A3 and S3 owners check your taillights. Do you have red or amber indicators.

[gamegenie]

I'm totally confused now on what Audi's selection for North American, particularly USA cars on the red or amber colored tail indicators.

My A3 has the piss poor red indicators that blend right with the brake lights.

I made a thread somewhere ranting this finding as I noticed other A3s in other territories have amber.

Then, I just watched this American S3 review and to my surprise at 19:44, I see amber colored indicators.





There goes the remote theory that it was somehow DOT restriction.

A3/ S3 owner here please share what color is your indicators on your taillight when lit up. Amber (Yellow) or Red?

[Sandman626]

It could just be the calibration of my monitor, but at 19:44 I see red indicators.

[Audibot]

On my monitor, the top strip appears amber in color on both sides. However, the left taillight looks amber-ish in bright sunlight, while the right taillight looks red.

Why do you think red is piss poor?

[camoto]

I see a blue and black dress...

[gamegenie]

On my monitor, the top strip appears amber in color on both sides. However, the left taillight looks amber-ish in bright sunlight, while the right taillight looks red.

Why do you think red is piss poor?

because it's another compromise from a company that marketed the A3 as uncomprimised.

[j17avil]

I see a blue and black dress...

i only see white and gold...

[camoto]

because it's another compromise from a company that marketed the A3 as uncomprimised.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

[VW2Audi25]

I don't see what the big deal is. If I could pick, I would pick red (or anything else) over amber any day of the week. Amber is not exactly a pretty color, that's why most people change it out (like hiding the amber part of the LED headlights.) So why does you preferring one color over another make it compromised?

[will13k7]

red looks better imo. to each their own.

[Sandman626]

To answer your original question, red: http://vid763.photobucket.com/albums...n%20Signal.mp4

[WildHareMS]

because it's another compromise from a company that marketed the A3 as uncomprimised.

How is that a compromise? I prefer a single color lens and the red indicators. In my own opinion, which obviously doesn't matter to anyone but me, I think it's a cleaner, more sophisticated look.

Eh. Mine are red and I like em.

[VW2Audi25]

How is that a compromise? I prefer a single color lens and the red indicators. In my own opinion, which obviously doesn't matter to anyone but me, I think it's a cleaner, more sophisticated look.

Eh. Mine are red and I like em.

Agreed. Usually car enthusiasts prefer anything over amber and change the amber out. Audi made a great choice not making it amber. I wish the turning signal in my LED headlights were the same color as the LED running lights, but I have the ugly amber.

[will13k7]

I don't mind the amber turn signals in the front, but that amber reflector, ugh! lol.

[gamegenie]

I don't see what the big deal is. If I could pick, I would pick red (or anything else) over amber any day of the week. Amber is not exactly a pretty color, that's why most people change it out (like hiding the amber part of the LED headlights.) So why does you preferring one color over another make it compromised?

Here's why it's a compromise.

Here's how the turn indicator in the tail light of the A3 was first shown to us

jump to 0:38




After the concept design Audi took away the Dynamic animation from the indicator in Production A3.

but it still looked acceptable as shown on the A3 hatchback/sportback

Jump to 0:58


Then when it came to the A3 Saloon, it look like Audi compromised again, replacing the pipe LED with small little LED diodes for the signal.

Jump to 0:58


It still had the amber color.

But when the A3 finally came to America, they took away the amber color, making our versions even less similar to the cool indicators originally shown.


Now with that VAG-COM hack that can add dynamic animation back to the indicators on the A3, it will be bitter sweet on the US A3s having no amber color indicators to make it stand out over the red brake lights.

I hope I'm sounding clear. This is just one compromise of a lot I've counted with the US A3.

[VW2Audi25]

I wouldn't consider it a compromise. Every car maker changes the concept to something more realistic. I do not like amber myself so if I had to pick, I'd pick the red over the last version that you showed. The first video is more of an animation, which looks cool, but that has nothing to do with the color, but more to do with how the actual animation.

[gamegenie]

I wouldn't consider it a compromise. Every car maker changes the concept to something more realistic. I do not like amber myself so if I had to pick, I'd pick the red over the last version that you showed. The first video is more of an animation, which looks cool, but that has nothing to do with the color, but more to do with how the actual animation.

