hi there.....does anyone know how to actually change the beam pattern on both headlights in order to convert to continental driving ? As im going abroad very soon with lots of night driving...any comments would be much appreciated

Assuming you have halogens (not sure if xenon's are the same) there is a little leaver inside the headlight next to the bulb, move the leaver to the opposite position (up or down), you may need the headlight out to do it unless you have small hands, to take the headlamps out the front bumper needs to come off, this is only a 5 - 10 mins job to do though.

Assuming you have halogens (not sure if xenon's are the same) there is a little leaver inside the headlight next to the bulb, move the leaver to the opposite position (up or down), you may need the headlight out to do it unless you have small hands, to take the headlamps out the front bumper needs to come off, this is only a 5 - 10 mins job to do though.

The little lever is called a 'Tourist Lever' and is fitted to both Halogen and Xenon versions.........

Simon, what if any are the differences between the xenon and halogen headlight units?

Simon, what if any are the differences between the xenon and halogen headlight units?

If you take a look at the rear of the headlight unit, if there are no fancy lumps fitted there along with high voltage warnings - then you have tungsten filament (halogen) lamps. Xenons are HID - ie arc lamps and they need a high voltage system to strike the arc - then a lower voltage to maintain the arc in simmer (running) mode.

What i meant was is there any difference to the actual lamp itself?

I know what xenons consist of, but take the bulb and ballast away and what is different?

thanks for the advice.will look at the headlights very soon

hi there.....does anyone know how to actually change the beam pattern on both headlights in order to convert to continental driving ? As im going abroad very soon with lots of night driving...any comments would be much appreciated

This from Honest John..

2007 - headlight adjustment use in Europe - 659FBE I'm pretty sure you will find your Audi lights can be reset for RH dipping - most Hella projector lamps have "tourist" levers. The problem is, VAG don't want you going in there and make a good job of hiding them.

I had this issue with my '05 Skoda Superb (Hella projector lights) and the dealer's response was "bring it in, we'll remove the lamps, reset and refit - all for GBP100". So, GBP200 per trip. Not on your life.

There's nothing quite like having a look for yourself. If you remove the bulb change access hatch from the rear of the units, the levers are there but hard to get at - not impossible though. They work (obviously) on the dipped beam lamp but the trick on the Superb is to access them from the hatch for full beam.

All you need is an old screwdriver with a bend in it and - hey presto - the levers click nicely into position. They are "handed" so you move them in opposite directions for L & R. If you shine the lights onto a wall whilst you do it for the first time, it's obvious how they go. They work by moving a pivoted shutter across the focussing lens which is rocked over to remove the assymetric "wedge" of light on the LHS.

Access will vary, but on the PD diesel Superbs, the LHS takes 30 secs and the RHS about 2 mins as the air inlet trunking has to come off. I did mine in the ferry queue.

Perhaps this should have gone in the "VAG dealer rip-off" thread.

Jenks

When I went to France in September last year, I bought Eurolites on Ebay from Dennings DIY for £3.99 plus £0.99 postage, which is much cheaper than in the shops. I couldn't understand where to place them on the headlights, so I lined them up in the dark against the garage doors for the optimum position and they were fine.

I would have used the tourist levers thirty years ago but I suffer from a little arthritis in the hands and I wouldn't want to try to use them now. Also, our dealer is 40 miles away and it's not worth taking time off work before and after a foreign trip plus their charges when I find Eurolites are perfectly adequate.

I'll buy another set soon as we're off in the Superb in May to Mlada Boleslav to visit the Skoda museum, then on to Vienna for a few days and next to Munich to visit friends!

What i meant was is there any difference to the actual lamp itself?

I know what xenons consist of, but take the bulb and ballast away and what is different?

I appreciate that some people on these forums don't wish to remove their front bumper to access the front headlamps but this is a 5 minute job and once the bumper is off you can see he headlamp assembly very well.........

The main difference between the two versions are that the Xenon unit has a ballast attached to the underside fo the lamp and a powerwash telescope fitted to the underside of the lamp..........apart from that the units from the outside look the same............