What can we do about the orange reflector in US spec headlights

[coldair]

Let me preface this post by saying I'm a bit OCD. I like making small, incremental modifications to my cars that add up to a clean, OEM+ style. With that said, the orange reflector in the headlight is killing me. I come from the BMW world where the reflectors are in the front bumper and can be swapped out to a color-matched version within minutes.

Is there anything we can do about the reflector, besides spending $10k on a Euro spec set from Europrice?

I reached out to Bayoptiks who is known for upgrading headlights and they said there would be no problem opening the headlight and removing the lens, but theyre not sure what to put in it's place.

Does anyone know if we can get the gray Euro lens insert separate from the headlight itself?










Euro spec headlight ^




I know, I know, Im crazy... but I think this makes a huge difference in the overall look of the car. Any ideas? Haalpppp

[Jimminez@Nemesis]

Why replace the reflector? Can paint to match the interior and put it back if you need it.

[coldair]

Yeah, thats true, and actually a good idea. Perhaps paint the lens that dark gray that can be found throughout the headlight

[coldair]

Quick comparison of the two versions for those who weren't aware.

[sm0411]

Would the euro spec lights give you the other features such as area dimming?


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[RTW S4]

Curious to see what solutions people come up with but I don't think I'd have the balls to crack open these lights.

[coldair]

Would the euro spec lights give you the other features such as area dimming?


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Hmm, I’m not sure about that. I know in the BMW world the fully adaptive high beams with lane splitting can be turned on through coding. It really depends on if the US spec cars have the necessary hardware. If so, perhaps someone like [mention]ShawnPacificGerman [/mention]could turn the Euro features on through coding?

If the cars lack the necessary hardware, maybe Europrice can chime in on what’s required to make them fully functional.

[kidkoji]

I know these are on the headlights due to legal reasons, but do those reasons stop at import/sale? Will there be any potential repercussions from painting them / smoking them out? Would love to look in to deleting them, I got a blacked out spec and they stand out so damn much.

[Shawn@PacificGerman]

Hmm, I’m not sure about that. I know in the BMW world the fully adaptive high beams with lane splitting can be turned on through coding. It really depends on if the US spec cars have the necessary hardware. If so, perhaps someone like [mention]ShawnPacificGerman [/mention]could turn the Euro features on through coding?

If the cars lack the necessary hardware, maybe Europrice can chime in on what’s required to make them fully functional.

It may be possible, though the US lights may need a different set of parameters flashed to them to enable this function. I am not sure if anyone has tried yet so far, there could be a possibility that the modules could need changing but I have not looked into this yet.

I know these are on the headlights due to legal reasons, but do those reasons stop at import/sale? Will there be any potential repercussions from painting them / smoking them out? Would love to look in to deleting them, I got a blacked out spec and they stand out so damn much.

Technically they are required by DOT to be amber, and not altered atleast in the USA. However there is a very small chance anyone in your local law enforcement agency would notice this on the road.

[Thumper3]

Curious to see what solutions people come up with but I don't think I'd have the balls to crack open these lights.

Same here, not as long as the warranty is active for sure. I can only guess at what a replacement headlight would cost on these. lol

Technically they are required by DOT to be amber, and not altered atleast in the USA. However there is a very small chance anyone in your local law enforcement agency would notice this on the road.

Exactly, if a cop pulled you over for this you should buy a lottery ticket and stay inside when it's raining (because you might get struck by lightning lol). It's a federal government thing, unless you have some DOT bureaucrat who came up with the moron regulation driving next to you, no one is going to know or care. Color matched and shaved markers on BMWs, Golfs, Jetta's, ect have been around for decades.

[sm0411]

Same here, not as long as the warranty is active for sure. I can only guess at what a replacement headlight would cost on these. lol




Exactly, if a cop pulled you over for this you should buy a lottery ticket and stay inside when it's raining (because you might get struck by lightning lol). It's a federal government thing, unless you have some DOT bureaucrat who came up with the moron regulation driving next to you, no one is going to know or care. Color matched and shaved markers on BMWs, Golfs, Jetta's, ect have been around for decades.

After noticing that some are complaining about the headlights fogging up, I really wonder how much of a risk there is to opening the lens. It seems like there’s already a built-in system to allow for moisture to escape.


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[coldair]

It may be possible, though the US lights may need a different set of parameters flashed to them to enable this function. I am not sure if anyone has tried yet so far, there could be a possibility that the modules could need changing but I have not looked into this yet.


Technically they are required by DOT to be amber, and not altered atleast in the USA. However there is a very small chance anyone in your local law enforcement agency would notice this on the road.

Thanks, Shawn. I appreciate your input.

