b8.5 a4 headlight drl

[Nick27]

ive got a 2014 Audi A4 with 2 different drl colours they are slightly off (led strip) one is more white then other is a hit of blue in it...how can I fix this is would replacing the bulb help or is there any vag com fix I can do ?

[DrGER]

ETKA doesn't show a part number for the LED DRL in our bi-xenon headlights, so I presume it is not replaceable separately. And I haven't looked lately, but I don't recall seeing anything in VCDS for the BCM (Address 09) that affects the DRL color (only brightness and operating modes). --g

[MyDimeIsUp]

Yeah I got a brand new headlight on my B8.5. Driver has 148k miles and passenger is brand new. Its very blue while the driver is slightly yellow (not as yellow as you'd think for 148k miles though). AFAIK no way to replace the DRL strip easily. Some have done it for RGB swaps but not much info.

[Nick27]

Yeah I got a brand new headlight on my B8.5. Driver has 148k miles and passenger is brand new. Its very blue while the driver is slightly yellow (not as yellow as you'd think for 148k miles though). AFAIK no way to replace the DRL strip easily. Some have done it for RGB swaps but not much info.

thats exactly my issue..althought mine is blueish and one is white no yellowing for now....arent they all built in the same shop? how does this happen?

[btb.tyler09]

thats exactly my issue..althought mine is blueish and one is white no yellowing for now....arent they all built in the same shop? how does this happen?

There is unfortunately a pretty broad variation in color between each LED. Eventually I think most will yellow as they age. I actually just recieved my first revision of a pcb I designed to replace the DRLs. My goal is to color match them for people who don't like the variation or have failing LEDs. I haven't tested the LEDs I bought yet, but I'm hoping their color consistency is better than the ones produced 5-10 years ago for these cars.

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[DrGER]

Did you see this AW thread on the same topic: https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a4-.../#post25543664

[btb.tyler09]

Did you see this AW thread on the same topic: https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a4-.../#post25543664

I believe the replacement boards this guy used from em tuning are the RGBW boards which have their own controller and are unfortunately dimmer than factory. From pictures I've seen, and based on my experience testing LEDs in b8.5 headlights, i don't think they are bright enough for use in daylight. These are a cool option but I've spent a lot of time trying to find both white and amber leds to build a switchback DRL. The new pcbs I've designed should be a direct replacement for oem with no soldering required and no error lights. I also hope to have some with a separate amber led which will allow for switchback function. I've been testing the LEDs for over a year now, and just need to find time to solder up some of the PCBs to install in my car. Here's my old thread on the switchback ones.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85737820220106_154645.jpg

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[MyDimeIsUp]

I believe the replacement boards this guy used from em tuning are the RGBW boards which have their own controller and are unfortunately dimmer than factory. From pictures I've seen, and based on my experience testing LEDs in b8.5 headlights, i don't think they are bright enough for use in daylight. These are a cool option but I've spent a lot of time trying to find both white and amber leds to build a switchback DRL. The new pcbs I've designed should be a direct replacement for oem with no soldering required and no error lights. I also hope to have some with a separate amber led which will allow for switchback function. I've been testing the LEDs for over a year now, and just need to find time to solder up some of the PCBs to install in my car. Here's my old thread on the switchback ones.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85737820220106_154645.jpg

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If I were to do this on my headlights I'd be down to buy your board. I'd be happy to pay, just hopefully you don't Audi tax the product up to 10,000% like the dealer does (like that dipstick tube I had to buy for $102)

[Nick27]

how do u get these into the lights and what is the cost of this repair ?! do I need to open my headlights?

[Smac770]

Yes, you'd have to crack open the headlamps and then reseal them, hoping it all goes well. Basically a lot of time with a heat gun and an f-ton of patience. There are videos out there. It differs for B8.0 vs B8.5, and for halogen vs HID.

[btb.tyler09]

I have produced replacement DRL boards. If anyone needs a set. Just send me a PM or reach out on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/brookerdynamics/

I created an instruction manual for install that you can look at here:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ah5xP6Ic-gPhnIgS...cpaBQ?e=KOOqeA

Thanks,
Tyler

[itlnstallion818]

How does this work? if they're yellowing, isn't it the light mechanism itself? whats happening to the PCB?

[btb.tyler09]

How does this work? if they're yellowing, isn't it the light mechanism itself? whats happening to the PCB?

The DRL lights are surface mount LEDs that can't be replaced without replacing the entire PCB. These boards are glued to a heatsink in the headlights. You have to pull apart the headlights remove these heatsinks and the original DRL boards to replace them with new ones. The instruction manual goes into much more detail about this. You may be thinking about the LED driver on the bottom of the headlight, this doesn't replace that.

20220618043258_IMG_0078.jpg

[Smac770]

Crazy to think they say LEDs are more energy efficient (and they are) than incandescent when there's that massive heat sink to get rid of all the heat generated from the unuseful (no light generation) energy consumption.

[btb.tyler09]

Crazy to think they say LEDs are more energy efficient (and they are) than incandescent when there's that massive heat sink to get rid of all the heat generated from the unuseful (no light generation) energy consumption.

They're definitely more efficient energy consumption wise. Unfortunately they are also very sensitive to heat, and since these run continuously in a closed headlamp without any airflow, the only real way to cool them is with a large amount of surface area. I've been running some continuously for several days at a time as part of my testing, and they put off almost no heat. I'm sure Audi designed them to survive running at double their rated current in a dessert at 50C or something like that. Unfortunately Audi also considers the life of a vehicle to be ~100k miles so these things are dying as our cars hit that point. With no easy way to replace them either.

[Smac770]

Ok, so not like an amp heat sink so much as just trying to maximize dissipation of what heat is generated. Kind of like pointed out in this video, where the metal plate of a LED fixture helps keep the heat down around the circuitry vs the LED bulb: https://youtu.be/fsIFxyOLJXM?t=956 But the DRLs are run at a far lower power level I so the net heat is far less than in that video example.

"no easy way to replace them" is even more disappointing with the B9 LED head lamps, where your turn signal LED goes out, it's a multi-grand headlamp replacement. Doubt regulation will do anything about forcing affordable repairability on overly-integrated components like this. They're the last people that need things reasonably affordable.

[btb.tyler09]

Ok, so not like an amp heat sink so much as just trying to maximize dissipation of what heat is generated. Kind of like pointed out in this video, where the metal plate of a LED fixture helps keep the heat down around the circuitry vs the LED bulb: https://youtu.be/fsIFxyOLJXM?t=956 But the DRLs are run at a far lower power level I so the net heat is far less than in that video example.

"no easy way to replace them" is even more disappointing with the B9 LED head lamps, where your turn signal LED goes out, it's a multi-grand headlamp replacement. Doubt regulation will do anything about forcing affordable repairability on overly-integrated components like this. They're the last people that need things reasonably affordable.

Yeah. i've heard even new GM tail lamps are like this in their higher end stuff. If your turn signal goes out you buy a new tail light. It's crazy. If I ever buy a b9 I might look into getting replacement boards made to solve that. It seems like most people are nervous to tackle this install though.

[btb.tyler09]

Finally have switchback DRLs ready, hit me up if you want some. Took a lot of work to get to a reliable kit with an easy install and no bulb out warnings.GX010046_1662031421519_1.jpg

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