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[Audi A3/S3] A3 headlight removal


AndyR
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Hi people, have been lurking around the A3 forum for a little while now since my son bought his year 97 A3 1.8T sport... with the Concert ICE, veeery nice sounds in a veeery nice car.

I have seen that there have been a few oil usage problems with a number of the 1.8T engines, not over the top according to Audi (1l in 1000K is deemed OK I think) but nevertheless higher than usual, perhaps due to some of the thinner synth oils?? Dunno, but he ( my son ) bought this A3 knowing that in the history of the car there has been some mention of high oil usage, so he's not alone there.

Couple of days ago some mad.gif managed to smash the offside headlight!! We've bought the replacement (£58 +vat including all the bulbs! ....which was nice smile.gif) but having removed the 2 top torx bolts of the damaged one, we cant see what else is holding the bugger in! Dont want to pull as we might damage something so I wonder if some kind soul would give us the rundown on how to remove it without breaking summat! Have looked for a Haynes manual, but it seems one has not been published for the A3... shame!

Cheers in anticipation.

AndyR

In a Golf VR6.

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this just happened to me ! bought just the glass from audi for 24 quid ( they tried to sell me a whole headlight to ) anyways, yes 2 torx bolts on the top, but you also need to release the indicator at the side, its just a while clip if you look inside the wing, then when the indicator is removed there is one more torx bolt at the side, remove that and the healight will come out,

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Excellent Tom, hope its as straight forward as it seems. Didn't realise you could just buy the glass! But the silvering inside the h/lamp is worn down to plastic in places, so the whole kaboodle needs changing really.

Cheers

AndyR

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if you look near the wing past the headlight there is a plastic screw that is at the back of the indicator, turn this will release the indicator from the headlight, then its just a case of pushing it out , then the other torx bolt can be accessed it was a pain to put back together though, i just cant get the indicator flush with the wing again !

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DONE!! smirk.gif

Only trouble is that the h/lamp we got was one without the fog lamp crazy.gif which cost £58. One with the fog cost... wait for it... £118 plus vat. inside the unit there is not that great a difference but there you go! So we'll grin and bear it and we didn't use the fog's anyway!

To remove the lamp, there's 2 torx bolts/screws on top to take out, a screwdriver in a hole in the wing to release the indicator which then slides out, and then you're able to gain access to the remaining 1 torx screw in the side of the H/lamp, pull it all forward, remove clip that holds the wiring plug on, and also remove the connector for the adjusting motor (once its all out the motor can be twisted free)of the lamp to be used in the new one.

When replacing the units, make sure the indicator's clips slide into their respective slots, otherwise I dont think it will sit straight in the wing.

The headlamp electrical connector can have the metal clip replaced prior to installing the connector, its a darn site easier to do rather than try and slide the bugger in when all connected up!

Also on the headlamp, the side opposite the torx screw there's a stud to locate, be sure to get it in otherwise it will not seat correctly.

Easy eh??

now we just got to get the beam alignment checked smile.gif

AndyR

post-3676-137914267084_thumb.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

If the glass for the an A3 headlight is smashed you only have to replace the glass, you can get the glass ordered from any VAG outlet/parts desk.

To fit or remove the headlight you need to push out the front indicator housings which have a clip just behind next to the wire plug. The indicator unit will then pop forward, remove the wires and you shall also need to pull of the rubber strip located above the head light (not fixed/glued etc) then you shall see all the retaining screws that you need to remove in order to remove the headlight - then just remove the broken glass. Note best to also replace the rubber seal that the glass sits on as well.

No need for bumper removal etc - hope you were ref to the A3 and not the A4.

Hope this is of help

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