[coldair]

After noticing that some are complaining about the headlights fogging up, I really wonder how much of a risk there is to opening the lens. It seems like there’s already a built-in system to allow for moisture to escape.


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Also, I think the risk is mitigated further by having a company like Bayoptiks do it. All they do is open and modify headlights and then seal them. They're a very reputable name in the tuning community. Check out some of their work here.

https://bayoptiks.com/collections/pr...eadlights-only

I'll reach out again and possibly direct them to this thread to get their thoughts.

[DeputyDog95]

I never even noticed this before until you said something. Now it's all I can see. Thanks for that! LoL

That being said, for some reason Daytona seems to blend w the asphalt and I appear to be invisible to other drivers as evidenced by everyone trying to swerve into my lane by accident lately.

So I probably need all the visibility and contrast I can get :)

Will be interesting to see what you guys come up with.

[jgd]

I used some Lamin-x tinted film on my RS5 to darken. I will do the same with my RS6

[NPuter]

Hmm, I’m not sure about that. I know in the BMW world the fully adaptive high beams with lane splitting can be turned on through coding. It really depends on if the US spec cars have the necessary hardware. If so, perhaps someone like [mention]ShawnPacificGerman [/mention]could turn the Euro features on through coding?

If the cars lack the necessary hardware, maybe Europrice can chime in on what’s required to make them fully functional.

It is believed the US lights have the necessary hardware. @alex@europrice is working on the coding.

A friend with an RS7 is having his lights done at oneighty nyc soon. They are well known for headlight mods.

[lyldvlshRS4]

For older TT headlights (8N - first generation), I baked them in the oven and removed the front Makrolon glass, then removed the amber reflector.
For C5 RS6 and B7 A4/S4/RS4, you are able to remove the parking light bulb, reach in with nose pliers and slowly break down the amber reflector.

The question remains: Who wants to go first with tearing these headlights apart?

[sm0411]

It is believed the US lights have the necessary hardware. @alex@europrice is working on the coding.

A friend with an RS7 is having his lights done at oneighty nyc soon. They are well known for headlight mods.

I really hope @alex@europrice can because I’d love to make this work. I’m not sure how much the average person is unaware of how held back we are on current lighting technologies on our cars because of lazy and uneducated legislators. I remember stumbling across this video and another one on CNET before which I can’t find.

https://youtu.be/bGOiXMU32lk

Incredible work that Audi has done on the technology in these lights.


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[NPuter]

I really hope @alex@europrice can because I’d love to make this work. I’m not sure how much the average person is unaware of how held back we are on current lighting technologies on our cars because of lazy and uneducated legislators. I remember stumbling across this video and another one on CNET before which I can’t find.

https://youtu.be/bGOiXMU32lk

Incredible work that Audi has done on the technology in these lights.


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Yes I am definitely hoping this is figured out. Especially since I had matrix enabled on my F80 M3. Think I'd seriously miss not having it now.

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[BecksA3]

I just used taillight lens tint over the amber part, not the headlight part.
I didn’t want to remove it and end up failing a state inspection for not having it.

IMG_2189.jpg

[RTW S4]

Yes I am definitely hoping this is figured out. Especially since I had matrix enabled on my F80 M3. Think I'd seriously miss not having it now.

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I'm confused. I thought we had the HD matrix laser headlights (or whatever they are called) in the US? What's different besides the amber reflector? I haven't driven my car at night yet.

[lyldvlshRS4]

I'm confused. I thought we had the HD matrix laser headlights (or whatever they are called) in the US? What's different besides the amber reflector? I haven't driven my car at night yet.

look at the video posted on youtube linked in post#18.... start at 0:30 .... and look at how the headlights behave and optimize the lighting on the road. Then look at 1:19 and see how it continuously adjusts to not "Blind" the car in front, all the while optimizing the light on the road. The USA spec has the same headlight system as the Euro lights (with the addition of amber reflector) but the Matrix LED is not "active" in USA-spec cars.

[RTW S4]

look at the video posted on youtube linked in post#18.... start at 0:30 .... and look at how the headlights behave and optimize the lighting on the road. Then look at 1:19 and see how it continuously adjusts to not "Blind" the car in front, all the while optimizing the light on the road. The USA spec has the same headlight system as the Euro lights (with the addition of amber reflector) but the Matrix LED is not "active" in USA-spec cars.

Yep saw the video and I assumed that's what we have. Another bummer of that's not the case.

This is what the standard feature says: HD Matrix Design headlights with Audi Laser light and highbeam assist.

Since ours doesn't say LED is that what's missing?

[lyldvlshRS4]

Yep saw the video and I assumed that's what we have. Another bummer of that's not the case.

