I've been debateing getting a new set of bulbs for awhile, but have had plenty of other expenses that need paid before I get them.

Here's some info I found:
"Initial symptoms of end-of-life are characterized by low light output and/or intermittent starting. Visual signs include blackening at the ends of the arc tube and electrode tip deterioration. "

Also found that the typical HID bulb at 40%(expended) of its rated life span will typically only product 65% of its rated light output. From that point it will decrease at a certain rate.

[02B6]

I hope not

its not all that bad. I got a VVME kit for my 02. 85$ shipped. not all that bad.

[heateris]

The ones in classifieds are D2S. B6s are D1S bulbs.

i think these will work - http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...&highlight=D1S

akinaboy is also a good seller. i bought all my xenon parts from him.

[Onese1f]

Just keep the ballasts and get new bulbs. For my A6 that uses D2S i just ended up getting them off of a G35 my friend owned,wrecked, and parted out..x3 about akinaboy though^^^
normally fast response and good quality stuff...There are others on ebay that sell pairs of oem HIDs for $63 a pop..

[ThatGuyAlex]

ill let everyone know what happends.

[gdawg'05a4]

i think these will work - http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...&highlight=D1S

akinaboy is also a good seller. i bought all my xenon parts from him.

Yep those should work too. There is another seller on eBay selling GE 6000k D1S bulbs for $85 plus $14 ship, lifetime warranty as well. Can't beat that. Excellent feedback too.

[Doss]

B6s are D1S bulbs.

Not true.

I have an '02 (B6) 1.8t with factory auto-leveling HIDs with D2S bulbs.

I am 100% sure of that.

<Tone = informative>

[gdawg'05a4]

Not true.

I have an '02 (B6) 1.8t with factory auto-leveling HIDs with D2S bulbs.

I am 100% sure of that.

<Tone = informative>

Hmmm. They must have done a running change sometime during the B6 cycle. Perhaps they changed them for the Bi-xenons, '04.5+ to D1S for the B6s. Anyone here with an '03 can confirm which one they have? D1S or D2S?

[gdawg'05a4]

After a little searching, looks like early or all MY 2002s came with D2S and then was changed over to D1S bulbs either at MY 2003 or mid 2002 models.

[heateris]

After a little searching, looks like early or all MY 2002s came with D2S and then was changed over to D1S bulbs either at MY 2003 or mid 2002 models.

IIRC, early production B6's used leftover B5 D2S. MBtehBody had this problem when he ordered e-codes. i've only seen D1S replacment housings (euro or US spec).

[gdawg'05a4]

That would explain why. So to the OP, check your ballast and see what it lists for bulbs, D1S or D2S to make sure.

[Gallep]

Last night I noticed that my HID's were dim too. I was driving around town to find a clear spot to check out the lunar eclipse, and I noticed other car's with HID's would always over illuminate my lane when we passed each other. It’s a 04.

[ThatGuyAlex]

OK guys how sure is everyone that they are D2s bulbs and not D1s. the car has been stock since the first day back in 02. No one has messed with it. I dont want to take out the headlights right now cause its raining hard in Cali and its cold.

[ThatGuyAlex]

Why can this car have some sick ass projectors and bulbs like the S2000 or TSX or TL. All those damn cars seem like the overpower all the other HID's on the road no matter what the car. lol

JK guys still love the Audi more tho

[Gallep]

I'm not sure on the whole D1/2S thing either. I'll have to check mine when I get home tonight. I tried calling the dealership, they don't know either. They only track them under a VAG part #.

[gdawg'05a4]

The parts counter guy should be able to find out by your VIN number.

[Gallep]

The parts counter guy should be able to find out by your VIN number.

That's what I tried, but they said that wouldn't help. My dealership parts guy could be way wrong though, so maybe someone else try it.

[ThatGuyAlex]

That's what I tried, but they said that wouldn't help. My dealership parts guy could be way wrong though, so maybe someone else try it.

Ok well i need to figure this out. Cause if i have D2s i can get them from my local guy for 70bux + shipping for 2 and they are 6000k. But his 6000k usually is more like 5000k because of the maker.

Either way he said that if 3 people get them he can do it for 60shipped each

[Audina]

I would only trust Osram, Phillips... brand bulbs
The bulbs are gas filled, and in time, tend to fade off and lose its intensity.

dont get bulbs that are more then 6000 Kelvin.
the higher the K the less light it outputs on the road.

[x1rider]

I had the same problem, both xenons were getting dim and purple. I also have an '02 with D1S (the D1S was written right on the headlight housing). I changed both bulbs (got them from genuinevwaudiparts.com) and the brightness came back.
Here is a pic of the old bulb, see the white in the round part.

Here is a pic of the new bulb, it is clear in the round part.

Hope this helps.

[Gallep]

I just checked mine, and shit, I have D1S's too on my 04.

[gdawg'05a4]

I just checked mine, and shit, I have D1S's too on my 04.

As expected they would be D1S.

[ThatGuyAlex]

Ya but then the guy above has a 02 and he has D1S. so what the hell. lol what comes in the car damn it. I wanna get some bulbs and its raining hard outside and i cant check what bulb size i have. lol

HHHEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!! AHHHHHHH lol