Let me break it down.

The first video at 0:38 of the tail light indicator is the animation (dynamic), color (amber), and type (full LED)

the 2nd video of the A3 sportback is the same as the first video minus the animation (dynamic)

the 3rd video the A3 saloon is the same as the video above it (2nd video) minus the type (full LED)

the US A3 sedan tail light indicators are minus all above,


I'm pissed that the last feature the color (amber) wasn't even provided over. At the very least that should have stayed unchanged from concept. But no.



Edit: I'm only showing the concept video as it shows you the evolution Audi's compromise on the A3 by the time it hit the US, we got the cheapest look of the tail light. It shouldn't have cost them anything to keep the amber lights in the tail light for the turn indicators.

The contrast colors made the car look distinctive when signaling.

How can you chose red when those tiny red indicators will be barely visible above the brake lights?

I think you fold too easy to Audi's compromise.

[Westlake]

gamegenie--I completely agree with you: amber turn indicators are much better and safer, and what every territory uses outside of North America.

However, I can guarantee you that this is not from Audi's choosing. First of all, the video you show may not be the accurate color of the turn signals; are they even the turn signals? why do both of them come on at the same time?

Secondly, I have spoken multiple times to the head of Audi lighting in Germany who has bemoaned the fact that the DOT will not allow amber turn signals, because they're not big enough (if they were bigger they could be amber). Also the size prohibits them being sequential. However, they have figured out how to make them sequential on the Q3 refresh, by keeping each preceding one on for a bit until the next one flashes.

Audi would prefer offering the same turn signals in every market in the world--as would all manufacturers. It would save them money.

[3Peat]

Looks aside, isn't the purpose of the indicators to advise other motorists or your intent to change lanes/turn? That being said, having them the same color as the rear brake lights just sounds and looks dangerous to me. When driving we have to be aware of our complete surroundings, and glancing at other cars apart from the car directly in front of us is all we usually do. Having two different intentions represented as the same color just doesn't make sense.

I guess it can come down to what you are used to. Here in Australia all indicators must be amber - fronts, mirrors, rear, but then we aren't required to have the amber reflectors on the front corners.

[DSTC-Off]

Looks aside, isn't the purpose of the indicators to advise other motorists or your intent to change lanes/turn? That being said, having them the same color as the rear brake lights just sounds and looks dangerous to me. When driving we have to be aware of our complete surroundings, and glancing at other cars apart from the car directly in front of us is all we usually do. Having two different intentions represented as the same color just doesn't make sense.

I guess it can come down to what you are used to. Here is Australia all indicators must be amber - fronts, mirrors, rear, but then we aren't required to have the amber reflectors on the front corners.

I agree with you 100%. There are many cars with combination brake/turn signal lights here in the US, and it gets confusing as as they start getting older and in various states of disrepair. They start burning out, and suddenly you think someone is turning when in reality they are slowing down, or the opposite.

[Mr.Jetta]

However, they have figured out how to make them sequential on the Q3 refresh, by keeping each preceding one on for a bit until the next one flashes.

Link? I have been hoping we can get our tails to be dynamic/sequential towards the outside. Maybe there is hope!

FWIW I prefer amber, both for looks, and safety. I have been trying to find a way to get the amber strips up front in my projectors too. (like the S3/LED headlights).

[jiannu]

I just checked and I have a Canadian 2016 Audi S3 and I have the red turn signals..... I coded it with OBD11 to sequential turn signals... Wondering how to revert back to amber to match the rest of the car(front & mirrors). Can I change the bulbs to get amber and if so is it easy?

[GordonC]

gamegenie--I completely agree with you: amber turn indicators are much better and safer, and what every territory uses outside of North America.

However, I can guarantee you that this is not from Audi's choosing. First of all, the video you show may not be the accurate color of the turn signals; are they even the turn signals? why do both of them come on at the same time?

Secondly, I have spoken multiple times to the head of Audi lighting in Germany who has bemoaned the fact that the DOT will not allow amber turn signals, because they're not big enough (if they were bigger they could be amber). Also the size prohibits them being sequential. However, they have figured out how to make them sequential on the Q3 refresh, by keeping each preceding one on for a bit until the next one flashes.

