Audi Q5 - Swapping 2013 headlights to a 2009-2012 - almost there !

[Elberoth]

There has been a lot of talk about swapping the new facelifted 2013 Q5 headlights into a 2009-2012 Q5s.

The consensus was, it was not possible due to design changes. Rears yes, fronts - no.

Well, I'm glad to report that I have successfully test fitted one FL headlight today. I was lucky, as nearby body shop just took a 2013 Q5 for headlight / front bumper replacement after a small accident, so we just borrowed one of the headlamps.

2010 headlight on the left and 2013 FL headlight on the right:



Audi part # for the LEFT 2013 FL headlight:



The headlight fits, BUT:

1. you also need to buy a headlight support bracket, as it is completely different:



Audi part # is 8R0 941 453A - this is for the LEFT headlight only:



The new support has one extra mounting hole:



I belive this is Audi solution to the known Q5 light beam jitter problem (when you hit the pothole, you could see the light beam jittering briefly). I belive the extra mounting point is to prevent that from happening, as it supports the weight of the headlight housing from the back. There is also an extra part that connects this support to the car body - I belive it will be retrofitable as well. I will check that tomorrow and will post some more images and hopefully part #s.

2. you need to get harness extension (male to female) as the stock harness will not reach the socket on the FL headlight.

The sockets are the same:



However, the socket on the 2010 headlights is on the side of the headlight housing. On the FL one, the socket is situated right in the middle of the headlight housing:



As a resoult, the stock 2010 harness is just not long enough. You either need a harness extension cable of some sort, or you can cut off the harness socket and solder in 4" of extension cable. For obvious reasons, I would rather NOT do it, unless I have no other choice.

I was able to source one of those harness extenders at the time I had my 2002 Audi A4 several years ago - it was needed when to swap halogen headlamps to HIDs:



As you can see, it is a MALE to FEMALE extender. The sockets on 2002 A4 and Q5 are different though, so the one I have will not fit. Anyone knows where to source a similar extender for a Q5 HID headlights ?

[djsnowman777]

sweet but i like the older better :)

[Elberoth]

No way !

FL fronts and rears rule !





I've been drooling over them since I have first seen them in person. Thay look spectacular. Not to mention they make your car look younger.

[spijun]

As you can see, it is a MALE to FEMALE extender. The sockets on 2002 A4 and Q5 are different though, so the one I have will not fit. Anyone knows where to source a similar extender for a Q5 HID headlights ?

Well done
Maybe you should try make yourself, I'm not sure there are that part (extender) for purchase
"FEMALE" CONNECTOR
http://www.partsvp.com/products/HOUS...52d737%29.html
http://www.jimellisaudiparts.com/pro...1J0973737.html

[Elberoth]

I have made some progress today, will post all Audi part #s and more images.

The only thing I'm missing now is MALE connector Audi part # to fabricate the extension cable needed.

[spijun]

I have made some progress today, will post all Audi part #s and more images.

The only thing I'm missing now is MALE connector Audi part # to fabricate the extension cable needed.

I have the numbers of male and female connectors:
1J0-973-837
http://www.jimellisaudiparts.com/pro...1J0973837.html
http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-...2.0T/ES311360/

1J0-973-737
http://www.jimellisaudiparts.com/pro...1J0973737.html
http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-Golf_V--2.5/ES8953/

[Elberoth]

Great, thank you !

I was to try that number myself, as A4 B6 headlights connectors that I have on hand are 1J0 973 735 (female) and 1J0 973 835 (male), so I was suspecting in case of Q5 number the 7 may need to be changed for 8 as well. And you prooved it is indeed the case.

