2014 A4 headlights seem dim - Is this normal?

[CCTravis]

I just got a 2014 A4 S Line and the headlights seem so dim to me when driving at night. I often do not think they are on but they are. Is this normal and do I just need to upgrade the lights or is this not normal?

If it's a matter of upgrading them to be brighter where do you suggest I get those new lights?

Thanks
CC

[twixinthemix]

Do you have halogens or bi-xenons? Halogens are absolute trash. If bi-xenons you probably just need them adjusted. They generally work or don't.

[CCTravis]

Do you have halogens or bi-xenons? Halogens are absolute trash. If bi-xenons you probably just need them adjusted. They generally work or don't.

I am not sure. I have whatever came stock on the S line in 2014. Is there an easy way to check? I think they are Xeons? What would I need to do to adjust them?

[razir66]

I purchased a 2014 A4 last february and had the exact same issue! In the case of my car, the previous owner installed lowering springs and never recalibrated the headlights so they were basically pointing at the ground. I just pointed the car at my garage and adjusted the white alignment screws until it was up to my liking. You can also take it to Audi and have it aligned perfectly I guess but I'm happy with the way mine are set. Mine are also xenon with the auto-leveling and I think lowering the car affects the auto-leveling position. Of course I don't know why your car is aimed wrong so maybe something different.

[Smac770]

Generally, the upper cut off edge you see for the low beams should be down 1% of the distance from the head lamps. So if you park your car on a level surface pointed at an upright flat wall with a distance of 10' (120") from the wall to the headlamp, the cut off line should be at 1.2" (1% of 120") below the height of the middle of the headlamp bulb. This specification is based on the fuel tank being (near) full and a driver (or equivalent weight) in the driver's seat. You'll notice the cut off edge is lower on the left and higher on the right of center. It's the lower left side that you are checking.

[DrGER]

I am not sure. I have whatever came stock on the S line in 2014. Is there an easy way to check? I think they are Xeons? What would I need to do to adjust them?

If the headlamp has a projector lens, bi-xenon; if no projector lens, halogen. Confirm with PR code affixed to spare tire well in trunk (e.g., 8EH = "Bi-functional headlamps with gas discharge lamp, for driving on the right(US design)" --g

[Smac770]

2014 A4, if he has s-line on the fender then it also came with HIDs. "s-line" means little that year as nearly every US MY14 A4 had the s-line exterior components (optional on Premium, standard on P+ and Prestige), but it does mean you have HID if you have the fender badge. Unless he's referring to the actual s-line interior package was only an option on the Prestige and included components such as the s-line embossed sport seats and black headliner, etc.

visuals:
B8.5 A4 halogens - https://www.carparts.com/details/Aud...EPA100198.html
B8.5 A4 HIDs - https://www.carparts.com/details/Aud...A10010014.html

[Theiceman]

my 14 is insanely bright .. so i would think something is wrong. Even after lowering mu car 35mm the auto leveling system some how took care of this and i had to adjust nothing. my cars headlights also move left right as i drive so im not sure if they all do that.
almost sounds like you just have DRLs on.
what are high beams like ? mine are insane and will light up the entire roadway on a dark night including trees. i think these car use the same bulbs with just an eyelid that moves for high beams.

[Ringsby4]

my 14 is insanely bright .. so i would think something is wrong. Even after lowering mu car 35mm the auto leveling system some how took care of this and i had to adjust nothing. my cars headlights also move left right as i drive so im not sure if they all do that.
almost sounds like you just have DRLs on.
what are high beams like ? mine are insane and will light up the entire roadway on a dark night including trees. i think these car use the same bulbs with just an eyelid that moves for high beams.

Ours too-super bright.This is on a 2013 S-line,Bi-xenons and way better than the Bi-xenons on our previous B7 ( which had several different globes fitted and all not as good ) It has a different base configuration,maybe the late bulbs are improved ? but can't really compare if you have halogens.

[MyDimeIsUp]

my 14 is insanely bright .. so i would think something is wrong. Even after lowering mu car 35mm the auto leveling system some how took care of this and i had to adjust nothing. my cars headlights also move left right as i drive so im not sure if they all do that.
almost sounds like you just have DRLs on.
what are high beams like ? mine are insane and will light up the entire roadway on a dark night including trees. i think these car use the same bulbs with just an eyelid that moves for high beams.

The cornering lights were an optional package and are indiscernible from only auto-leveling bi-xenon headlights. I actually took a slow-motion video of my headlights flipping from regular to high beams and you could see the shutter/flap fall down on the wall.

[Theiceman]

Actually I am not talking about cornering lights .. I am taking about adaptive headlights that will move with steering input. I do have the cornering lights too though... As I wind through the forest roads here my headlights look around the bends as inturn in to a certain degree, without lighting. Cornering lights. It is very cool...
The reason I brought it up is I thought maybe they use a different headlight for this.

