LED Light Bars

**bigeshorte45** · 11-16-2014 12:33 PM

Has anybody installed LED light bars on their B6's? I think the lower grill would be a perfect spot if there's a way to mount it behind the grill. Please post pics if you have one. Thanks!

For reference, here's a photo of 2 installed on an Outback I found on Google.

**Johnny1.8T** · 11-16-2014 12:41 PM

Ive been thinking about mounting one that would fit the width of my roof rack

**mauromj** · 11-16-2014 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by bigeshorte45

Has anybody installed LED light bars on their B6's? I think the lower grill would be a perfect spot if there's a way to mount it behind the grill. Please post pics if you have one. Thanks!

For reference, here's a photo of 2 installed on an Outback I found on Google.

**imnuts** · 11-16-2014 01:06 PM

Nothing like worse, on any car, than lights in non-OEM locations.

Sent from my Moto X

**Spike00513** · 11-16-2014 01:19 PM

If you could do it in a discrete location, maybe. I doubt the grill is the place for that, because you'd be blocking vital air supply for radiator cooling, air intake, etc.

I have seen a Dodge Ram with the front covered up with a ton of those, and I drove very carefully to avoid any confrontation. Just think if I would've cut him off or something, at the flick of a switch he'd fry my retinas and light my hair on fire.

I'd be concerned with the power consumption and need for cooling...

A B6 A4 is hardly a Subaru outback or Dodge Ram in terms of front crash-bar type of stuff, so the only place I think you could try to put it is on a roof rack..which people try not to run often because it decreases fuel economy...so if you're always running one, and need an LED light bar, I assume you go off-road and need a higher than sport suspension. If that's the case, I wonder if you bought the wrong car.

**Johnny1.8T** · 11-16-2014 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by imnuts

Nothing like worse, on any car, than lights in non-OEM locations.

Sent from my Moto X

I agree to an extent. Depending on the type of led lights used and where they are placed. But come on, you cant say something like this doesnt look sick

Originally Posted by Spike00513

I'd be concerned with the power consumption and need for cooling...

As far as power consumption i cant imagine theres a whole lot. Granted those types of led's are pretty high output i may be wrong. Again, since theyre led's i dont think they'd be very hot either. With the output of them i may be wrong again though

**Spike00513** · 11-16-2014 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Johnny1.8T

As far as power consumption i cant imagine theres a whole lot. Granted those types of led's are pretty high output i may be wrong. Again, since theyre led's i dont think they'd be very hot either. With the output of them i may be wrong again though

LED's produce heat which can damage them. I assume this is why new Audi DRL LED headlights come with fans inside of them. I doubt that a fan is the only way to combat this though.

As you can see, this LED shop light below has a radiator (slanted). Jay Leno's Garage has an episode on it.

**Johnny1.8T** · 11-16-2014 01:55 PM

Interesting. I had no idea

TIL...

**ZipMeUpJ** · 11-16-2014 02:04 PM

Makes sense for the shop light to have a radiator because leds do produce a lot of heat with higher output, but it would be excessive on almost any externally mounted implementation for a moving vehicle. the casings for those type are usually the only heat-sinks they need as there's already so much air passing over them.

Theretrofitsource (TRS) has some really good looking external units with finned casings

That is just a single led, but they offer them in bar versions as well.

and if you are feeling really boss. theres a bar with 15 of them lol.

but alas, none of them will look good on a b6 for the most part.

**SlickFix** · 11-16-2014 02:25 PM

But seriously, aftermarket LEDs look cheap and stupid. Don't do it, please.

**bigeshorte45** · 11-16-2014 04:37 PM

I appreciate all of the info! I came across this idea while browsing 4Runner forums. Obviously I'm not doing any off-roading, but some extra light would be great for country roads at night, especially with deer everywhere here in Virginia.

Here's some photos I saw which sparked this idea of adding a spot/flood combination LED bar to my Audi. I'm a huge fan of keeping the look of the car stock, so I would prefer a discreet and clean install. I wouldn't want it hanging off my front bumper like the Outback posted above.

