macfly4

OK. yet another stupid question. Just noticed my 1987 s4 right headlight is out. Is replacing this as simple as going to the local auto part store and getting a light or am I in for another expensive headache that has to be ordered from some specialty store?
is it just a bulb problem or is this a whole sealed type light that needs to be replaced? The one that needs to be replaced says Bosch on it

Rob Edwards

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...lacementGuide/

You need a Sylvania/Osram 9004 hi/low beam lamp. Somwhere between $15 and $35 depending on which flavor you get.

Turn the headlights on, then turn the car off to leave the headlamps 'up'. 3 philips head screws to remove the covers on each side, then R&R the lamps. Don't touch the lamp globes with your bare fingers. Gloves or paper towels.

Easy peasy.

macfly4

Sorry, so its just the bulb and i keep the bosch glass enclosure? and if so, are these readily available at most auto part stores or is this something i have to order online?
thanks

if i buy these ?

Speedtoys

You should be able to find those at any auto parts store with ease.

No problems.

Rob Edwards

Yep, just the bulb- the big 8" googly Bosch glass enclosure with the three nipples on it gets to stay. Any Pepe boyz or Kragen or AutoZone or etc..... should have 9004 bulbs. You can probably buy one but I would splurge for a matched new pair- H5 headlights need all the help they can get.

macfly4

Ahhhh...big sigh of relief. Thanks much guys. off to spend some more tomorrow at the local auto store.
matched pair...would you replace them both at the same time? or are you saying they are likely to burn out quickly so just have an extra lying around......

928mac

Yip 9004z are what you need, but I spent the extra money and bought these bad boys

Alan

Humm - 120W/95W in an H5....!

Be careful - there may be people who want to hunt you down and beat you to death for inflicting those upon them... and the local police may take an interest too.

If better visibility for you comes at the expense of no visibility for those driving towards you - how much net gain in safety for you do you think that really is...

Buy some H4's if you want better visibility (then you can safely upgrade the bulbs wihout pissing anybody off...).

Yes I'm saying what you did is really irresponsible...

Alan

PS unless you go to local headlight relays and upgraded wiring you will also be damaging your wiring looms - they weren't designed for this.

jpitman2

Not to mention what those wattages will do for the wiring and relays.....
jp 83 Euro S AT 53k

JoeTaylor

What ever bulb you choose, replace both headlight bulbs at the same time. The other one is sure to go out soon, when you least expect it. Its a quick job once you get the bullet cover off.

I went to AutoZone and replaced my headlight bulbs with Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs (about $60 for a pair). I bought my '88 S4 in 2009 and I think it still had the OEM bulbs in it. The light produced was dim and yellowie and new bulbs fixed all that.

Joe

macfly4

Thanks for all the info/suggestions. Off to the auto parts store today. Hopefully this will get rid of that dingy yellowy light that Joe reminded me of.
auto parts store....like shoe shopping for girls. end up coming home with all sorts of things that you don't need but looked so lonely there on the shelf.

76FJ55

I was having headlight issues with my car when I picked it up. turned out the harness was bad between the body and headlight. so if a new bulb doesn't do the trick that is where I'd look next. since the headlights extend and retract on these cars it has to flex the harness every time the lights are turned on or off. this finally fatigued the moving section of harness and I lost the ground on the right headlight.

macfly4

New bulbs are good to go!
Thanks for the advice to the newb here.
now can't wait for it to get dark to see if there is actually any improvement.

928mac

Thanks for the heads up on the wiring Alan.
I have never used any lights like this before, but do not plan on taking them back before giving them a try.

Irresponsible or not is I guess how you use the extra power, and I do plan on running them in the low setting as to try and not blind the oncoming drivers (Euro with adjustable head lights)
If oncoming traffic dose not dim, as there are a lot of HI lights used in this area, I may have to melt their grills.

I think I will check the wireing though and If I need to add a relay up front with some bat voltage and heavier wireing, so-be-it.

Thanks

Brad

Alan

Brad are you sure you even have H5's? if you have an ROW car isn't it equipped with H4's already? - in which case you need 9003 bulbs and my comments wouldn't apply to brighter bulbs in that configuration since the H4 cutoff is so good.

Are you sure you got the right bulbs for your car?

You will need local relays and beefed up direct supplies for these - if not - not only will you likely damage the wiring (difficult to fix) but you won't get anything like full brightness out of them due to voltage dropped across the wiring (if H5's that maybe a good thing...).

Alan