jatt03

Hi, I have a 2006 Audi A4 and i have the stock xenon's that the car came with, my passenger light is giving me trouble because when i turn the xenons on, the passenger light sometimes works perfectly and sometimes it turns on then it flickers a few times and then it turns off...but if i turn the headlights off and then turn them back on it works again...this is a reoccuring problem over and over but sometimes it stays on for my entire trip and sometimes it turns off every few minutes...because it stays on for the entire trip sometimes i am thinking its not the bulb because if it were the bulb i read there would be discoloration and it wouldnt work for too long either...which leads to my question i am thinking of getting the wires checked and if nothing is found getting a ballast for the passenger side...i found a guy on kijiji selling D2S/R replacement ballast for $150 these are aftermarket ofcourse... up until today i was going to get this deal but i spoke with someone today and they said that because i have the stock xenon's that are self leveling the aftermarket kit wont work for long or it might mess up the self leveling part....does anyone have any opinions on what i should do...or if they know where i can get the ballast for cheap...any help is appreciated thank you

btw i showed audi dealership the car and they said it was the bulb and quoted me roughly $400.00 for 1 bulb.......

a4audi4fun

If it's a bulb problem then I believe that would be your cost; if it's the ballast I would expect that to be a warranty issue.

My suggestion is - come to some arrangement with the dealer to replace the bulb;
if that fixes the problem you pay for the bulb,
if it doesn't then they need to diagnose and repair as a warranty issue. Just my 2c worth.

jatt03

the car is an 06 and is driven 124k so it is well out of warrenty so either way i will have to pay but my question is what people think the problem is based on the symptoms i gave and also will the aftermarket ballast ruin the stock auto-leveling system

a4audi4fun

Lotsa k in 3+ years then

Don't know the actual wiring connections but don't see why the ballast should affect the motors. The levelling is done via suspension sensors and steering angle (if adaptive lights). Ballast ignites the bulb Xenon gas and then keeps a low current running to maintain the arc. Separate functions in my mind.

Don't know of any parts suppliers - I would replace the bulb first but hope it's less than $400 to buy (lots show up on ebay for example); if that doesn't solve the problem, you now have spare or could resell relatively easily.

Good luck...

jcs

If your bulbs are the same as the B8 (2009), I will have a set for sale once I receive my new bulbs. I believe mine are D3S.

jatt03

thanks but i think mine are d1s

Marineland

I have a 2006 also with the same problem. The dealer today told me I would need to change the ballast and the bulb for 875$!!! According to them, the manufacturer recommend changing both because the current bulb is probably weak and would burn with a new ballast... I have some doubt...