Hilox Evo Rally Xenon Kit in an Audi A3: Customer Review

The Hilox Evolution Rally xenon kit, the flagship of our xenon range, in a rather lovely Audi A3. A very thorough review of the installation and the end result, which our customer is proud of.

Audi A3 xenon kit: why did you choose xenon?

This Audi came with standard halogen bulbs. Those bulbs are quite inefficient. You don't get a whole lot of light out of them, and they produce a lot of heat. Because I often drive on dark roads, I decided to buy a xenon kit. On top of that, xenon simply looks nicer and tougher. The xenon bulbs I fitted give white light with a blue tint.

Suitable for every Audi

Want a Hilox xenon kit like this in your Audi? You can: the Hilox Evolution xenon kit fits any Audi, young or old, fat or thin. All you need is a left hand and a right hand (installing a xenon kit is very easy, so you don't strictly need two right hands!) and a xenon kit with the right fitting. Not sure which fitting your Audi has? Check our fitting finder or get in touch with us.

Which products did you install and why?

I used the H7 Hilox Evo Rally xenon kit. I'd heard a lot of good things about the Hilox Evolution series. When I lined up all of Hilox's xenon kits, I came across the Hilox Evolution Rally. This kit is extra resistant to shocks and the like because the cables have an additional outer sheath, and that appealed to me. A bit of extra protection never hurts, I thought, even if it's perhaps not really needed in a car that mostly drives on the motorway.

How did the xenon kit installation go?

Installing the xenon kit went exceptionally well. Everything is explained clearly. The only thing I didn't do was remove the headlights to fit the kit. For that the front bumper has to come off, and I was afraid of damaging the paint while taking it apart. So I tried without, and it worked fine! It's all a bit tighter, but it's doable. The only place I had to get a bit creative was in how to mount the ballasts. There is genuinely no room behind the headlights. I used the supplied straps, adapted them a little, and put the ballasts above the radiator.

Pro installation tip: aligning your low beams with xenon

Since nothing changes on the headlight itself except the bulb, in most cases you don't need to readjust the headlight. Still, it's wise to check that you aren't dazzling oncoming traffic. Park your car against a wall and mark the cut-off line of the beam with a pencil or marker. After installing the xenon kit, check that it's still in the same place.

What do you think of the end result?

The end result is exactly what I hoped for. Plenty of light, and good-looking light at that, with a tough look. All in all, a great success!

Hiding the ballasts: where do you put them?

Every xenon kit has one ballast per bulb. The ballast converts your car's 12 volts into the high voltage needed to ignite the xenon bulb and keep it burning steadily. Where you can put it differs from car to car. In this Audi A3 there was no room behind the headlights, so they went above the radiator.

• Pick a flat, dry spot as close to the headlight as possible, so the cable to the bulb doesn't end up pulled tight.
• Keep away from hot and moving parts, such as the exhaust manifold, the cooling fan and the belts.
• Do a trial fit first before fixing anything for good, so you know the cables reach everywhere.
• Secure the ballast properly with the supplied straps, so it can't rattle or slide about.

You can find separate ballasts under xenon ballasts.

What you need to know about an H7 xenon kit

This customer's Audi has H7 low beams. The current H7 kit from Hilox is the H7 Xenon Kit Hilox Evolution II Black Duo. According to the product details, it gives 4 times more light than halogen straight away. An IC chip keeps the current stable and prevents overheating and flickering bulbs, and thanks to the CAN-bus II module the kit also works trouble-free in cars with CAN-bus or lighting control. You get a 2-year warranty on both the bulbs and the ballasts.

Which colour should you choose?

The Evolution II Black comes in 4300K, 5500K and 6500K. The higher the Kelvin number, the whiter and bluer the light looks. The customer in this review chose white light with a blue tint. If you want light without a blue cast, a lower colour temperature is the obvious pick.

Please note: according to the product details, this kit has no ECE approval or E-mark and is intended for racing circuits and private land, not for public roads. After fitting, have the beam pattern aligned and check that your car still meets the APK (the Dutch roadworthiness test) requirements. If in doubt, ask the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) or your inspector. You can find all the kits under xenon kits.