Audi would prefer offering the same turn signals in every market in the world--as would all manufacturers. It would save them money.

Looks aside, isn't the purpose of the indicators to advise other motorists or your intent to change lanes/turn? That being said, having them the same color as the rear brake lights just sounds and looks dangerous to me. When driving we have to be aware of our complete surroundings, and glancing at other cars apart from the car directly in front of us is all we usually do. Having two different intentions represented as the same color just doesn't make sense.

I guess it can come down to what you are used to. Here in Australia all indicators must be amber - fronts, mirrors, rear, but then we aren't required to have the amber reflectors on the front corners.

I agree with you 100%. There are many cars with combination brake/turn signal lights here in the US, and it gets confusing as as they start getting older and in various states of disrepair. They start burning out, and suddenly you think someone is turning when in reality they are slowing down, or the opposite.

+3 to the above. It's pretty much only in North America where red turn signals are allowed on the back of a vehicle, and that's historically due to the Big 3 American makers wanting to share bulbs so that the rear turn signal and brake light units are cheaper to manufacture. The arguments against red turn signals are clear, logical, proven by safety statistics, as presented above - amber turn signals can't be confused with red brake lights.

I had never heard the excuse presented above by the Audi Germany representative about the amber signal being too small - if the amber signal is too small, isn't the red signal too small? Unfortunately, Porsche, BMW, Audi, even Mercedes, gave in to the style above function marketing guys and switched to red turn signals for North America in recent years - it's their choice for style reasons only, and they have chosen poorly. I'd far sooner have amber turn signals at the back for safety reasons.

[mattvandyk]

Call it picky if you want, but the RS3 (which I have on order) has been shown in all of the videos to have the progressive/sweeping amber turn signals both front and back, and I'm gonna be very disappointed if the US version does not have it.


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The only way to have amber/orange rear turn signals is with Rest of World (European) taillights in place of the North American.

The RS3 that comes stateside will likely not have the sequential sweeping front signals as that is only fitted, so far, on matrix headlights which are not available in North America.

I am working on matrix retrofits for multiple models currently and hopefully upon release this will be an available upgrade for North American models.

For pre-facelift owners:

Taillight Package | A3, S3 Post-Facelift LED (Sedan, Cabriolet)

Taillight Package | A3, S3, RS3 Post-Facelift LED (Sportback)

For post-facelift owners I've been looking for an owner with VCDS that would like to do a little work for a discount on European taillights. This way we can get the adaptations sorted and make it a simpler installation.

If anyone with a post-facelift model is interested and has VCDS please don't hesitate to PM or email: [email protected]

Cheers,

[mattvandyk]

The only way to have amber/orange rear turn signals is with Rest of World (European) taillights in place of the North American.

The RS3 that comes stateside will likely not have the sequential sweeping front signals as that is only fitted, so far, on matrix headlights which are not available in North America.

I am working on matrix retrofits for multiple models currently and hopefully upon release this will be an available upgrade for North American models.

For pre-facelift owners:

Taillight Package | A3, S3 Post-Facelift LED (Sedan, Cabriolet)

Taillight Package | A3, S3, RS3 Post-Facelift LED (Sportback)

For post-facelift owners I've been looking for an owner with VCDS that would like to do a little work for a discount on European taillights. This way we can get the adaptations sorted and make it a simpler installation.

If anyone with a post-facelift model is interested and has VCDS please don't hesitate to PM or email: [email protected]

Cheers,

@Aoon_M indicated that he inadvertently got himself the NA version (which did not have amber signals), but it's unclear whether they swept.

Are you saying you don't expect the NA versions to sweep at all (front or back, even if only in red)? I thought I had read that they way they "solved" this to permit the sweeping was to momentarily have the first part of the sweep blink to meet the dumb DOT requirement. If that's not the case and they don't sweep at all (in either the front or the back), that would be a huge bummer, and I'd get on your retrofit list immediately. Is there a place to sign up to be notified when they're available? Also, do you expect your retrofit to have full Matrix functionality or just the sweeping amber turn signal?


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[[email protected]]

There are a fair number of sellers who aren't sorting properly through option codes and regions for the taillights. There are multiple types of post-facelift LED taillights for each body style. Some are dynamic, some are not.

