Headlight cheapness from the motherland!

[ QUOTE ]
I priced some up at £150 each the other day from me local VW dealer!

Might have to double check that with them, maybe a bit of a bargain!!

Unless of course they got the wrong part numbers.

LOL, you got me looking into this and I don't even want facelift headlights!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

They probably are £150 each mate. As it was a while back when I enquired!

I knew it was a figure with 50 in it LOL
 
Well, headlights are in, was a 8 hour job in the end, and somehow I have put a massive scratch in my bonnet, so the Porter Cable is coming out tommorow in an effort to save the car.

The lights are OK, the sidelights look rubbish though, poor illumination, and I'm not sure if the lights will pass the MOT for the pattern. I'm gonna get them checked monday. PIctures to follow in daylight tommorow.
 
Nice work mate.

I would have thought that it would have taken you longer. So hats off to you.

Yeah get some pics up.

Not sure about the illumination though. Are they set to RHD?
 
You set them to RHD how?

Nothing obvious on the units, although on the rear at the bottom right, there is a very stiff black plastic wheel that looks as if it may turn if given correct pressure.

The light is def set for LHD as there is a RHD bias to the lights beam, although the height is fine.

I was aiming to take them into an MOT centre to be tested to see if I need to swap them around for the MOT.

If there is a RHD switch on these models then excellent, but you get forgetful and end up being not quite as switched on after all that time and it's getting dark.

Finding the correct wires and then properly working out which one was which was a right pain, so Rich, when you get yours, let me know and I'll bring my diagram over!!!
 
Where abouts are the switches to change from LHD to RHD??

Rich
 
Sorry I've not got my car at the moment so I can't check mine, but I always thought that they could be changed from LHD to RHD. Although I've never needed to check this on mine as they were off a UK car.

As for the wiring LOL it's not that bad. I did wire the Dipped and the full beam the wrong way round though. As I thought it was daft to have the inner ones as dipped.

Get some pics up mate /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Definately can't see any kind of LHD-RHD switch, but the adjuster screws make a huge difference, so maybe the adjusters can be moved far enough over.

Will find out tommorow as I'm going to pop into the MOT centre to use the alignment thingy.

First thing, not very impressed so far, washed the car this morning, and I use VERY hot water as a final rinse. One of the units fogged up!!
foggy.jpg


I will be keeping an eye on it after its been raining, it nothing that can't be fixed with some clear silicone sealant.

So here is the before:
exteriorsmall.jpg



And the After (with free fog)
newlights.jpg


Not sure I'd bother if I could start again!!!!
 
Mine steam up, but I thought it was because they were 2001 units so the seals are a few years old. Maybe not.

Have you had any troubles with the plates? As the Police are cracking down on the German style plates due to instructions from the DVLA.

Looks better though.
 
Aah, least the expensive ones steam up too!

I'm going to pick up some clear silicone sealant and re-seal the units over the christmas weekend. It's just such a pain removing them!!

No issues at all with the plates, I think because they look so real, people assume they are. I do carry the UK plates in the boot though, just in case.

I have also noticed a police motorcycle rider kept looking at me in his mirrors, no doubt confused and trying to work out if the car was RHD or LHD.
 
I've gotta say, I was convinced you were in Germany for a little while (until I spaced the plate out in my head and spotted where your steering-wheel is); and I was immediately curious about whether you've had grief or not.

I'd be interested to know what the situation would be should (and not wishing this on you!!!) a GATSO take a picture of you... I suppose you'd probably get some post sooner or later but surely it'd cause some confusion, because those are very German looking plates.

The lights look pretty cool /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif I noticed you mentioned they're not manufactured by FK - were they sold as FK and have turned out to be FK distributing other OEM's product, or are they a totally alternative product? I'm only curious because I had ordered some FK headlights (the pre-facelift fitment angel-eyes), but cancelled the order because the UK supplier was having serious problems getting stock and I ended up sourcing some genuine Audi facelift Xenons for the bargain sum of about £120 (which, months later are still destined to be in their boxes until January! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif) - and it'd be interesting to know how many other products are out there (I did find some third-party facelift-style replacement parts (no LED rings) offered from Canada, but my communications were ignored after I enquired about RHD operability.

Regarding your setting-up for RHD beam-pattern, if yours were marketed as FK, it might be interesting/useful to know that the UK supplier I ordered from were in agreement that I'd be a guinea-pig for them as they'd had mixed reports from customers who'd bought FK clusters for other cars in getting them working for RHD. I did get the following E-Mail from FK though...

[ QUOTE ]
E-Mail from FK:

Hello Mr. Bolton,
thank you for your email. Indeed the Angel Eyes for the A3 are swithcable from LHD to RHD. There is a small lever inside the housing, that needs to be switched to change the focus of the lens. With every set ther comes a description on how to change from LHD to RHD.

with best regards

Alexander Kapischke
Export Department
FK-Automotive GmbH
Im Kuchengrund 10
D-71522 Backnang/Germany
Telefon: +49 7191 3275110
Telefax: +49 7191 3275119

[/ QUOTE ]

...Anyway, they look great, so let us know how you get on setting-up for RHD.

Regards,

Rob.
 
Well, no grief as yet. However I am moving to Surrey, which from observation seems to have more police presence.
Right now, I spend a lot of my time in High Wycombe, and as it has a US Navy base, with lots of imported cars, mine doesn't stand out.

