Adaptive headlights

[retired99]

My car is fitted with the adaptive headlight option, the lights are automatically adjusted so as not to dazzle either the driver in front or someone coming the other way.

The feature does not activate until about 40mph and I would like to change this so it becomes operational at a lower speed, say 30mph.

I think I remember a previous thread in which this was discussed and someone came up with a solution. I've looked but can't find it. There is a setting somewhere and I think someone identified where it is and a dealer who would do it, so I hope someone will be able to help.

[M1tchy]

In VCDS go to controller 20 - high beam assist, then select adaptation, then high beam assist threshold and then change the value that it operates at.


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[aurora7]

Basingstoke Audi fixed it on my A6 Allroad

[retired99]

I asked two dealers about this, the one which supplied my car and my local dealer.

Local dealer, after an initial struggle to get the service receptionist to understand the question he talked to a ‘master technician’ who at least understood the question but said it wasn’t possible but couldn’t explain why.

Talked to supplying dealer over the phone and the service reception staff were totally clueless, didn’t even begin to understand the question and seemed unable / unwilling find someone who might understand that I could talk to.

So my thanks for the replies which added far more value than the time I wasted talking to the ‘experts’ at Audi dealerships.

[aurora7]

I found it difficult to get across at first as well, fortunately the service (and sales) folk at my dealer really do try to help, and their Master Tech is a genius at getting to the root of a problem (especially if others say it can't be done!)

It's a hard issue for people who usually drive in built up areas to understand. I drive a lot along remote and winding country lanes in the dark, where 40mph is not really an option and the lack on earlier beam activation was driving me insane. It actually made the option fairly useless.

After the fix, the beam will come on at about 15mph which is great. They also applied the fix on my A1, for some reason that doesn't activate until about 20mph, but still good enough. It has made all the difference to rural driving at night!

I really don't know why Audi Central can't put some attention into making this work flexibly and properly from new.

Anyway, if you don't have VCDS, I don't think Basingstoke is too far away from you if you need a good dealer to sort it.

[retired99]

I found it difficult to get across at first as well, fortunately the service (and sales) folk at my dealer really do try to help, and their Master Tech is a genius at getting to the root of a problem (especially if others say it can't be done!)

It's a hard issue for people who usually drive in built up areas to understand. I drive a lot along remote and winding country lanes in the dark, where 40mph is not really an option and the lack on earlier beam activation was driving me insane. It actually made the option fairly useless.

After the fix, the beam will come on at about 15mph which is great. They also applied the fix on my A1, for some reason that doesn't activate until about 20mph, but still good enough. It has made all the difference to rural driving at night!

I really don't know why Audi Central can't put some attention into making this work flexibly and properly from new.

Anyway, if you don't have VCDS, I don't think Basingstoke is too far away from you if you need a good dealer to sort it.

I'm near Camberley so Basingstoke isn't a problem. Spoke to Basingstoke Audi this morning and they said they'd do it for me while I wait if I drop in next week. Really helpful attitude. Car will need a service after Christmas so it will be going there.

Thanks for your help.

[pumpsmynads]

Doesn't adaptive lighting move the beam left and right when you turn the wheel? I had it on my BMW - it's excellent.

If you mean high beam assist, if you set at less than 30 mph is there the danger that it'll come on in an urban area or does it detect street lights and not work? Serious question as I've never had the option. Maybe that's why it was set at 40 as it isn't clever enough around town with pedestrians, shop lights, etc.. etc..

[retired99]

Doesn't adaptive lighting move the beam left and right when you turn the wheel? I had it on my BMW - it's excellent.

If you mean high beam assist, if you set at less than 30 mph is there the danger that it'll come on in an urban area or does it detect street lights and not work? Serious question as I've never had the option. Maybe that's why it was set at 40 as it isn't clever enough around town with pedestrians, shop lights, etc.. etc..

I might have the terminology wrong but the meaning is clear enough. The lights fitted to my car do indeed react with the steering angle (between certain speed constraints), the car also adjusts the high beam in a step free fashion from dipped to full beam.

My main concern is that the automatic adjustment of the main beam is only operational above about 40mph. This renders it ineffective at slow speeds, say narrow lanes, at night. Lowering this threshold will, hopefully, make it more useful.

Driving in ,say, London I wouldn't expect to use main beam and if this becomes an issue it's very simple just to turn the feature off.

It makes decisions about how to react based on a camera ( other cars and ambient light), speed and nav info (if MMI Nav Plus fitted)is fitted. The Nav plus also enables the car to know it's at a junction and project a wide light pattern.

It all works quite well apart from this threshold issue.

[M1tchy]

Doesn't adaptive lighting move the beam left and right when you turn the wheel? I had it on my BMW - it's excellent.

If you mean high beam assist, if you set at less than 30 mph is there the danger that it'll come on in an urban area or does it detect street lights and not work? Serious question as I've never had the option. Maybe that's why it was set at 40 as it isn't clever enough around town with pedestrians, shop lights, etc.. etc..

There is no danger the lights will come on as the camera looks for other light sources (headlights, tail lights and street lights) and wont activate if it can "see them".

The system we are discussing is indeed called "high beam assist".

[ukgroucho]

Useful discussion, so thanks to the OP and those who contributed. I may have a chat with my local dealer and see if they can set this for me as I really don't drive in built up areas much.