The North American Post-Facelift A3/S3 models have a red turn dynamic sweeping turn signal, BUT the outer brake light also blinks normally with the sweeping turn.



This is where fitting the the Rest of World (European) lights makes for a cleaner and also safer appearance. It would be super helpful to have a North American A3/S3 owner with VCDS provide an adaptation map and this would help open up the Euro taillights to the post-facelift owners. Another bonus is that the price will be lower because there is no need for modules that output the dynamic signal since the post-facelift North American cars have this output.

Cheers,

[mattvandyk]

There are a fair number of sellers who aren't sorting properly through option codes and regions for the taillights. There are multiple types of post-facelift LED taillights for each body style. Some are dynamic, some are not.

The North American Post-Facelift A3/S3 models have a red turn dynamic sweeping turn signal, BUT the outer brake light also blinks normally with the sweeping turn.



This is where fitting the the Rest of World (European) lights makes for a cleaner and also safer appearance. It would be super helpful to have a North American A3/S3 owner with VCDS provide an adaptation map and this would help open up the Euro taillights to the post-facelift owners. Another bonus is that the price will be lower because there is no need for modules that output the dynamic signal since the post-facelift North American cars have this output.

Cheers,

Ah, okay. Thanks for clearing that up!

Any chance your Matrix retrofit will have full Matrix functionality?

EDIT: BTW, if that's the US setup in the video, I'm changing those ASAP. That is seriously obnoxious. The fact that the front doesn't sweep is annoying and the blinking with the sweep on the rear is dumb.


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Ah, okay. Thanks for clearing that up!

Any chance your Matrix retrofit will have full Matrix functionality?

EDIT: BTW, if that's the US setup in the video, I'm changing those ASAP. That is seriously obnoxious. The fact that the front doesn't sweep is annoying and the blinking with the sweep on the rear is dumb.

Headlights: Matrix retrofits will have full functionality, at least we are aiming for this one multiple models right now. Only the matrix headlights have the sweeping front turn signal, this cannot be retrofitted or added to a standard LED headlights.

Taillights: The North American taillights are in the video above and the sweeping turn signal will have the standard blinking brake light. The Rest of World (European) taillights will not have this plus will also have the amber sweeping turn signal.

A post-facelift A3/S3 owner with the dynamic rear turn signal and VCDS who would like to help out will get us that much closer to having the Euro taillight upgrade for the post-facelift North American models.

Thanks!

[mattvandyk]

Headlights: Matrix retrofits will have full functionality, at least we are aiming for this one multiple models right now. Only the matrix headlights have the sweeping front turn signal, this cannot be retrofitted or added to a standard LED headlights.

Taillights: The North American taillights are in the video above and the sweeping turn signal will have the standard blinking brake light. The Rest of World (European) taillights will not have this plus will also have the amber sweeping turn signal.

A post-facelift A3/S3 owner with the dynamic rear turn signal and VCDS who would like to help out will get us that much closer to having the Euro taillight upgrade for the post-facelift North American models.

Thanks!

Outstanding. I'm in. Where should I follow for updates? I will want both sets as soon as they're available.

Also, if you can wait until August, I'll be your Guinea pig. I will have a '18 US RS3 w/ VCDS. Shoot me a PM.


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Outstanding. I'm in. Where should I follow for updates? I will want both sets as soon as they're available.

Also, if you can wait until August, I'll be your Guinea pig. I will have a '18 US RS3 w/ VCDS. Shoot me a PM.

Look for updates on this forum in a new thread and/or the original post-facelift taillight upgrade thread as well.

Hopefully this will be set by August and ready for you to purchase by then.

Cheers,

[mattvandyk]

Look for updates on this forum in a new thread and/or the original post-facelift taillight upgrade thread as well.

Hopefully this will be set by August and ready for you to purchase by then.

Cheers,

Just to be clear, you're planning on doing tail lights AND matrix headlights, right? Thanks again for all your hard work!


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Both will get worked on. The taillights are being worked on now.

Matrix lights for multiple models are being worked on now. This will allow us to know more about doing the post-facelift A/S/RS3 matrix as well. Once the other model matrix installs are completed it will open up the door to these models.

Cheers,