I'd be interested too in the GATSO situation, I know the German authorities will not release driver information to the UK, so I wonder if they would even process the plate. Suppose they'd have to try entering the number first. Same goes for traffic wardens too. I have parked in a residents only area of Hillingdon for several hours and recieved no ticket, but that could have just been luck.

The lights weren't sold as FK, just as replacement units, and they came in boxes stamped TYC, which I googled and they make OEM Ford lights, and some Jap brands.

I did not see any switches on the inside, but when I come to Silicone seal the units (probably xmas day) I'll have a poke about inside.

If I could get a copy of the FK instructions they might turn out to be similar units, I think I'll drop them an e-mail.

Standby for updates on the RHD operation, I'll see if FK can e-mail me some intructions and hope all third paty lights are really made by a huge faceless japanese company.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry I've not got my car at the moment so I can't check mine, but I always thought that they could be changed from LHD to RHD. Although I've never needed to check this on mine as they were off a UK car.

As for the wiring LOL it's not that bad. I did wire the Dipped and the full beam the wrong way round though. As I thought it was daft to have the inner ones as dipped.

Get some pics up mate /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

? you swapped them about? Hasn't that affected the aim or can you aim the individual lights and not as a complete unit like the pre-facelift ones.
 
I've cancelled my order for the black ones, as i emailed them to ask about RHDF fitment and they said they are for LHD only, so have aksed them to send me the OE faceliftlights instead as they are switchable.

Rich
 
Those new lights make a massive difference, think there definatly next on the list of subtle mods. Where did you get the number plate made up? as i'm on the nine point mark i'd try anything to get one over on those /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/swear.gif gatso's!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Those new lights make a massive difference, think there definatly next on the list of subtle mods. Where did you get the number plate made up? as i'm on the nine point mark i'd try anything to get one over on those /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/swear.gif gatso's!!

[/ QUOTE ]

you could always try not speeding past them? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh_roll.gif sorry! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/10_1_114.gif
 
Love the number plate... is that from Dubmeister?
 
Yeah, just found it when I went out for lunch!!!

So they will switch to RHD, excellent!!

I've just been to two MOT places with the intention of getting the beams adjusted but they are both busy.

Nothing like a wasted lunch hour....
 
Well, I took the car into an MOT Centre once I'd moved the adjusters, and they aligned them in 5 minutes.
I had to pay £10 but I don't mind as they explained to me how I could decat the car and they would still pass the emissions so I'm a happy chappy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Are the main beams better than they were? If so then I think i'll have to invest in a pair.
 
Yes, the main beams are MUCH better, however the side lights are nowhere near as good and the dipped headlights are OK, but possibly not as good.

The other thing to remember is the time it takes to fit them to pre 2001 cars, and the fact that the electrical adjustment for load bearing also does not work after the swap.
 
So let me get this straight,

* You have to cut up your inner wing to fit them.
* The height adjusters don't work.
* And the brightness of the lights is worse.

I think I'll be sticking with my original headlights!! LOL!
 
Yes, but they 'look' better!

As said, If I had the chance to do it again, I wouldn't.

I would it it was a straight swap, but not otherwise.
 
Indeed. They do look good. Very good.

I think if I were to upgrade I'd go the whole hog and chuck in the Xenons, self levelers and all.

Hmmmm, hold that thought.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think if I were to upgrade I'd go the whole hog and chuck in the Xenons, self levelers and all.

Hmmmm, hold that thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

I get the impression that you've already got some lined up then?

You git /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I wanted Xenons
 
audi upgrades
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think if I were to upgrade I'd go the whole hog and chuck in the Xenons, self levelers and all.

Hmmmm, hold that thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

I get the impression that you've already got some lined up then?

You git /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I wanted Xenons

[/ QUOTE ]

I picked up some of the parts cheap and I've already got the headlight washers on my car. I'm either gonna get the rest of the kit or chuck the parts on ebay. I didn't initially want to mod the outside of my car, but the facelift lights really do look nice.
 
parts? I wondered about it but I didnt know how to connect the rear leveller as I dont see the parts for FWD cars only the quattro, plus all my 'local' scrappies dont usually have anything newer that an N-reg escort LOL
 
[ QUOTE ]
So let me get this straight,

* You have to cut up your inner wing to fit them.<font color="red">Yep...5 mins eaach side with angle grinder with cutting disc and grinding disc </font>
* The height adjusters don't work.<font color="red"> They do if you fit them...There are blanking plugs for them! Just remove these and fit the new adjuster motors and away you go! </font>
* And the brightness of the lights is worse.<font color="red">Fit better bulbs! </font>

I think I'll be sticking with my original headlights!! LOL!

[/ QUOTE ]
 
[ QUOTE ]
rearlight.jpg


Theres the adjustor

[/ QUOTE ]

****** - just had the front off again to srt this out & didn't spot this! oh well, i'm gonna get a new lower bumper section so when i take the bumper off, i'll try & sort it out! i did manage to connect the electronic leveller jobby which i somehow cocked up last time, so not a complete waste of time! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Removing sticker from headlight
Replies
16
Views
7K
benr
B
Defratos
How to remove the front headlight
Replies
27
Views
64K
Roadtrain
Roadtrain
themanthatcan
Cleaning the inside of headlight covers
Replies
3
Views
912
themanthatcan
themanthatcan
W
Headlight pointing to the ground??
Replies
5
Views
1K
Splodge
S
P
headlight upgrade, is this the right choice...?
Replies
133
Views
45K
Birdy
B
Top
Back