**Johnny1.8T** · 11-16-2014 05:03 PM

For reference, heres one that's lit at night. Perfect for dark country roads. Its not like theyre the gaudy ones you see people put in their headlights. If i could find one to mount on my roof rack i dont think it would look too ridiculous, but thats just my opinion. My buddy has one that he hasnt mounted on his 1985 suburban yet, so i may see if i can temporarily mount it to see how it looks

**imnuts** · 11-16-2014 06:03 PM

Just go with fully clear lens, bi-xenons with CBI or SVS bulbs in the low beams, and Silverstar Ultra high beams. Should offer you all the light you need and not look bad.

Sent from my Moto X

**bigeshorte45** · 11-17-2014 07:13 AM

[QUOTE=Johnny1.8T;10261986]For reference, heres one that's lit at night. Perfect for dark country roads. Its not like theyre the gaudy ones you see people put in their headlights. If i could find one to mount on my roof rack i dont think it would look too ridiculous, but thats just my opinion. My buddy has one that he hasnt mounted on his 1985 suburban yet, so i may see if i can temporarily mount it to see how it looks

That would be awesome. Should you decide to throw it on your car temporarily, please post a pic and give your thoughts.

**PreciseD** · 11-17-2014 07:41 AM

I would like to mount this in my rear windshield, so when some dickhead with a jacked up 4x4 and poorly aimed lights has his lows in my face I can blind him.

**98champ** · 11-17-2014 08:00 AM

Not a huge fan of aftermarket lights on anything but an offroad vehicle or an expedition vehicle. I can definitely see the use and I have some mounted hidden on my truck so those dark roads in the middle of no where were you see more deer and moose than cars it's definitely helpful.

Now if you were to make them removable and just kinda a winter thing it might work. I've always liked the look of this and the fact that he has them just for the winter. I forget the guys name on here but he's now moved onto the B8 platform...

**ECS Tuning-Audi** · 11-17-2014 08:16 AM

There was a few ppl with a B7's who retro fitted the S6 LED bar into the lower grille which I thought looked pretty good. Besides that I don't think I'd go for it.

Clicky Clicky

Jason

**Johnny1.8T** · 11-17-2014 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by 98champ

Okay now THAT looks sick

**walky_talky20** · 11-17-2014 10:34 AM

Needs 4 lights across though, right? Because quattro?

I think I'd prefer 2 or 4, but he is pulling of 3 pretty well there, I'll admit.

**bigeshorte45** · 11-17-2014 12:37 PM

That Avant looks

Any idea how he mounted the lights?

**98champ** · 11-17-2014 12:58 PM

The guys username is Ovegaa. I think they were attached by tabs that went to his grille or crash bar I forget. But I know he had a separate grille he ran in the winter that was cut out just for the lights to be kinda recessed into.

Link to some more pics I just found...
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...LED+spotlights

And I think if you search around the Avant subforum you can find a lot more info on exactly how it was done.

**Charles.waite** · 11-17-2014 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by PreciseD

I would like to mount this in my rear windshield, so when some dickhead with a jacked up 4x4 and poorly aimed lights has his lows in my face I can blind him.

Hhahaha. BEst idea ever!

**PreciseD** · 11-17-2014 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Charles.waite

Hhahaha. BEst idea ever!

I'm working on a rear mounted spotlight prototype.

**a4darkness** · 11-17-2014 01:23 PM

Pics

**Spike00513** · 11-17-2014 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by imnuts

Silverstar Ultra high beams.

I disagree. Osram 65w Rallye Off-Road-Use-Only bulbs are better.

Aim them right, and you're good to go.

**ZipMeUpJ** · 11-17-2014 01:58 PM

that wont fry the headlight harness?

**Charles.waite** · 11-17-2014 02:08 PM

Just get BiXenons...

**Pothole** · 11-17-2014 02:24 PM

^This

**Spike00513** · 11-17-2014 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by ZipMeUpJ

that wont fry the headlight harness?