OK, so here is the complete parts list to do the swap:

- headlight support plate left - 8R0 941 453 A
- headlight support plate right - 8R0 941 454 A
- headlight socket MALE - 1J0-973-837 - two pcs needed
- headlight socket FEMALE - 1J0-973-737 - two pcs needed
- headlight support bracket left - 8R0 941 355
- headlight support bracket right - 8R0 941 356
- headlight adjustment element - 4G8 806 305 - two pcs needed
- allen screw - WHT 000 372 - two pcs needed
- torx screw - N 107 511 01 - four pcs needed

Please note that only the support plates and sockets are mandatory for this swap - all other parts are were added by Audi to fix the 'headlight jitter' problem that was present on 2010 Q5s. Not sure if that is was a part of a FL, or those parts were already present on 2011 and 2012 cars. Someone with 2011/2012 car would have to verify that.

I have paid like $70 for all those parts. Should have them in 2 days time.

I will post images showing the headlight support bracket and how it is fitted on 2013 Q5 tomorrow.

[Elberoth]

Just got today 4 brand-spanking-new fronts and rears. $1400 total shipped. I still expect to get at least $800 back from selling my current pre FL rears and fronts on ebay.

Life is good :)

[Elberoth]

OK, some more images.

Here is the original headlight socket - 1J0 973 737. I will need to DIY my own cable extension using another socket like that and its male counterpart 1J0 973 837. Luckily, all the cables are numbered, so that would make soldering much easier:



Here is the headlight support bracket that is missing on my 2010 Q5:



It is bolted to the car frame - I will probably have to drill 2 holes to attach it:



The headlight support bracket ataches to the rear fixing of the headlight support plate - making the headlight much more rigid, and hopefully - less prone to light beam jitter.

[A4TQS]

Nice job

[Elberoth]

Just a quick update. I have found out that the new FL headlights should have a rubber hose fixed to them. They were not present on pre-FL headlights, and the FL headlights I bought came without those, so I need to order those as well.



Left:8R0-941-717
Right:8R0-941-718

I belive those hoses were added to avoid vapor condensation inside the headlights.





The hose connects to the back of the headlight:



Got those the next day and already thought I already have all the parts needed:



only to realise I will also need a full set of rubber grommets for my extension cable sockets, which are needed to seal off the cables entering the sockets (otherwise moisture could enter the sockets and create short).

Aggggh ! Beeing a pioneer is always hard ! I should have those by friday.

[Elberoth]

OK, got the remaining parts today. I was missing the grommets, that seal the cable against the harness socket housing. Each socket has 14 inlets *4 = 56 are needed.



Since the headlight uses only 11 out of 14 available pins, you need to seal off the remaining 3 holes with a suitable cap (orange and green).



Now need to put those harness extensions together. Some soldering ahead !

[Elberoth]

Put those harness extensions together today. It was soooo labour intensive - it took me almost 5h ! I did not think it would take so long, but there are so many wires, that need to be cut, tinned, soldered, insulated, installed etc + some unexpected problems. Anyway, here it is:



And here are all the parts needed to do the front swap (minus the headlights and headlights support plates) - they don't look as scary anymore:



I was to install the headlight tomorrow morning, but unfortunately, I have just learned that AUDI Poland has shipped to my dealer the wrong headlight support bracket. Instead of left and right, they sent me two lefts - that is this black metal part on the bottom right.

I'm gonna order that missing part on monday, but that also means that the final install will be postponed by another week

Here is a full DIY guide on how to fabricate your own extensions.

The parts you will need:

- 1J0 973 737 (socket) - 2 pcs
- 1J0 973 837 (socket) - 2 pcs

- 000 979 225 E (fat wire with pin) - 5 pcs
- 000 979 226 E (fat wire with pin) - 5 pcs
- 000 979 131 E (thin wire with pin) - 6 pcs
- 000 979 132 E (thin wire with pin) - 6 pcs

- 357 972 740 D (thin grommet) - 24 pcs
- 1J0 972 741 A (fat grommet) - 20 pcs
- 3C0 972 841 (thin cap) - 8 pcs
- 357 972 841 (fat cap) - 4 pcs

plus soldering iron, heat gun and some heat shrink.

