LED headlight

The LED headlight of the Audi A6 ’11 uses LEDs for all light func- Reflectors or projection modules are used depending on light
tions. An LED headlight accommodates a total of 54 LEDs (or 57 in function. Thick wall technology is used for daytime running lights,
the SAE2) version) together with the accompanying heat sinks. parking lights and turn signals in order to ensure that these light
A fan integrated in the headlight prevents the electronic compo- functions have a homogeneous appearance.
nents from overheating.

Main beam Dipped beam Sidemarker lights

asymmetrical (SAE2) only)

486_030 486_049

Cornering light Dipped beam Turn signal and

symmetrical daytime running
light or parking light

LED headlight – light functions

Light functions Illuminants used

Parking light 24 LEDs (white, dimmed)

Daytime running light 24 LEDs (white)

Turn signal ECE (activated by power module 2)

1)
24 LEDs (yellow)

Turn signal SAE2) (activated by power modules 2 and 4) 2x 12 LEDs (yellow)

Dipped beam 14 LEDs (5 dual-LED chips and 4 single LEDs)

Main beam 12 LEDs (1 4-LED chip, in addition to dipped beam)

Motorway light 14 LEDs (5 dual-LED chips and 4 single LEDs)

Cornering light (one side) 4 LEDs (1 4-LED chip, in addition to dipped beam)

All-weather light (both sides) 4 LEDs (1 4-LED chip, in addition to dipped beam (reduced by
2 LEDs))
Tourist light (for driving on opposite side of road) 6 LEDs

coming home / leaving home 14 LEDs (5 dual-LED chips and 4 single LEDs)

Sidemarker lights1) 3 LEDs (white, with yellow reflector lens)

The all-weather light function is available for vehicles with LED In the SAE version, the 24 LEDs are subdivided into two groups of
headlights. On these models, the installation space for the ACC 12 LEDs for the turn signals and are activated by power modules 2
sensors is free and adaptive cruise control (ACC) is available. and 4. The reason for this is the higher current applied to the LEDs
due to statutory requirements.

1)
ECE = for the European market
2)
SAE = for the North American market

59
 9 projection modules for dipped beam

3 reflectors for
main beam

Thick wall technology

for parking lights,
daytime driving
lights and turn
signals

Reflector for
cornering light

486_103

Daytime running light / parking light Turn signal

The daytime running light and parking light are produced by 24 The turn signal is produced by 24 yellow LEDs. When a turn signal
white LEDs. They are activated by a pulse width modulated (PWM) is activated, the LEDs of the daytime running lights are switched
signal. The LEDs are dimmed for the parking light function. off.

486_104 486_105

Dipped beam Main beam

The dipped beam is produced by nine projection modules with a For the main beam function, three 4-LED chips are activated in
total of 14 LEDs. The LEDs of the daytime running lights are addition to the LEDs of the dipped beam and the parking lights.
dimmed to parking light level. The main beam can be activated with the main beam stalk or by
the main beam assist function.

1x1 1x4 1x1

1x4
1x4
1x1 1x1
1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2
1x1 1x1 1x1 1x1

486_106 486_107

1)
ECE = for the European market
2)
SAE = for the North American market

60
Motorway light Cornering light

For the motorway light, the light-dark boundary of the dipped For the cornering light, a 4-LED chip below the parking lights is
beam is raised by the headlight range adjustment servomotor. activated in addition to the dipped beam function. These LEDs have
The motorway light is activated when the speed is higher than a reflector which illuminates the side area of the vehicle when
110 kph for an extended period of time or immediately if 140 kph turning a corner. A prerequisite for this is that either a turn signal
is exceeded. is activated and the vehicle is travelling at a speed of less than
40 kph or heavy steering lock is applied at a speed of less than
70 kph.

1x1 1x1

1x1 1x1
1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2
1x2 1x1 1x1
1x1 1x1

1x4

486_108 486_109

All-weather light Tourist light

For the all-weather light function, which is activatable by a button The purpose of the tourist light (adjustable via the MMI) is to
in the light switch, 7 of the 9 dipped beam modules are powered prevent dazzling of oncoming traffic when driving in countries in
and raised slightly by the headlight range control system. In which the traffic drives on the opposite side of the road to one's
addition, the dipped beam LEDs on both sides are activated. The home country. The dipped beam function is used for this purpose,
upper two dipped beam LEDs stay switched off. This means that, and the three LEDs for the asymmetric part of the dipped beam
when driving in the fog and rain, light reflection against water stay switched off.
droplets is reduced and self-dazzling is prevented.

1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2

1x2 1x1 1x1
1x1

1x4

486_110 486_111

coming home / leaving home

The dipped beam is used for the coming home / leaving home
functions. These functions are activated either when the driver
exits the vehicle by opening the driver door or when the central 1x1

locking is unlocked with the remote control key. Prerequisites for 1x1
1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2 1x2
this are that the light switch is in the "AUTO" position, the rain and 1x1
1x1
light detector sensor detects "dark" and both functions are enabled
in the MMI (lights "on" when leaving / lights "on" when unlocking).

486_112

2)
SAE = for the North American market

61
LED headlight – component parts

In the LED headlight, the component parts shown here can be LED clusters or individual LEDs are not replaceable on the LED
replaced. headlight of the Audi A6 ’11.

Power module 2 for

left LED headlight
(parking light/daytime
running light, turn signal) Power module 4 for
A32 left LED headlight (SAE only2))
(turn signal 2)
A34

Power module 3 for

left LED headlight Left headlight fan
(cornering light) V407 Power module 1
A33 for left LED head-
light (dipped
beam, main beam,
motorway light)
A31

Left headlight range

control servomotor
V48

486_034
The illustration shows the SAE2) version of the LED headlight

Activation mechanism Adaptation for driving on the opposite side of the road

Powder modules 2 and 4 are activated by the onboard power Headlights can be adapted for driving on the opposite side of the
supply control unit J519 via discrete lines. Power modules 1 and 3 road via the MMI. In the "CAR" menu, the setting "Lights for
are LIN slaves of the onboard power supply control unit J519. driving on left" or "Lights for driving on right" can be selected
Powder module 1 A31 controls the fan in the LED headlight via under the menu option "Exterior lighting".
discrete lines. The fan is activated at "terminal 15 on" and runs
continuously until terminal 15 is deactivated again. This adjustment is made by deactivating LEDs (see figure on
page 61).

Schematic diagram of the activation mechanism

LED headlight
(one side of vehicle)
Discrete lines
Convenience CAN bus

Vehicle electrical – Power module 2 for left LED

system control unit headlight
J519 – Power module 4 for left LED
headlight (SAE only2))

Discrete lines

LIN bus – Power module 3 for left LED

headlight
– Power module 1 for left LED LED headlight fan
headlight
Extended CAN bus

Discrete lines
Headlight range Headlight range control servomotor
control unit
J431

486_113

!
Note
ESD protection must be ensured during all work on the headlights, particularly when replacing internal components.
Workshop equipment VAS 6613 is available for this purpose.

62