Adaptive headlights - don't think mine are working?

[jet_andy]

Can anyone else who has the Adaptive Headlight option tell me if the movement of the beams is clearly visible when driving at night?

I had a similar feature (ie swivelling xenons) on my previous car (Peugeot) and it was quite clear to see the beam move with the steering, particularly when on high beam.

On the A3 I just don't see this. Going by the description here, it should be pretty much the same.

Cheers

 

[NHN]

All comes down to road speeds, turns etc, its most noticeable on village roads tbh, slow turns & just pull up to a junction & turn wheel to 1 side just as you pull up & see if lights swing over.

 

[jet_andy]

yes - that's pretty much as they operated on the Peugeot. I know you can't sit in the drive and test them. I was out last night going through some slow sharp bends and couldn't see anything move. On the Peugeot couldn't help but notice.

It's in for the A/C (again) Thursday so I'll ask if it's something they can check. Would there be a test function they can use, or have to put it on the rolling road?

 

[jet_andy]

By the way - I do have the option ticked in the MMI menu - before anyone asks!

 

[NHN]

What's the 8V part number on headlights?

 

[jet_andy]

Will check. BTW - checking with the Option codes decoder says I have "8Q5 = Headlight-range adjustment, automatic/ dynamic with dynamic bending light (AFS 1)"

 

[jet_andy]

What's the 8V part number on headlights?

8V0941032 (right)

 

[RossR]

Don't they do a calibration danced when starting up or is that only older models?

 

[jet_andy]

Don't they do a calibration danced when starting up or is that only older models?

Yes they do, but that's the auto height adjustment that all xenon's have (regulations I think).

 

[cemerson]

The old ones did up/down and side/side on startup I think, hence the 'dance'. Wonder if it's something that can be set via VCDS, much like the needle sweep - after all, both serve the same purpose - checking range of movement.

 

[-Ju-]

I know the range of sideways movement on my R36 is far more than my old 8P S3, maybe that's just how they are.

 

[V00D00]

Take your car to a covered below ground car park (dark) and drive it towards the walls, turn and you will see if the lights swivel. I have adaptive lights on my 8P, I was also very unsure if they worked.
Disclaimer: Please don't crash into the walls. LOL

 

[jet_andy]

Don't they do a calibration danced when starting up or is that only older models?

Been out tonight and for the life of me I cannot see any movement. The old Peugeot was easy to see and clips of Audis on YouTube look obvious too.

When they start up, they do the normal up/down adjustment, and watching carefully I also noticed the a tiny left/right movement. I'm sure they are fitted, just not sure they're working right.

Hopefully they can check it out whilst its at the Dealer tomorrow.

 

[jet_andy]

Whilst car in for the A/C (see other thread) they say they've checked them and there's no fault, although apparently they can only test at night?

I'm not convinced

a) that they are working correctly
b) that there is not a test/demo mode to check them whilst stationary

I'd be interested to hear from others who've got them as to how much movement you can see, and if anyone knows if there should be a test mode, as there certainly is on other models.

cheers

 

[A3sportbackMark]

Andy, I cannot comment at this stage, as I don't have my car yet! However I am interested how this pans out, as when i get my car i wouldn't know if the adaptive lights work or not.

 

[jet_andy]

Andy, I cannot comment at this stage, as I don't have my car yet! However I am interested how this pans out, as when i get my car i wouldn't know if the adaptive lights work or not.

Had cause to be out Saturday night - headlamp test then after being told they were OK.

So here's the funny thing - they definitely ARE working OK....now.

Audi dealer claimed they'd checked them out and there were no error codes and they did the self test OK. When I went out I didn't have to peer into the light beam to see if it was working as I turned the wheels - it was plain to see they were working. Which is why I don't understand it, I always knew what to expect because I had them on my previous car, but the first couple of times I went out at night with the A3 I could not for the life of me see any movement.

Either they found something wrong - like being disabled in software or something, fixed it and didn't say, or there was a glitch and running them through the test system reset it.

I'm puzzled, but glad they are working.

 

[A3sportbackMark]

Had cause to be out Saturday night - headlamp test then after being told they were OK.

So here's the funny thing - they definitely ARE working OK....now.

