2013 A3 Sportsback - headlight bulb replacement!

[joeyb]

Hi all,

I drive an A3 2.0 TDI S-Line Sportsback and the nearside headlight bulb has just decided to give up. The car has Xenon bulbs so I understand this complicates replacement to a certain degree.

Has anyone replaced a bulb successfully themselves or am I really going to have to take the car to a dealer just to have a bulb replaced?

I've had a quick look under the bonnet and it looks like I just need to undo the headlight retaining screws and slide the unit forward to get the access required to the headlight inspection cover. Does that sound about right or am I way off the mark?

Thanks in advance!

Joe

 

[steeve]

I'm wondering if it might be covered under warranty. I know the old fashioned ones with the wiggly wire (which sadly wasn't available separately) were not covered but Xenon ones are supposed to last eons longer. Be worth a try.

 

[cuke2u]

I would think a xenon would last longer than a year, at least, at the cost of replacing one, I'd hope so. Even Halfords supplied bulbs have a three year guarantee http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bu...s-high-intensity-discharge-hid-xenon-bulb-d2s

 

[joeyb]

OK, I might give Audi a call and see what they say. Cheers chaps.

Plan B is to buy a bulb from ECP for £90 and see how I get on fitting it!

 

[joeyb]

Shock! I called Audi and this is actually covered under warranty. It's booked in for Wednesday.... cheers all!

 

[cuke2u]

Result, nice one...

 

[smk82]

Apologies to restart an old thread, but I just had my passenger side main xenon go on me. The car went out of warranty in September last year, so I can't get it done that way. I presume Audi will charge through the nose to replace, or is it a fairly easy job? Also does anyone know the type and part number for the bulb in question?


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[SevenW]

This is what you need!

His vids are pretty good!

 

[mike170]

Apologies to restart an old thread, but I just had my passenger side main xenon go on me. The car went out of warranty in September last year, so I can't get it done that way. I presume Audi will charge through the nose to replace, or is it a fairly easy job? Also does anyone know the type and part number for the bulb in question?


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D3S bulb, Audi Reading quoted me £180 each plus vat.

Got pair of eBay £40 fitted them by removing wheel and inner wheel arch trim.

 

[smk82]

Weird experience tonight. Got in the car and no warning lights?! Headlight appears to be working, however when I look at the car the passenger side headlight appears to be more yellow tinged than the drivers (which appears white). Maybe a loose connection as surely otherwise if the bulb had blown I wouldn't get anything?! Anyway have booked it into my local Audi specialist (not Audi themselves) to take a look.

Not sure it comes out in this photo but I think you can see what I mean. Opinions?


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[Tom.H]

May just be on its way out, believe you sometimes do get a warning in that case.

 

[RSS-S3]

Weird experience tonight. Got in the car and no warning lights?! Headlight appears to be working, however when I look at the car the passenger side headlight appears to be more yellow tinged than the drivers (which appears white). Maybe a loose connection as surely otherwise if the bulb had blown I wouldn't get anything?! Anyway have booked it into my local Audi specialist (not Audi themselves) to take a look.

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It could be a Failing bulb or headlight Bulb controller

 

[mike170]

Mine looked like that after one bulb went out.
Kept coming back on or flickering.
Easy enough to change 20 min job removing wheel, and inner wheel arch.

 

[smk82]

true its a 20minute job if you have the right tools, which I don't. Besides it might be a controller unit or similar. Have booked it into an audi specialist to check over and replace the bulb for £160 all in (damn site better than Audi who wanted 180+VAT for the bulb then another £60 for diagnostics, although I should be able to sort it in future (double garage is in the near future!, so space for axel stands/tools etc).