I doubt it. The factory bulb is 55w. 65w is not much higher. A few B6 headlights came with H7's for their low, and high beam. Most B6 Audi headlights come with a projector for the low beam (that uses a D1S or D2S HID bulb), with an additional H7 for high beam only.

So not only are you barely increasing the power consumption by going up 10 watts, but you barely use that light anyway. I've been running it for a while now, and have no problems. It is my high beam only. I've also ran it in other cars to function as a low beam, which stays on all the time if the headlights are on, and they don't have problems either.

Many people are happy with their 65w rallye's and I believe it's popular among the Benz crowd because many of those cars headlights are made to use H7 low and hi beams, just like a non-xenon B6 headlight.

If you switched to 85w or 100w, then yes, I'd be scared of frying the harness.

**PreciseD** · 11-17-2014 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by a4darkness

Pics

Still working on it. Trying to figure what the most common slope for the rear window is not as easy as one would think.

**a4darkness** · 11-17-2014 02:49 PM

Yeah that does sound challenging.

**ZipMeUpJ** · 11-17-2014 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Spike00513

I doubt it. The factory bulb is 55w. 65w is not much higher. A few B6 headlights came with H7's for their low, and high beam. Most B6 Audi headlights come with a projector for the low beam (that uses a D1S or D2S HID bulb), with an additional H7 for high beam only.

So not only are you barely increasing the power consumption by going up 10 watts, but you barely use that light anyway. I've been running it for a while now, and have no problems. It is my high beam only. I've also ran it in other cars to function as a low beam, which stays on all the time if the headlights are on, and they don't have problems either.

Many people are happy with their 65w rallye's and I believe it's popular among the Benz crowd because many of those cars headlights are made to use H7 low and hi beams, just like a non-xenon B6 headlight.

If you switched to 85w or 100w, then yes, I'd be scared of frying the harness.

Oh oops. I thought the low beam h7s were 35w, my bad. My mh1 retro with 5000k and silverstar ultras are plenty bright. Ive always wondered how it would look if I squeezed another projector in the high beams. TRS also has an extra small h1 projector that I think would fit

quad bixenon

**PreciseD** · 11-17-2014 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by ZipMeUpJ

Oh oops. I thought the low beam h7s were 35w, my bad. My mh1 retro with 5000k and silverstar ultras are plenty bright. Ive always wondered how it would look if I squeezed another projector in the high beams. TRS also has an extra small h1 projector that I think would fit

quad bixenon

I thought it was 35w too. Guess I have been using HIDs too long.

I can attest to not using 100w bulbs. Did that on my first car (I was only 15) and melted the harness.

**imnuts** · 11-17-2014 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Spike00513

I disagree. Osram 65w Rallye Off-Road-Use-Only bulbs are better.

And not road legal. At least my suggestion will still work for a DD car. If you're going for off road bulbs, there are likely hundreds of better options.

Sent from my Moto X

**Spike00513** · 11-17-2014 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by imnuts

And not road legal. At least my suggestion will still work for a DD car. If you're going for off road bulbs, there are likely hundreds of better options.

I am not going for off-road bulbs. I am going for something that fits the function of our stock H7 55w bulbs, but is better, is reliable, and will not burn wiring. The Osram Rallye 65w bulb is the only bulb I know of, that does exactly that.

It doesn't matter if its not road legal or not. You don't use high beams on the road. The only time you use them is to flash for a milli-second, or to light up a dark road when there is no on-coming traffic. Often times, the only reason I have to flash, is to let somebody in oncoming traffic know that their high beams are on in city traffic at night and blinding people. But because local drivers are complete morons, in part due to the horrible system of "driver education" here, it makes absolutely no difference.

I understand the concern for using them as a constantly-running bulb, but that does not apply to 2002-2005 Audi A4's and S4's that use HID projectors and H7 high-beams.

And even then, plenty of people use them for constantly-running bulb positions, with absolutely no issues.

