[rnlabas]

Bring completely NOT HAPPY with Audi's joining the German triumvirate to market red-rear turn signals for the US-NA (btw NOT required by the DOT), I have already ordered a replacement set of LED rear lamps with AMBER signal LEDs.

They'll be here for testing and PlugNPlay configuration even before my car lands...:laugh:

 

[Quatto]

getting parts for your car before you even get the car = true enthusiast

 

[Uniqu3]

getting parts for your car before you even get the car = true enthusiast

x2, love it.

rnlabas, where did you order the lights for the Q3?

I have been looking for a source for my TT as well -- thinking about upgrading to European clear headlights with the LED strip on the TT too.

 

[Quatto]

I have yet to see them too, I did see some listings on ebay, but it's ebay... have to do some background research on them just to make sure.
maybe some euro aftermarket part dealer will have it.

 

[rnlabas]

x2, love it.

rnlabas, where did you order the lights for the Q3?

I have been looking for a source for my TT as well -- thinking about upgrading to European clear headlights with the LED strip on the TT too.

Check a few sources - like EuroPrice - Alex is pretty resourceful and usually reasonably priced. He is VERY thorough to be sure everything works - admirable.

I'll post about the lights as soon as I get them and review the PlugNPlay and coding (both will need a little work) but am quite sure it'll be worth it (done before on my S5). Btw, TT is also no problem and rear amber lamps easy (cheap -$300) on eBay... Fronts a little more challenge but for sure possible - $900 for my S5 - but IMHO well worth it...

 

[rnlabas]

ECode Rear Tail Lamps DeCoded

Got the ROW Lamp Assemblies today - GREAT deal and the BEST PART is that they are simple : There are only four (4) wires one for each of Ground (Green); Orange (Brake); Red (Tail) and Black (Signal). I used an adaptor kit from Audi (P/N 8U0 051 444) as a guide and test block to verify the pinouts and functionality. When my car gets here, I'll now be ready to make the switch and expect it to be a piece of cake - will keep y'all posted :nerd:. Meanwhile I might expect that AudiUSA will have done something weird for us, perhaps combining the Tail and Brake for example or something else, and I'll have to un-adapt the side-marker light if present, as these don't have them. See below for reference -

 

[Quatto]

Looking forward to hearing back from you on this!

 

[CortinaQ3]

this is the type of stuff I came here to hear about! excited to see what these babies look like! and to hear what coding is required along with them. I love seeing people upgrade their cars with the Euro goodies

 

[rnlabas]

Don't know what happened to my pic of the wiring pin-outs, but here they are again ...

My biggest concern at the moment is that AudiUSA chose to have our lamps use BOTH the signal (red lens) and brake light up here for both/either signal or brakes. That could be a simple connection at the lamps - a mere additional wiring connection - OR, they could use a multiplexed signal from the BCM across just one wire to both lamps, which would make my conversion a bit more complex - and likely require an additional wire not unlike what I had to do on my B8 coupe. I still don't have wiring diagrams to trace and haven't a car to pick apart yet, but remain both optimistic (a separate wiring harness for us sounds too expensive just for this) and undaunted; any questions, just ask me ...

 

[rnlabas]

As I surmised, Audi changes the signal from the BCM (J519) and I'll need some help from an enterprising ROWer to get some coding data. This is a little tricky as I don't know the security and personalization access codes to get to the level of data I need. This is usually not a VAG-COM item (but with the access codes CAN be reached). I need channel adaptation values for the right channels (and I don't know them either, but can guess they're in the 185-230 range. Maybe a saavy Audi tech from Europe or the UK is hangin out and will see this and help??

I bet I only need to change 2-4 values since the multiplex coding that Audi uses for us - both turn signal and brake elements used together as both turn signal and brake for us, since our turn signals are red not amber. Audi just combines them for both - yuk, I don't like that and I DO like amber turn signals...

So if any Audi tech is watching and wants to help - please find (and post or PM) the access codes to the adaptation channel level of the J519, and the values for the channels around the LED rear lamps in ROW so I can compare/change mine to get my eCode rear lamps to work right. THANKS!!

 

[CocoPops]

Happy to provide any VCDS info that I can Roger.

If someone points me in the right direction.

 

[rnlabas]

Hey CocoPops - thanks. We'd need to get the access codes from somebody first then you could check on the Channel values for me - Still would need to know exactly which Channels I need to revise though - I'm trying my Audi sources here and in Germany too - we'll see what I can dig up.
Thanks -

 

[CocoPops]

Might be worth a post on the Ross tech forums?

 

[rnlabas]

I have a friend that is a Ross-Tech user-advisor - I've already asked him to keep an eye out ...

 

[jtechico]

Roger -

In order to do this Mod, aside from the RoW lamps and the eCode change in VAGCOM,

Do you need the adaptor kit from Audi (P/N 8U0 051 444)?
Do you need anything else?

I found this and wasn't sure if anyone has any experience.

The vendor replied that the turn signal is yellow and the brake light is red.

Obviously a chinese knock-off. Price was $490/pair

 

[rnlabas]

Roger -

In order to do this Mod, aside from the RoW lamps and the eCode change in VAGCOM,

Do you need the adaptor kit from Audi (P/N 8U0 051 444)?
Do you need anything else?

I found this and wasn't sure if anyone has any experience.

The vendor replied that the turn signal is yellow and the brake light is red.

Obviously a chinese knock-off. Price was $490/pair

That price is pretty good - they might be Audi authorized OEM manufacture (there are some in China) but NOT Audi stamped, which could be just fine - the Italians (Magneti Marelli) make a lot of Audi parts like this and some are also available w/o Audi stamps -

The plugs ARE different, but I just swapped wiring pins from my old ones to fit the new ones - if you have a pin removal tool this is easy, but if not and you want to spend a few bucks on the adapter cables, yatta hey -

 

[Quatto]

I've learned my lesson with buying cheap china made things, sometimes you're just better off with buying the real deal.

 

[rnlabas]

I've learned my lesson with buying cheap china made things, sometimes you're just better off with buying the real deal.

If they ARE knockoffs, I tend to agree - however, you must realize that there ARE good quality items made in China also. The challenge is to know the difference. As I noted, VAG HAS locally produced quality suppliers for their cars made there. The quality of those parts are as good as any Audi has made for them anywhere else in the world. IF these are made by that OEM manufacturer, I wouldn't be at all worried about them...

 

[pekX2mo]

How about this:

 

[CocoPops]

They're a bit bling for me!