This is what the standard feature says: HD Matrix Design headlights with Audi Laser light and highbeam assist.

Since ours doesn't say LED is that what's missing?

All we have now is an "automatic" high beam feature... that works really well, and toggles between high and low when it detects the presence of a car (sometimes it is triggered by a reflection from a sign). Our headlights are the same as the european ones, but the feature is not active... once someone figures out how to activate it, I am sure there will be plenty of happy RS6 owners!!

[pwdrskr]

Exactly, if a cop pulled you over for this you should buy a lottery ticket and stay inside when it's raining (because you might get struck by lightning lol). It's a federal government thing, unless you have some DOT bureaucrat who came up with the moron regulation driving next to you, no one is going to know or care. Color matched and shaved markers on BMWs, Golfs, Jetta's, ect have been around for decades.

I can say from personal experience there is essentially a zero percent chance of being cited for this. I’ve been running our ‘13 A4 allroad for 8 years with e-code headlights (purchased specifically to remove the amber side markers) and have the euro matrix lights on our ‘19 RS5 (shout out to @alex@europrice for help getting these purchased/installed). Not only have I never been pulled over for this, we recently moved from Seattle to the San Diego area last summer (an adventure is itself thanks to COVID) and the DMW inspection guys didn’t blink an eye. Inspection was all about the engine hardware, namely emissions components (another “adventure” - allroad failed due to Eurocode branded HOSES and CONNECTORS, not the aftermarket FMIC mind you, hose/connectors. Solved that by re-orienting the hoses to hide lettering. Stupid).

We are about to trade the allroad in for either the RS6 (if we can make the numbers work and I can talk the better half into it) or an A6 allroad (easier sell with the wife). Regardless, I’ll be looking to delete the orange side markers too.

[Corgiman30]

I wouldn’t worry about being cited for this but seems like you’re removing a safety feature if you just paint over them. Aren’t the European ones reflective but white/grey?

[Grundel76]

Isn’t it crazy how the US has a law about amber side markers but not amber turn signals and Europe is all about amber turn signals and not side markers?

BTW, for all interested, I think I read an article on Jalopnik about decreased accidents with amber turn signals.

[Thumper3]

IsnÂ’t it crazy how the US has a law about amber side markers but not amber turn signals and Europe is all about amber turn signals and not side markers?

BTW, for all interested, I think I read an article on Jalopnik about decreased accidents with amber turn signals.

Useless government intrusion is always crazy. Here's one to add to it, my Touareg has amber turn signals installed by factory, but they are ONLY activated for hazard lights, the turn signals are forced through the brake lights. Because the turn signal area is 'too small' per a government bureaucrat. Evidently it is unsafe to have a small lens for a turn indicator, but that same lens is perfectly safe to be used as a warning of a incapacitated vehicle..........LMAO

[Grundel76]

Useless government intrusion is always crazy. Here's one to add to it, my Touareg has amber turn signals installed by factory, but they are ONLY activated for hazard lights, the turn signals are forced through the brake lights. Because the turn signal area is 'too small' per a government bureaucrat. Evidently it is unsafe to have a small lens for a turn indicator, but that same lens is perfectly safe to be used as a warning of a incapacitated vehicle..........LMAO

Which is why we never got the awesome rear signal lights of the prior Gen Audi’s. Instead of a moving illuminated strip, we have to have a solid block PLUS an animated strip. The only way around this is doing what Ford Mustangs have with the sequential blocks for the turn signals...

Not sure why the European standards are not good enough for the US.

[pwdrskr]

Which is why we never got the awesome rear signal lights of the prior Gen Audi’s. Instead of a moving illuminated strip, we have to have a solid block PLUS an animated strip. The only way around this is doing what Ford Mustangs have with the sequential blocks for the turn signals...

Not sure why the European standards are not good enough for the US.

...or replace with euro spec lights. Did this on both our B8.5 allroad and our B9 RS5. The B9 RS5 tail lights also have far less red plastic, They have quite a bit of clear, lightly smoked plastic. Side benefit is "recovery" of rear fog lights. Granted, this solution isn't the most cost effective...
0845E74F-EB5C-4232-9656-255315734AA4.jpg

[Roman8er]

I never even noticed this before until you said something. Now it's all I can see. Thanks for that! LoL

That being said, for some reason Daytona seems to blend w the asphalt and I appear to be invisible to other drivers as evidenced by everyone trying to swerve into my lane by accident lately.

So I probably need all the visibility and contrast I can get :)

Will be interesting to see what you guys come up with.

When you have a car in an asphalt matching color you're supposed to drive fast enough that no one can catch up to you. Stealth, ya know. That's my plan.