A6 (C6) headlights removal

[a6tdi27q]

I tried to upgrade the stock bulbs with H7 low beam Philips X-Treme power and H1 Philips Vision Plus high beam bulbs, however I found it so difficult to access the back of the headlights housings.In order to get to the bulbs I had to remove the filter, but even then the headlight housing opening at the back is really small.
I managed to swap the H7 low beam lights, but when attempted to do H1 high beam bulb I lost the clip that holds it in place and was unable to retrieve it from the hausing.Now the car is reporting it as fault in the display. My conlusion is that
one has to remove the headlight units completely in order to replace the bulbs, can someone please confirm if this is the case?
Or does anyone have step by step instructions on how to replace bulbs / remove headlights?

Thanks

[Blashkyrk]

I'm was about to do the same thing this weekend but did not find any bulbs at my local store (Philips NightGuide). I'm very interested in your results in this matter as I'm gong that road myself. (also drive a C6 2.7TDI Q)

[PAH]

The manual says that the car must go to a dealer to replace headlamp bulbs, so they must think that it is not a DIY job.

I thought about replacing the bulbs myself, but one look under the bonnet changed my mind. Certainly with my 3.0TDI, there is just not enough room to get near the back of the units without taking away a lot of ancillaries - not worth it in my honest opinion.

What I really would like to do though is replace my headlamp units with the projector units. These are the units that come with the xenon option. Does anyone know if the standard lights can be swapped with the projector lenses, and if so, can the projector lenses be adapted to use halogen bulbs as opposed to xenon? Unlikely is my guess!!

[a6tdi27q]

Originally Posted by PAH

The manual says that the car must go to a dealer to replace headlamp bulbs, so they must think that it is not a DIY job

In some countries it's compulsory to carry spare bulbs set in your car, how would you change them quickly on A6 should one fail? It's understandable in case of Xenon units due to high voltage risks etc, but one should be able to replace halogen bulb without dealer's intervention.

Yes, the space is very tight around 2.7 engine too, but it's not this space that's causing the issue (you can remove air filter and it's vents , fairly easy job), it's the opening of the headlight housing that's really small.

[Blashkyrk]

I made the switch yesterday.
It was a major PITA !

On the right side you must remove the airfilter box and the air mass meter (Luftmasse). Then its "fairly" simple but still quite narrow.

On the left side there is a hydraulic tank in the way and it is not easily moved.
Perhaps someone can shime in and tell me how to remove the tank and the ABS cylinder easily...cause it would make things much better.

I managed at last after almost 2 hours to change the bulbs on both sides (2xH7 and 2xH1). I agree with a6tdi27q that the opening to the headlight housing is made for midgets.

[a6tdi27q]

Well done! I tried to do it hard way without removing the hidraulic cylinder and managed to swap H7's only, and they do look much brighter.Messed up H1 swap, now just need to retrieve the retaining clip for H1 bulb from the headlight housing. It may be complete strip down job ie. bumper removal. How do you compare your new nightguide bulbs to the stock ones?

[Blashkyrk]

Have not tested them at night yet, will give you full report when I've done that.
A first glance in the garage they seemed much more brighter than the original.
I think the original are some sort of Philips longlife bulbs...go figures when you think about all the hassle to change them.

[Blashkyrk]

I have now tested the new bulbs...not much improvment though
It looks like I have to go with an extra pair of lamps. Lightforce or something like that. It really sucks that a so called premium car have such bad lights. The old C5 had much better lights.

[DaveA6]

Originally Posted by Blashkyrk

It really sucks that a so called premium car have such bad lights.

Its not just me then! I was thinking my eyesight must be getting worse as my A6's lights don't seem to be nearly as good as my previous car. I have noticed that this car seems to be much more affected by dirt on the headlight lens than previous cars, maybe because the lens is further away from the lamp/reflector than in may other cars? The light level is acceptable when its completely clean but reduces very quickly with only a small amount of dirt.

[Blashkyrk]

Originally Posted by DaveA6

I have noticed that this car seems to be much more affected by dirt on the headlight lens than previous cars, maybe because the lens is further away from the lamp/reflector than in may other cars? The light level is acceptable when its completely clean but reduces very quickly with only a small amount of dirt.

I have discovered the same !