(Please not that the dealership ordered for me the wrong sockets. Instead of 1J0 973 837 they ordered me 5Q0 973 837 . They are gray instead of black, and needed some trimming to make them work. Get the right sockets the first time, and that will save you 1 hour worth of work).

1. First of all, you need to cap the unused holes in the sockets. There are 14 holes - 6 big and 8 small - but only 11 are used. The remaining 3 need to be capped to prevent water from entering the socket. As you can see - there are two types of caps - thin and fat:



2. Wires come with pins already installed on both ends. Unfortunately, they are same type on both ends (Male - Male and Female - Female) so you need to cut them in half and solder Male-Female pairs. I cut mine in 3 parts, as the extension doesn't need to be that long (the wire is about 24 inches long).



All cables nicely cut:



3. Now it is time to put the grommets on the cables:





4. Before soldering the pairs together, cut to size and put 3" long heat shrink tubing:



5. Solder the wires in pairs (there should be 22 pairs):



6. Put the heat shrink tubing on and use heat gun to shrink it:



7. Now you can insert all pins into the sockets. Move the grommets to the very end of the cable, so that they will fit flush into the socket:



Each pin has its number on the socket, so running cables is as easy as connecting 1 with 1, 2 with 2 etc.

8. Some hours later, and you should have a nice harness extensions

[Nison_Li]

wish the A4 is that easy

[Elberoth]

I belive A4 is like the A5 - you need to replace bonnet and front bumper. It may be my next project.

[Elberoth]

I have swapped both headlights today. With all the missing parts bought and new harness extensions already prepared, it was a breeze. Took me only 2h to do both fronts.



Rignt now, the high and low beams work, turn signals work, DRLs work, BUT do not dim. When you switch the low beams or turn signal on, the DRLs instead of dimming - just switch off.

I was told that it is normal and they need new coding. Tomorrow I'm paying a visit to some local coding guru, so keep your fingers crossed. I'm gonna do the rears tomorrw as well.

[Nison_Li]

should be an easy fix, pre facelift was set at 9% when it's dim, if i remember right the fl is set to around 36%

[Elberoth]

I belive it is 28%.

I just got the programming done. Everything works as if the car came with those fronts and rears from the factory. Even the cool dim to full lit fade feature works.

I also got the Bluetooth and cruise control installed. Next will be the multifunction steering wheel (already got the right module installed with the cruise control) - need to buy one now.

I will post some finał images when I get back home and wash the car.

[Elberoth]

BTW - great news for those afraid of making their own harness extensions: Kufatec just started offering a suitable adapter.

I've been in contact with Kufatec for the past 3 weeks, but unfortunately the adapter was not ready when I needed it. Not only it is ready made, but it also costs only half as much as parts bought from Audi stealership needed to homebrew one !

http://www.kufatec.de/shop/en/audi/q...ift-headlights

I'm gonna order one now for a friend, as he also wants to do the conversion on his 2012 Q5 (he literally bought the car a week before Audi started shipping the FL model - talk about bad timing).

[Elberoth]

OK, here are some final pictures. I have to say, the car looks spectacular in person now. Those images just do not do it justice !

Headlights:




and tails:





The above image does not give the correct impression of the real color. On that image it looks as if red was more of an orange.

In real life, red is very dark, more like this:

[audispeed]

BTW - great news for those afraid of making their own harness extensions: Kufatec just started offering a suitable adapter.

I've been in contact with Kufatec for the past 3 weeks, but unfortunately the adapter was not ready when I needed it. Not only it is ready made, but it also costs only half as much as parts bought from Audi stealership needed to homebrew one !

http://www.kufatec.de/shop/en/audi/q...ift-headlights

I'm gonna order one now for a friend, as he also wants to do the conversion on his 2012 Q5 (he literally bought the car a week before Audi started shipping the FL model - talk about bad timing).

Good job with the conversion. I used their adapters for my Q7 and was very happy.

