Audi Left Right Dipped headlight main beam headlight warning message explain

High intensity discharge lights also known as  xenon HID lights has gain popularity and being more and more preferred by both manufacturers and car drivers because of the cooler color temperature of the light they emit as well as the energy saving it offers. This is the reason that xenon HID lights now come as a standard factory component on almost all cars produced after 2015. Since xenon bulbs works differently than halogens and add a more stylish look to the car, all high-end cars such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz,  and many others are fitted with these brighter and cooler xenon lights in main beam headlights.

Unlike halogen bulbs, which contain a filament that is heated to produce light, Xenon HID bulbs use xenon gas and electrical charge to create a bright, white light. Although xenon light bulbs tends to produce a brighter light than halogens and have a longer lifespan but it is an electronic component with a definite life and needs to be replaced when your car warns you of an error through a warning message. When your car displays “Left Right Dipped headlight/ main beam headlight warning message” it means there is something wrong with the bulb in your main beam headlight.

What are main beam headlight and dipped headlight

Main beam headlight is an optional feature built into the headlights found at the front of your vehicle. Main beam headlamps are designed to increase the visibility ahead of the vehicle. A main beam headlight could be a separate bulb from dipped beam or it may be the same bulb. Therefore, dipped beam is also located at the front of the vehicle either next to your main beam headlight or sidelights. Dipped beam headlights work to increase the visibility during the night time or in the darkness.

These main beam and dipped headlights bulbs can be halogen, LED or xenon HID bulbs depending on the make and model of the car. Main beam headlights are also called high beam or full beam while dipped headlights are also known as low beam headlights. 

What does this error mean?

For your Audi, this error is usually signified on your dashboard with a yellow bulb pointing down with an “X” over the picture. This error simply means that something has gone wrong either with the bulb or xenon ballast (xenon control module under headlight housing) which has stopped the headlight from proper functioning and caused this message to appear.

How to diagnose the problem?

To diagnose the actual problem if this is the bulb or ballast you need to visually inspect the bulb as a most preliminary and easy check. If you find that middle of the bulb has dark black round shape bubble it means the bulb has burnt or if you observe the bulb is emitting a purple color light; it means it is about to die any time sooner. Or if suddenly died, it means this error is 100% due to the bulb. Usually you receive error message for only one side, it is very rate that both the bulbs fail at the same time. In that case, you can try to change sides of the bulbs.

After inspecting a bulb; if it looks like completely fine then you can still change the sides of the bulbs to know if the problem is with the ballast. When you change the sides; check if the headlight error on your dash board changes from “Left” to “right” or vice versa.  If it does, then you know that the issue lies either in the bulb or the ballasts.

The most common Audi warning message

• Abblend-/ Fernlicht rechts
• Vehicle lights malfunction
• Left dipped headlight
• Right dipped headlight
• Left dipped headlight / main beam headlight
• Right dipped headlight / main beam headlight

What are the reasons of bulb failure?

There could be several reasons for the bulb gone out of order and your vehicle showing this warning message such as:

1. Xenon light bulb has completed its lifespan and needs a new one
2. Bulb has damage from accident or water / moisture damage

How to fix this error?

As a simple fix, buying a new xenon bulb and replacing it with a bad one would do the good for your vehicle. Or if it is about xenon ballast then replacing them with new ballast might be the cheapest and easiest solution to this. The failed ballasts on your Audi have burned through the bulbs, so if you’ve had bad ballast for a while then you’ll need new bulbs too. So, it is strongly recommended that you change both bulbs and ballasts for even if only the ballasts were faulty. You can do this replacement as a simple DIY job at your home but in case of ballast it could be a bit tricky so you need to be careful. Before buying and replacing a bulb and ballast, it is recommended that you check the right model of the bulb for your Audi.  Although, HID bulbs are designed for use in a wide variety of cars but usually Osram D1S Xenarc Original or Philips D1S XenStart D2S D3S XenEcoStart or Philips D5S 9285410171 9285409171 9285407171 35W Gas Discharge HID bulb models are used in Audi. You can find out which bulb is used in your Audi headlights by looking at the white sticker attached on the top.  

The most commonly used xenon headlight ballasts on Audi cars

• Mitsubishi Electric
• W003T22073 W003T22071 8K0941597E
• W003T18471 W003T20171 8K0941597C
• W003T22171 8K0941597F
• Keboda 1036060024 1036060014 8K0941597B

A Short Compatibility list

Installing a new xenon ballast control unit is usually straight-forward replacement and doesn't require any coding on your car.  So you can go to a professional online shop and buy a new replacement part at xenons4u for the best available price.