HID vs LED Headlights

[Yevgeniy24]

Hey all,

I am in the market for a 2017-2018 A6 3.0T. I found one that has all the options I’m looking for except it has HID headlights. For those with experience, how noticeable is the difference between the two? Are the LEDs a must have?


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[bahula03]

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...oor-sedan/2017

Not real world experience, but maybe helpful if you haven't come across the headlight tests already.

[Yevgeniy24]

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...oor-sedan/2017

Not real world experience, but maybe helpful if you haven't come across the headlight tests already.

Thanks! I did see this, that’s why I was hoping to hear someone else’s opinion. I suppose actual safety tests are more valid than a random persons comment though haha


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[CBD]

My 2014 S6 Prestige has the LEDs. My last car was a BMW 335d with HID lights with adaptive cornering. IMO, the adaptive HIDs were far superior to my current LEDs, especially when cornering. Sharp-ish corners with the LEDs are barely visible, especially to the left. On very sharp corners, the LED turn lights help, but not on curvy roads. On straights, LEDs are fine, but I felt the HIDs threw a better light pattern. I might be able to fine tune the aim of the LEDs. Overall, I don’t think you’ll be missing much by having the HIDs.

[Alabama]

I am in the market for a 2017-2018 A6 3.0T. I found one that has all the options I’m looking for except it has HID headlights. For those with experience, how noticeable is the difference between the two? Are the LEDs a must have?

My prior Audi had HID, the current LED. There's more to how good a headlight is than just the bulb. On low beam the HID and LED seem to my perception to be about the same. The LED high beam seems superior. The difference that caught my attention is that LED should draw less current than HID for same light output.

[5000S]

I have HID's in my A6 and I think they work very well. I also have experience with LED's in other vehicles. My advice is to get this vehicle if it meets
your needs. When looking for a car, you can chase many things, this one should not be an issue.
Let us know what you end up getting....

[paul-g]

i've owned both and i have to say my LED's are very nice and a lot of very focused light on the ground BUT it comes with a draw back. For me as much as i love them the only draw back is when using low beam (which is 99% of the time) i had to adjust them up as with LED's there is a very distinct cut off line (due to the housing design for sure) at the top where the light meets the road, so much so that it makes it very hard to see at times when going over hills and stuff. Now with some adjustment i've overcome this for most situations but living where it is very hilly when coming into a dip downhill seeing the road far enough out and seeing what might be in road ahead can be difficult unless i'm on high beams. with a projector style HID housing is there the light is more scattered and not as focused or defined if that makes sense?

i love the LED lights, the housings make the front look so much nicer and i would get them again but when you drive at night and don't have adjusted for you you'll know exactly what i mean. for mean wouldn't make or break a sale for the right car if thats the only thing i was missing. Also, and i don't know the answer to this, if an HID unit goes bad there are so many aftermarket solutions if my LED's go bad....super expensive as the whole light needs replacing.

[Bike_Pilot]

I have the LEDs and as the others have noted I've also found them to be generally good on low beam, but the cut off is more abrupt than anything else I've owned so it's a bit harder to see around left hand corners. I should probably try and adjust them up and left slightly--I think there's probably some room to do so without blinding other road users. On high beam they are fantastic and really throw a lot of light out there. One other disadvantage compared to traditional lights is that they don't make enough heat to consistently melt snow and ice off. Not a huge issue but a bit noticeable in winter driving in the mountains here in Colorado.

[paul-g]

I have the LEDs and as the others have noted I've also found them to be generally good on low beam, but the cut off is more abrupt than anything else I've owned so it's a bit harder to see around left hand corners. I should probably try and adjust them up and left slightly--I think there's probably some room to do so without blinding other road users. On high beam they are fantastic and really throw a lot of light out there. One other disadvantage compared to traditional lights is that they don't make enough heat to consistently melt snow and ice off. Not a huge issue but a bit noticeable in winter driving in the mountains here in Colorado.

That's exactly what i did moved them up so the cut off isn't as bad so it wasn't where i was looking

[Dave4501]

The only thing I do not like about my 2014 A7 is the headlights. I have the HID lights and find them to be below expectations on low beam. I was hoping the LED lights were much better. Maybe if aimed correctly (not too low) they would be better.

My prior car was a 2012 BMW 535i with the standard HID lights. They were far superior in brightness to my current A7. I also own a 2016 Cayenne with HID lights. They too are far superior to the A7's.

[paul-g]

The only thing I do not like about my 2014 A7 is the headlights. I have the HID lights and find them to be below expectations on low beam. I was hoping the LED lights were much better. Maybe if aimed correctly (not too low) they would be better.

My prior car was a 2012 BMW 535i with the standard HID lights. They were far superior in brightness to my current A7. I also own a 2016 Cayenne with HID lights. They too are far superior to the A7's.

the led lights are very bright and are great, the top cutoff is what we are taking about with LEDs that's the only real issue and it's not even that major. just adjust it up some is all that was needed, do i sometime wish they were adjusted more, sure but to about to blind people

[Yevgeniy24]

Thanks for the input all.

Has anyone actually adjusted the LED headlights themselves? How easy is it to do?


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[prestige.phantom]

For me, the LED lights were a necessity. I think they look far more modern and make the car look a lot newer. I also loved how the DRL becomes the turn signal. That being said, I dont think that functionally there is too much of a difference in visibility.

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Thanks for the input all.

Has anyone actually adjusted the LED headlights themselves? How easy is it to do?


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I am actually going to try this soon. I found a guide on another forum and it looks fairly straight forward.

[Yevgeniy24]

For me, the LED lights were a necessity. I think they look far more modern and make the car look a lot newer. I also loved how the DRL becomes the turn signal. That being said, I dont think that functionally there is too much of a difference in visibility.

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I am actually going to try this soon. I found a guide on another forum and it looks fairly straight forward.

Yea totally agreed about the modern look. I think at this point if I get an A6 without the LEDs I’ll have some “what ifs”. Especially since I want to keep this car for a while.


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[paul-g]

Yea totally agreed about the modern look. I think at this point if I get an A6 without the LEDs I’ll have some “what ifs”. Especially since I want to keep this car for a while.


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yes i i adjusted mine up, same as any other light

[A665]

The LED lights are definitely the way to go. They are aimed too low from the factory but adjusting both lights takes less than 3 minutes. After proper adjustment they are perfect.

In my experience, it's pretty much ideal to adjust your beam so that it lights the bumper and/or lower trunk area of the vehicle in front of you but never spills up and into the driver's cabin (while driving on a level roadway).

[TheBlackMarvel]

The LED lights are definitely the way to go. They are aimed too low from the factory but adjusting both lights takes less than 3 minutes. After proper adjustment they are perfect.

In my experience, it's pretty much ideal to adjust your beam so that lights the car bumper in front of you but never lights the driver's cabin (while driving on a level roadway).

Is the adjustment a VCDS thing or manual?


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[A665]

Manual adjustment via screwdriver.