[snowbird]

any conversion required for the rears? Or is it plug-and-play?

[Elberoth]

any conversion required for the rears? Or is it plug-and-play?

Only the Kufatec adapters, as the plugs are different. No coding necessary. 10 min job if you have the adapters.

[[email protected]]

any conversion required for the rears? Or is it plug-and-play?

Pre-facelift Q5 fitting the newest taillights is plug and play and requires no harness with the kit available. A nice touch too is the North American pre-facelift Q5's have the proper turn signal operation as well to use the European taillights with the orange blinking turn signal.

Have a set in stock that will be on sale shortly...

[FuchsB]

nice job looks good

[RemusUSA]

Looking good man! Nice job!

[wrclaguna]

swietnie opisane

Czy przy zmianie przednich lamp kodowałes cos w MCE 09 ?

[Elberoth]

swietnie opisane

Czy przy zmianie przednich lamp kodowałes cos w MCE 09 ?

Tak, bo inaczej DRLe nie działają. Podobno trzeba przestawić tylko jedną wartość w sterowniku, aczkolwiek wtedy jeszcze o tym nie wiedziałem i zleciłem wszystko Piotrowi Bieli z Navitechnik.

[vikislap]

I will do that with my 2011 halogen headlight just waiting for wires from germany which give me extension of wires and I checked them on my a4 and led works and low/hi beam works too. Rear tail I have already done . Have also front bumper cover its same but hood seems to be diferent...

[Elberoth]

The grill and hood are different on pre and post FL models.

[vikislap]

The grill and hood are different on pre and post FL models.

Yep I know have bumper with grill ..;) thinking what to do with hood ...hood have some profile for grill but will see

[vikislap]

A ten problem z wylonczonym drl przi uziciu switel to tez tylko w sterowniku 09 zmienilesz? Sorry za muj polsky ja jestem czechem tylko zona je z polsky ;)

[Elberoth]

A ten problem z wylonczonym drl przi uziciu switel to tez tylko w sterowniku 09 zmienilesz? Sorry za muj polsky ja jestem czechem tylko zona je z polsky ;)

As I said - I have paid someone to do that for me. I have seen manuals on the net that suggest that it is a simple change if you have the VCDS.

[vikislap]

Aah ok I have my owne vcds so I will take my time to see what the 09 module will offer to me ... As I turned on tail light as drl too.. And how about you ? You will not trying to retrofit bumper?

[Elberoth]

Not really. My understanding is, that you need to change the hood as well, which is sth I would like to avoid. Plus, it doesn't really bother me that much, and you need to be a true Audi specialist to tell the difference.

I'm changing the front bumper and the hood on my S5 (I'm doing the conversion right now), but there it is a necessity as the headlights have different shape.

[vikislap]

You right the look for s5 or is better but my q5 was so cheap so thought to make it look younger .... But you right the hood is quit expensive

[vikislap]

[QUOTE=vikislap;9690808]You right the look for s5 or is better but my q5 was so cheap so thought to make it look younger .... But you right the hood is quiet expensive so maybe will just put the headlights like you did/QUOTE]

[vikislap]

Hi could you please provide the coding for your 09 module? I can't get works drl with low beam please just would like to make sure that the problem is because it was with halogen

[ABOMB]

Does anyone know of any other manufacturer for the harness on the rear tails? I have a 2012 and thought these were plug and plug, but when I went to install today the facelift taillight has a female connection and the ones with my car have a male connector. Any input?

[spijun]

Does anyone know of any other manufacturer for the harness on the rear tails? I have a 2012 and thought these were plug and plug, but when I went to install today the facelift taillight has a female connection and the ones with my car have a male connector. Any input?

Maybe this will help:
http://www.kufatec.de/shop/en/Audi/Q...lights-Audi-Q5
http://www.car4style.de/Kabelbaum/Au...e80c7cde7f61f6
http://www.need4street.de/index.php/...q5%20/cat/1657