Audi dealer claimed they'd checked them out and there were no error codes and they did the self test OK. When I went out I didn't have to peer into the light beam to see if it was working as I turned the wheels - it was plain to see they were working. Which is why I don't understand it, I always knew what to expect because I had them on my previous car, but the first couple of times I went out at night with the A3 I could not for the life of me see any movement.

Either they found something wrong - like being disabled in software or something, fixed it and didn't say, or there was a glitch and running them through the test system reset it.

I'm puzzled, but glad they are working.

Thanks for your explanation Andy, and pleased its working correctly for you. It's one of the many things I will have to check when I get my car......it will take me a few weeks to see if everything is working right!

 

[AJB]

Had cause to be out Saturday night - headlamp test then after being told they were OK.

So here's the funny thing - they definitely ARE working OK....now.

Audi dealer claimed they'd checked them out and there were no error codes and they did the self test OK. When I went out I didn't have to peer into the light beam to see if it was working as I turned the wheels - it was plain to see they were working. Which is why I don't understand it, I always knew what to expect because I had them on my previous car, but the first couple of times I went out at night with the A3 I could not for the life of me see any movement.

Either they found something wrong - like being disabled in software or something, fixed it and didn't say, or there was a glitch and running them through the test system reset it.

I'm puzzled, but glad they are working.

I tried mine for the first time last night, and you can seen them follow the road on dipped beam on country road corners. The handbook seemed to imply that they don't turn if you've got the headlights switched to ON rather than to AUTO. I wonder if that's something to do with it? Maybe you need to be on Auto.

It also implied that the adaptive headlights might be affected by Driver Select (maybe more adapatation or faster adaptation in dynamic and less in comfort) but that doesn't really make a lot of sense...

I haven't had a chance to play yet other than headlights in auto, driver select in auto, dipped beam, country road, and I could see them follow the road.

 

[Karl Alesbury]

I was driving on Sunday night, and could plainly see when I steered one full turn of the wheel, the side of the car lit up straight away. It's very noticable if you're looking for it.

 

[Richyboyp]

So I have adaptive lights. Mine work fine! Although at 1st I wasn't sure. The headlights only move when the car is moving, I can't just remember the speed but it is stated somewhere. Then the driver select affect the motion too. The cornering lights as some people mention are different again. I will stand corrected but I'm sure all with fogs have cornering lights. This is where the fog light to the direction you turn will come on and then fade out. Also the indicator will bring it on to at slow speeds. My headlights dance when the ignition turns on. All xenons will calibrate on start up as they self adjust. I can see mine go full circle.

 

[mjcourtney]

I don't believe the A3s have cornering fog lights. Lots of VWs do, but i've not seen any A3s do this.

 

[AJB]

So I have adaptive lights. Mine work fine! Although at 1st I wasn't sure. The headlights only move when the car is moving, I can't just remember the speed but it is stated somewhere. Then the driver select affect the motion too. The cornering lights as some people mention are different again. I will stand corrected but I'm sure all with fogs have cornering lights. This is where the fog light to the direction you turn will come on and then fade out. Also the indicator will bring it on to at slow speeds. My headlights dance when the ignition turns on. All xenons will calibrate on start up as they self adjust. I can see mine go full circle.

You're right, the cornering lights are different again (but I think come with adaptive xenons). They don't use the foglight, though. There's a separate halogen bulb in the headlight assembly which has a reflector pointing slightly outwards - that's what's used for low speed sharp corners, or when the indicator is on at low speeds. I always think the foglight position ones look slightly strange (as if 1 foglight has broken), so I was really pleased when I realised yesterday evening that mine has a cornering bulb, but not in the foglight position!

 

[Richyboyp]

I'm so glad it's in the headlight, that I didn't know, I just assumed it was the fog light as that's where it looks like from the drivers seat. I agree the one fog coming on looks a bit tat. Happy now. Ill be looking at that tonight

 

[RossR]

I don't believe the A3s have cornering fog lights. Lots of VWs do, but i've not seen any A3s do this.

My wifes Seat uses the fogs as cornering lights and it is quite handy for turning into the driveway. It does look a little odd I'll admit, although they do fade on and off which helps. To be honest I'd rather they designed them as cornering lights, and didn't have front fogs. If I get a VCDS cable I'll be looking at enabling cornering lights using the fogs - they look to have a fair lighting pattern for this.