Sent from my SM-G973W using Audizine Forum mobile app

[Smac770]

The HID bulb is the same for the 8Q3 (not AFS) and 8Q5 (AFS) headlamps. If that's the question.

[Theiceman]

The HID bulb is the same for the 8Q3 (not AFS) and 8Q5 (AFS) headlamps. If that's the question.

Yes that's what I was wondering.

Sent from my SM-G973W using Audizine Forum mobile app

[CCTravis]

Figured out I do have the code 8EH so I must have the bi-xenon lights. Is adjusting them something I can easily do myself?

[CCTravis]

my 14 is insanely bright .. so i would think something is wrong. Even after lowering mu car 35mm the auto leveling system some how took care of this and i had to adjust nothing. my cars headlights also move left right as i drive so im not sure if they all do that.
almost sounds like you just have DRLs on.
what are high beams like ? mine are insane and will light up the entire roadway on a dark night including trees. i think these car use the same bulbs with just an eyelid that moves for high beams.

When I turn on my high beams I notice very little difference. I checked as I said previously and my light code is 8EH. I want to be able to talk with some sort of certainty about this issue with my mechanic to try and get my lights as bright as yours just not sure what to suggest. When I called him he said they had auto-leveling and should be fine but at night they are not. The lights are working not sure why the brightness is not what you all describe.

[CCTravis]

I purchased a 2014 A4 last february and had the exact same issue! In the case of my car, the previous owner installed lowering springs and never recalibrated the headlights so they were basically pointing at the ground. I just pointed the car at my garage and adjusted the white alignment screws until it was up to my liking. You can also take it to Audi and have it aligned perfectly I guess but I'm happy with the way mine are set. Mine are also xenon with the auto-leveling and I think lowering the car affects the auto-leveling position. Of course I don't know why your car is aimed wrong so maybe something different.

Is it easy to access the screws? I asked my mechanic and he said the car had auto leveling.

[MyDimeIsUp]

Actually I am not talking about cornering lights .. I am taking about adaptive headlights that will move with steering input. I do have the cornering lights too though... As I wind through the forest roads here my headlights look around the bends as inturn in to a certain degree, without lighting. Cornering lights. It is very cool...
The reason I brought it up is I thought maybe they use a different headlight for this.

Sent from my SM-G973W using Audizine Forum mobile app

Would you happen to post a video? I remember searching for this on YouTube bcuz i was interested but only found people enabling the fog light mod and calling it "cornering lights".

[MyDimeIsUp]

Is it easy to access the screws? I asked my mechanic and he said the car had auto leveling.

Very easy, ill post a reply tomorrow with a pdf from ECStuning on how to level headlights

[Smac770]

It's hard to judge visual observations without pics. If you're seeing no change on a wall between low and high beam, you would seem to have an issue with the shutter than should move between the two states. You should see a marked difference in the light pattern above the break line - https://youtu.be/3ar9bGLYLmI

DRLs:
HID 0 DRL.jpg

Low beam:
HID 1 low beam.jpgHID 3 low beam close.jpg

High beam:
HID 2 high beam.jpgHID 4 high beam close.jpg

You see how for high beam, the shutter shifts to throw the "wings" up and out, whereas for low beam it shifts to basically "fold" the wings over.

[MyDimeIsUp]

It's hard to judge visual observations without pics. If you're seeing no change on a wall between low and high beam, you would seem to have an issue with the shutter than should move between the two states. You should see a marked difference in the light pattern above the break line - https://youtu.be/3ar9bGLYLmI

DRLs:
HID 0 DRL.jpg

Low beam:
HID 1 low beam.jpgHID 3 low beam close.jpg

High beam:
HID 2 high beam.jpgHID 4 high beam close.jpg

You see how for high beam, the shutter shifts to throw the "wings" up and out, whereas for low beam it shifts to basically "fold" the wings over.

As promised, here is the link. Adjusting the headlights starts on page 11 https://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f...it_Install.pdf I had the same problem as my car was rebuilt and it seems they never bothered to realign the headlights (though everything else seems to be all tidy)

[CCTravis]

As promised, here is the link. Adjusting the headlights starts on page 11 https://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f...it_Install.pdf I had the same problem as my car was rebuilt and it seems they never bothered to realign the headlights (though everything else seems to be all tidy)

You need to buy an aftermarket kit to adust the headlights?

[Perry01]

You need to buy an aftermarket kit to adust the headlights?

No

[Smac770]

You need to buy an aftermarket kit to adust the headlights?

It's a document. Take from the document the information you require (how to adjust the headlights properly) and ignore the rest.

As for the pic showing the adjuster screw, it's not quite right for a B8.5 8K. See this "pic" - https://youtu.be/7bnqyqN49gA?t=271