From what I have seen on here (from the DIY and search), the stock Halogen low beam size is a H11, the high beam is H7 (as is the fog). I have been lookiing at upgrading the bulbs to the Piaa, silverstars or HID kit. However, Piaa's website shows H7 for both low and high beam, the sylvania site shows H7 low and H11 high. I just want to double check before I buy something. Does anyone know for sure (has upgraded their bulbs), whick bulb base is what?
Thanks in advance.

Modified by kdoerner at 12:40 PM 11/11/2006

ECE headlights are H7 low, H7 high

Fog = H7 for regular, H11 for S-line

I found out the hard way after buying Osram (not Sylvania) Silverstars.

Best halogen upgrade options:

H7: Osram Silverstars or Philips Vision+ (both German options)

H11: Modify an Osram H9 bulb

Oldtimer: "... use the !@#$%&* search ..."

Noob #2: "OMG you need to replace your DV and PCV stat!"

xTec is a good brand for ballasts. The bulbs to get are rebased D2R bulbs, not D2S.

Is D2R the bulb or the base? I was looking it up, and some sites show the D2R as a base. If so, will those fit into the factory H11 spot?

It's late and I don't feel like ranting right now, but HID kits are a bad idea.

D2S bulbs are what most projector HID systems use.
D2R bulbs were developed because Mercedes wanted to use a reflector HID system. Their bases are different to keep them from being interchangable, because the design of the bulbs is not interchangeable in how they work.

H7 and H11 bulbs are very different in their filament positioning.

'Rebased' bulbs have been altered to fit in a housing that they were not intended for. The optics wind up being wrong.

To answer your question.... the only bulb that correctly works for an H11 is an H11. Likewise the only bulb that correctly works for an H7 is an H7. Other bulbs may be tweaked to fit, but they don't *work* in the sense of the light source being at the intended position for the optics of the projector or reflector. If you want a bulb that is a different colour temperature than what you have now, then at least get the CORRECT bulb size/style to put in.

Read this:
http://www.danielsternlighting....html

Now, I know someone here is going to say 'you're wrong! I use a conversion kit and it's great!' Whatever. TANSTAAFL. If you want HIDs, spend the $ and get the OE assemblies that were designed by people who know what they're doing with optics, and which meet standards. Not a 'kit' marketed to gullible r!c3rs. That way you'll get the light on the ground where it needs to be, and not glaring at oncoming drivers.

Get FireVortex

Thanks for the info. I would love to go with OEM HIDs. I know I can buy the housing from ECS but its the wire harness needed to install thats the problem. I have called a few people, and none of them are willing to design the harness needed. I know FK has some projector lights, unfortunately they are angle eyes. Maybe I'll just get the Piaa lights for now, untill someone comes out with a OEM HID retro.
thanks

D2R is a bulb style, bulb and base. What you would need are D2R bulbs that are re-based to an H11.

The key here is the "CORRECTLY"
When doing a mod you should always ask yourself three questions:
Could you?
Should you?
Would you?

Sure you could put re-based bulbs in.
You probably should NOT.
But the would part.... well that is where the whole things becomes subjective.

Besides the A3 Halogen systems is not bad to start with:
See this article: http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/24032....html

A3 with Halogen rated 4 stars
A8 with Xenon projection rated 5 stars and #1 overall (all the way at the bottom)

Of course I am the hypocrite... I am thinking about adding a re-base to mine. I would love to have someone here measure a comparative pattern at 10 and 30 yards. (anyone own a big white barn?)

"Our lamps start their life as Standard Philips D2 lamps made on the discharge production line in Aachen, Germany. These are the same lamps as supplied to the worlds car manufacturers for Original Equipment fit. They are specified as 4100K colour temperature , 3500 lumen UV Cut Quartz glass. We re-base the lamps and the primary components are optically positioned for halogen retrofit application by laser"

So... IF it is true , seems like this might be an option. The bigger question is that when you see the Chinese kits for $200.00 Are they coming off the same line or are they an inferior product. You just never know anymore:

Thanks for the link. But the HID kit on the website is for an H7 bulb base. So from what I understand that will not work for the lowbeams. Maybe I'll just pony up the $$$ and buy the OEM HIDS, and pay someone to figure out the wire harness.

Seems like this would be a good choice (with the added wire harness for battery power draw). Anyone ever heard of the brand. I would rather spend more and get somthing that won't break.

They say that the "focal point" is the same as the halogen bulbs but I'm not sure if that's the same as a D2R bulb that has blocked areas to simulate the pattern of a halogen bulb. The first place I bought the complete kit from had repeatedly insisted that they were providing the correct bulb for my application. They were regular D2S bulbs.

After a bit of a search I found a place that would do re-based D2R bulbs. I got them from this site:

http://www.understeer.com

Not sure that a separate wire to the battery is a good idea. Even with the power loss of the ballasts, the xenons draw less current than the halogens so it's not needed. If you draw power directly from the battery, I think you will get a "bulb out" warning. I believe that some people have these and have had to add a resistor to draw more current in order to fool the system. Like I said before, the xTec ballasts are plug-and-play. Well, almost... I had to trim a plug to get it to seat fully.

thanks for the info.

Can you get the Euro OEM Xenon housings from ECS and get a xenon kit to add to that? I'm not sure that the highs and blinker are the same, but that would solve the pattern problem.

Side note: xenons are cool when you own them (I've had three cars with them including my current Phaeton), But they are really annoying when you are the person in front of them or driving towards them!

Not a problem if you have auto dimming rearview mirrors.

http://www.hoen-usa.com/ti.htm

granted you need the harness for them because of their wattage, is the consensus that they are safe to use with harness or stay away from anything dealing with overwattage for headlights.

Blue

SOLD '01 Jetta Galactic Blue WE with mods
SOLD '92 Black Jetta, 15" stock 5 spoke jetta 3 rims

AIM: Jetta18twe

PLEASE, do not hijack my thread. This is a discussion on Halogen upgrades or HID conversion. You are trying to double post. Just be courteous

Blue

Modified by BlueTempest at 1:33 PM 11-16-2006

Modified by BlueTempest at 1:36 PM 11-16-2006

SOLD '01 Jetta Galactic Blue WE with mods
SOLD '92 Black Jetta, 15" stock 5 spoke jetta 3 rims

AIM: Jetta18twe

Quick question if you can answer it. I just bought my 2006 B7 A4 (non sline) and have no idea DOT or ECE headlights. How can I figure this out? Thanks

There might be an imprint on the top of your headlight housing.

haha nice work Audi. Right above each reflector shows the bulb type. Looks like I have H7's in both low and high beams. Thanks alot!

I am much happier with the HID kit, rather than just the bulbs, much more light and looks way better.

I am running 35 watt H11's 6000K.

I ♥ Haters.