B9 headlight performance

[RockJGC]

A friend of mine just picked up a B9 A5. As a B8 and also B8.5 owner, I must say that the car looks better in person than it does in pictures, but it's still not as pretty as my B8.5 ;) Anyway, driving at night, I noticed that the new LED headlights are not nearly as good as the HID headlights on my car. Had anyone been disappointed in the headlights illumination? I honestly expected them to be better, not worse. That's really surprising, as I thought LED technology was superior.

[IanCH]

You gonna do a side by side comparison and actually show some evidence or are you just going to throw perceived shade and build a thread on random biased opinions?

[tinman143]

You gonna do a side by side comparison and actually show some evidence or are you just going to throw perceived shade and build a thread on random biased opinions?

+1

[RockJGC]

You gonna do a side by side comparison and actually show some evidence or are you just going to throw perceived shade and build a thread on random biased opinions?

I posted a question. This wasn't a scientific experiment and I wasn't stating any explicit factual evidence. But even Stevie Wonder would probably be able to see the difference, while driving in the car, as it's very apparent. Do you own a B9 A5? Or even a B8 A5, for that matter? You might actually have a basis for comparison if you did....

[Ice_2k]

FWIW, my wife drives a 2014 A3 with LED headlights and it seems to light up the road better than my B8.5 S5 does

[bknewtype]

the LED in my TTs lights up way better than my :

a5 with ecodes and HID
r8 with HID

its a HUGE difference, even my turn signals which is amber LED illuminates the whole road so I don't see the 5 being any different

[RockJGC]

the LED in my TTs lights up way better than my :

a5 with ecodes and HID
r8 with HID

its a HUGE difference, even my turn signals which is amber LED illuminates the whole road so I don't see the 5 being any different

Interesting. The headlights in the new A5 are not at all impressive from what I've seen.

So a quick Google search revealed that IIHS now does headlight testing on new cars. Unfortunately, they haven't tested the TT yet, but I did find a test of the 2018 A5 and the headlights were found to be marginal:

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/veh...e-2-door-coupe

[Mops@Nemesis]

My B9 and 8V LED lamps are certainly better/brighter than the B8 ones. The B8 ones are quite weak. Not as bright as the B7 ones.

[RockJGC]

My B9 and 8V LED lamps are certainly better/brighter than the B8 ones. The B8 ones are quite weak. Not as bright as the B7 ones.

Yeah, the B9 A4 gets a higher rating than the B9 A5, both with LEDs. I guess not all headlights are created equal.

For the record, I noticed a difference between my B8 and my B8.5 cars and they were both obviously projector HID. Different headlight housings though, so that might be partially the reason for the difference.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/veh...oor-sedan/2017

[Mops@Nemesis]

I guess not. Quite odd. My FL 8V S3 ones were especially good. I've not paid that much attention to my B9 S4 as I got used to the S3 ones. When I drive my B8.5 SQ5 the difference is hugely noticeable. So from my experience the LEDs are certainly superior. I'm not a lighting guy really, but the lamps were one of my favorite parts of the S3. And the signals are nutty bright as BK said, and the driving/fog lights too.

[RockJGC]

I guess not. Quite odd. My FL 8V S3 ones were especially good. I've not paid that much attention to my B9 S4 as I got used to the S3 ones. When I drive my B8.5 SQ5 the difference is hugely noticeable. So from my experience the LEDs are certainly superior. I'm not a lighting guy really, but the lamps were one of my favorite parts of the S3. And the signals are nutty bright as BK said, and the driving/fog lights too.

Yup, if you look up the A3 LEDs, they get a higher rating as well. Not sure how there can be such a big difference, but it looks like Audi might use different components (probably projector lenses, I'd guess) across the model lines.

Anyway, this wasn't meant to be a controversial topic. It was just an observation that I noticed. Now I'm interested to learn more about LED headlights....

[Mops@Nemesis]

Yea, I know next to nothing about lighting. Actually, lets go with nothing. Lol. I only know I was really excited about my 8V ones. I'll pay close attention to my B9 ones. Now that the days are getting shorter, I'll actually need them

8V...

[freesole]

Comparing the B9 S5 headlights to a 2016 Q5 with ecodes, the S5 headlights are far brighter.

[joe biker]

I had a 16S5 and loved the
Headlights.
I now own a 18S4 and the
full led headlights put my
Old S5 to shame.
Like night n day
Really enjoying the new
LED headlights.


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[IanCH]

I posted a question. This wasn't a scientific experiment and I wasn't stating any explicit factual evidence. But even Stevie Wonder would probably be able to see the difference, while driving in the car, as it's very apparent. Do you own a B9 A5? Or even a B8 A5, for that matter? You might actually have a basis for comparison if you did....

Car is on the way (next week). I dont need to own a car to have an objective argument with your methodology.

You however, know someone with a B9 and have a B8.5 which you claim is better.... go find a wall at night with your buddy and take some pictures, maybe try different distances too.

[RockJGC]

Car is on the way (next week). I dont need to own a car to have an objective argument with your methodology.

You however, know someone with a B9 and have a B8.5 which you claim is better.... go find a wall at night with your buddy and take some pictures, maybe try different distances too.

Don't look now, but everyone is chiming in with "my XXX car's headlights is better than my old XXX car's headlights" in this thread. How's that for an objective argument on my methodology?

And I'll run out right now and tell my friend that he has to meet me so we can put the cars side by side in front of a wall to take pics so that I can post them tp satisfy some random guy on the internet who is questioning my methodology. LOL, okay, I'll get right on that. Thanks for the laugh....

[RockJGC]

I dont need to own a car to have an objective argument with your methodology.
.

They have some fantastic methodology. Check it out:

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/veh...e-2-door-coupe

[minho80]

I had a bmw f10 with led and they where brighter than the s5 sportback one , the one thing it annoys me is the high beam they seem to be pointing too high on the road , anyone notice this? They point up towards the sign of the road and gets wash out


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[Jimmy ny]

I noticed this during and after a heavy rain storm. The lights did not illuminate well the wet ground.


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[machz]

This is normal no matter what light you have as the light is reflected/bounced away from you as the water fills the voids in the pavement.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

The 17 A6 LED headlights are good, they just seem to be aimed at the ground too low. Going to see if they can bring the up a smidge. That may be the issue.

[InfiniteEnd]

So I'm actually having opposite feelings as some members about the B9 (I have the s4 one). I used the high beams this weekend in the mountains, i felt like they weren't strong enough and didnt hit high or hard enough to illuminate further when i was going around mountain curves in the dark, what do y'all think?

[Seinsmeld13]

I just came back from a long trip which included some night driving. I didn't say anything to the wife about the headlights. I had the high beams on and was very impressed with the performance. The Mrs. commented on how good the lights were. I told her I was very impressed as they were auto dimming and returning back to high beam without my input. This to me is the best feature of the car other than the looks and incredible engine. I would pay a $2,500.00 option price for these lights. I can't say anymore.