 

[jet_andy]

I tried mine for the first time last night, and you can seen them follow the road on dipped beam on country road corners. The handbook seemed to imply that they don't turn if you've got the headlights switched to ON rather than to AUTO. I wonder if that's something to do with it? Maybe you need to be on Auto.

It also implied that the adaptive headlights might be affected by Driver Select (maybe more adapatation or faster adaptation in dynamic and less in comfort) but that doesn't really make a lot of sense...

I haven't had a chance to play yet other than headlights in auto, driver select in auto, dipped beam, country road, and I could see them follow the road.

I had another thought about mine not working (although never posted at the time). Earlier I'd had the rear view mirror fall off and had had to unplug it completely until it was fixed. At the time I unplugged it I got an error message relating to auto lights and wipers - understandable as the sensors are in the mirror. Whilst with no mirror I of course couldn't use Auto lights, but knew that the cornering lights would not work in manual mode.

I still had the problem after the mirror was re-fitted. I think that when I went back they realised that the auto lights needed some sort of reset due to the mirror being unplugged, but it had not been done at the time. Rather than admit it wasn't done at the time they did it on this visit and said nowt! I don't believe in coincidence so I'm sure the two are related...

 

[baldrick]

I have adaptive lights on my Beemer, though I must say I am more impressed by the the lighting output than the adaptive side. A great novelty but I am not sure cornering and moveable lights are that essential.

Back in my youth I did some road rallying with a huge pair of Cibie Super Oscar long range lights bolted on, Now it seems modern car's standard headlamps can perform as well if not better and yet to try LEDs...

 

[PembsA3]

Something I noticed on my 'old' 8P with adaptive lights - only the headlight on the inside of the turn moved - the other stayed pointing straight ahead, so you have to be looking at the inside beam to check they are working...

 

[Richyboyp]

I've just been out in mine, I'm pretty sure that both the lights move.

 

[cemerson]

I had a go at the variable range control today, although I was in town so not sure it really did much - turned it off after a short time in case it wasn't working and I was dazzling people. Will have to give it a go on a darker road I think to test it! First time out in the dark tonight though, the Xenons certainly work well, but I didn't go fast enough to trigger the adaptive function

 

[jet_andy]

I had a go at the variable range control today, although I was in town so not sure it really did much - turned it off after a short time in case it wasn't working and I was dazzling people. Will have to give it a go on a darker road I think to test it! First time out in the dark tonight though, the Xenons certainly work well, but I didn't go fast enough to trigger the adaptive function

You only need to do 18mph...

 

[cemerson]

Do you? Thought it was much faster

 

[Fragup]

This is from Audi website and states adaptive lights work from 10 km/h to 110 km/h, not sure if this is exactly what you are checking, and is not specific to A3 but gives you an idea that works at low speeds.

adaptive light > Glossary > advice > Audi Worldwide

 

[jet_andy]

You only need to do 18mph...

Oops..my mistake, it's cruise that starts to work at 18mph...as Fragup says its 10kmh (or 6mph)

 

[cemerson]

What are the best conditions to see the adaptive lights in? I'm not so convinced mine are doing anything now...

 

[jet_andy]

What are the best conditions to see the adaptive lights in? I'm not so convinced mine are doing anything now...

In a narrow road with high hedges and sharp corners. Or just wiggle the wheel slightly when you're following something that you can see the top of your dipped beam on.

 

[cemerson]

Checked my MMI - Drive select is in auto. I did see them wobble slightly side to side when I started the car for a test - how much are they supposed to move? It was only a tiny amount. Perhaps I should put on Dynamic mode and give it a go.

 

[jet_andy]

Checked my MMI - Drive select is in auto. I did see them wobble slightly side to side when I started the car for a test - how much are they supposed to move? It was only a tiny amount. Perhaps I should put on Dynamic mode and give it a go.

Does Drive mode matter? (I do drive in Dynamic and can't remember if they worked when I was in Auto).

You have got Adaptive lights selected in MMI? And start up test is a tiny wobble!

 

[cemerson]

There is something in there for 'cornering light' under individual settings, but that could refer to the static cornering light. I'll take a proper look over the weekend when I should be on some dark roads (going to Wales), which I haven't really done yet - been trying to look at it under street lighting in town. Also want to test the variable range lights for high beam as well.

 

[jet_andy]

You do need to turn the Adaptive function on, under external lighting/auto headlights.

 

[cemerson]

Yup, done that already!