----------------------
Although a light bar might be nice, especially for those behind you, to blind the shit out of them and burn their retinas off so they stop that high-beam-in-traffic crap. SOMETHING. Maybe even a rear-ward mounted/facing 65w H7 Rallye bulb in the un-used fog light hole of our tail lights with any old H7 reflector bowl, for rearward flashing. And not a projector, because projectors are big, heavy, and are meant for constant use, not flashing.

You know what, this just might be my next mod. I can find an H7 reflector bowl for dirt cheap so...All I'd have to do is take apart one of my tail lights, glue the bowl in, and run some wiring...

I fear it will still not be enough. Ching Chong Nguyen, the 17 year old Asian kid who just got his license, will probably think I'm trying to reverse, or something is broken (if he even notices at all). If I got out the car and yelled at him to turn off his high beams, he wouldn't even know what a high beam is.

I guess it's back to plan A. Very bright off-road LED's mounted on all sides of a roof-rack, just like the I Am Legend SUV lights used to fend off the vampire things.

**Spike00513** · 11-17-2014 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by ZipMeUpJ

Oh oops. I thought the low beam h7s were 35w, my bad. My mh1 retro with 5000k and silverstar ultras are plenty bright. Ive always wondered how it would look if I squeezed another projector in the high beams. TRS also has an extra small h1 projector that I think would fit

quad bixenon

...no.....no...

It's already been done, foolishly, for a B7 or B8...there's a thread here on it...

HID's are not for toggling on and off, and that ruins them...they are for constant running...but your H7 high beam bulbs are great for toggling...they also light up much faster than projectors, which take time to warm up....

There is a reason why every projector headlight you've ever seen in your life, also comes with a reflect bowl for a bulb to act as high beam...

you're not the first one who has wondered about this..

**imnuts** · 11-17-2014 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Spike00513

I am not going for off-road bulbs. I am going for something that fits the function of our stock H7 55w bulbs, but is better, is reliable, and will not burn wiring. The Osram Rallye 65w bulb is the only bulb I know of, that does exactly that.

You specifically stated it was an off-road bulb, i.e. not street legal or DOT approved. AFAIK, 55w is the highest wattage street legal bulb available, so 65w is not legal. And while it may not seem like much, that's nearly 20% more power draw, which is a significant amount for the wiring. It may be OK for a little, but it won't have good long term reliability, nor would I ever attempt it.

Originally Posted by Spike00513

It doesn't matter if its not road legal or not. You don't use high beams on the road. The only time you use them is to flash for a milli-second, or to light up a dark road when there is no on-coming traffic. Often times, the only reason I have to flash, is to let somebody in oncoming traffic know that their high beams are on in city traffic at night and blinding people. But because local drivers are complete morons, in part due to the horrible system of "driver education" here, it makes absolutely no difference.

I frequently use my high beams for driving. They're on anytime the is no traffic oncoming, or in the distance traveling the same direction. Maybe you don't use them that way, but that doesn't mean others don't have that ability.

Sent from my Moto X

**ZipMeUpJ** · 11-17-2014 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Spike00513

...no.....no...

It's already been done, foolishly, for a B7 or B8...there's a thread here on it...

HID's are not for toggling on and off, and that ruins them...they are for constant running...but your H7 high beam bulbs are great for toggling...they also light up much faster than projectors, which take time to warm up....

There is a reason why every projector headlight you've ever seen in your life, also comes with a reflect bowl for a bulb to act as high beam...

you're not the first one who has wondered about this..

Im aware of the cons of HIDs but what i mean was a quad setup where you have four bixenon projectors. That way the bulbs are already warmed up and would act the same way as our bixenon single set ups, but FOUR

. I was on the verge of doing it on my last car before I totaled it.

**CyberPMG** · 11-18-2014 05:32 AM

I have the Hella LEDay Flex lighting kit which I've had custom mounted behind the fog light grills and use them as DRL. Have them wired to an OEM Funk switch (replaced the card holder) with the switch and 2 blanks). I know LED lighting isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I think it looks good. It's also from a good brand (since they do make some of our OEM parts). Not as intense as a full light bar, but I'm not using them as my main lighting source (have OEM S4 Bi-Xenon ecodes for that).