Re: better 5k headlights, help

[John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>]

>Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 23:22:32
>To: "Steinbrueck, GL" <steinbru@VNET.IBM.COM>
>From: John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>
>Subject: Re: better 5k headlights, help
>
>At 01:16 PM 9/30/96 EDT, you wrote:
><snip>
>>
>>John Karasaki found that "The 5000s European headlight lenses are replaceable
>>and go for about $65 each..." Do any of you know if the lens' alone can be
>>used with the US headlight units to give an improvement?  (For reference, he
>>also gave the pn's for the euro lights he had, which may be useful):  Left
>>headlight carrier:1 305 235 071 L, lens:301-131 955 (bosch asmbly 0301 086
111)
>>Right carrier:1 305 235 072 L, lens:1 305 620 525 (bosch asmbly 0301 086 112)
>>(Or from Dave H. at an earlier time (and certainly from a different boneyard):
>>Left:1 305 620 581 Right: 1 305 620 582)).
>>
><snip>
>
>Gary,
>
>The lens alone can NOT be used on the American lights.  The US lights are
of terrible design.  The reflector sucks.  This is the biggest problem.  The
US lens is fine.  The US lamp stinks as well, but the reflector is the
culprid for the bad light output.  No, you can't change the lense only on
the US lights.
>
>You have three options really.  1) Go to a wrecking yard and get the
pre-1985 four rectangular lamp set up and old style grill, throw the lamps
away and replace them with H4 units from an 4x4 off road store.  2) Call
Shokan or other Audi light importers and have a heart attach when they tell
you the price for the direct replacement euro lights for your car 3) Stumble
across a set of euro lights in a wrecking yard and buy them.
>
>The euro lights that I sold came from local a wrecking yard.  The Pacific
NW has quite a few Audis and a large number of these cars have eurolights.
The number of Audis here with euro lights is so large that the local Audi
dealer, Sunset Audi/Porsche stocks replacement parts for these lights.
Whenever I see a set in a wrecking yard, I buy them and usually offer it to
the list at a fair price.  The Bosch lights (instead of the Hella) are the
ones to get.  They can be adjusted from the cockpit if you buy the motor
servo kit ($$$$).
>
>I have a set of spare Bosch euro lights sitting in my garage.  I didn't
offer them to the list because they need new lens and one primary reflector
and both secondary reflectors need to be refinished.  The one that has the
good primary reflector, has a brand new primary reflector.  Looks like it
was just replaced before the car went to the wrecking yard.
>
>I'd sell the pair for what I've got in them, $60, plus shipping.  What
would be needed to make this installation complete on a '86 5ktq is: 1)the
grill from the big headlight 5k (which you have on your '86 5k) 2) the right
and left EURO orange side markers (looks like those on you '86 5k, but the
euro part is different) 3) two new lens ($65 each) 4)recoat one primary
reflector (the secondary reflector does not contribute much to the light
throw or spread).  Don't know the cost of that one. 5) two '84 and older
headlight wire sockets 6) two relays if you're running anything higher than
65/50w lights 7) two H4 light bulbs.
>
>This is an easy conversion.  I've done it a couple of times.  I don't
understand what all the scuttle was about a year ago on this list, or why
someone would try to fabricate something instead of doing some parts bin
engineering.
>
>I'm posting this to the list so that we can have this as a reference (and
so I have to pack a couple less car parts when we move).  E-mail me direct
if you have any questions.  BTW, Sunset Audi's number is: (800) 346-0182 or
(503) 641-8600.  Mention the Quattro list for a 10% discount.
>
>
Regards,

John Karasaki

Quattro Club (regional & national) member