Xenon Power!

[Ross]

Hi,

Well, another phase of my upgrades has been complete... the old 3B candles have been extinguished and replaced with HID Ellipsoids

Thanks Stu, who helped with the fitting (in other words, I held a few wires outta the way and he did the rest ); in fact I'm pretty sure Steph was more use than I... no warning light either!

The difference is absolutely phenominal and definitely worth it - the ellipsoids look the part, and hell I can see where I'm going at night now!! If you're considering the upgrade, just do it. Before/After pics to come...

Cheers
Ross

[4WheelDrifter]

NP mate.
The number of times my headlights have been out and back in again.

I did my headlights the two-stage route, Reflectors to Ellipsoids, then on to HIDs. I was impressed with the difference with each stage.
I imagine the difference you've experienced really is phenomenal.

At least now you'll be able to make use of your power upgrades more effectively at night.

[Jas11n]

Once you have HID light shining through a projector, there's no going back.
Difference really is "night and day"

[s2_southwest]

nice one!

i had ellipsoids to fit but i cant figure out the wiring mod thats needed coz the hole that the yellow cable should go into is already occupied...doh

[Ross]

We had that issue too - there was a brown cable in the hole where the yellow cable goes (pin #8 I think) aparrently for the headlight adjustment. I figured I'd rather set the headlights manually and lose that fuction (never used it anyway) than not have HIDs, so Stu swapped the brown wire to the adjecent terminal that had no pin. But... everything still works! so I'd just try swapping the wire, check that disconnecting the brown wire hasn't lost any functionality, and then find somewhere to put it.

[Jon441cc]

Get somes pics on here then !!

[s2_southwest]

Ross....i have another problem, the brown wire which i could move out of #8 into #1 i believe that is opposite, is already occupied too. If i were to move the brown to 8, i would then need to lose the green/yellow that is in 1 and no one seems to know what that does. if it is for head light adjustment aswell as then brown, then i dont mind losing that too, but i need to know before i do anything...as you can see from pic below.

[s2_southwest]

unless i just lift out the brown, insulate it and stick in the yellow...that should do it. If you reckon the brown didnt do much....

[4WheelDrifter]

Where did you get that chunky green and yellow wire from?
What optional extra do you have that we don't? It looks like it's there to switch on something fairly substantial.
I think the only way to do it would be to splice the yellow and brown/yellow wire together.
It's very strange how a lot of these cars have so many little differences, even when they're about the same age.

[Fat Audi 80]

I would splice. It can't do any harm....

Cheers,

Steve

[s2_southwest]

i was thinking of doing that lads, either splice the yellow into the brown/yellow or take the brown/yellow out, leaving it out, and sticking in the yellow. I have NO idea what the huge green/yellow cable is. All i have is Air con and headlight adjustment, i dont think i have anything different or extra to you guys, its only a 3b. i would be interested to know what it is for.

what i'll do is cut the yellow quite far back in the loom so if i have to re join i can just solder it back to the pin+cable left in #7 and insulate it.

hmm what a nightmare

[s2_southwest]

also guys, just a quickie, the new ellipsoid lights only have one connection on the back, that obviously connects to the same sockect the old ones do, but the old units have a second electrical connection. Do i just leave that plug on the car loom swinging in the breeze coz there is nothing to connect it to..

cheers

matt

[4WheelDrifter]

Two connections? There should be only one connection on the headlight. A 4 pin round connection IIRC.

Unless you mean the connection for the level adjusters. You need to swap those motors to your new headlights. The new headlights come with a piece to fix the lamps in position.

Remove the side light bulb holder, then twist the adjuster towards where the side light bulb was, to release it. Then move the end of the adjuster downwards to release that. You may need to hold the inner part of the lamp still while you do that. I normally hold on to the outside of the dipped beam bulb holder.
The fixed part on the new headlight is removed the same way.

If you're keeping your one piece trim under the headlights, you'll either have to butcher the inner mounts off the lights, or get yourself the two piece trims from a later car.

HTH

[Ross]

That looks alot busier than mine!! I had a few empty slots... I'll let Stu offer the advice, but as mentioned the other option considered was to splice + join with the brown wire.

Well, here are the goodies:

Old vs. New


What's that little silver box hiding down there?


Now what can I do about those nasty sidelights...


Oh wait - when you're blinded by the HIDs you can't see 'em


Cheers
Ross

[s2_southwest]

thanks for the advice 4wheel, i will have a look at them tomorrow..

ross, lights look "blinding" mate lol