Automatic Headlight Question

[bladeowner]

On a normal UK day my automatic headlights seem to work as expected - as it gets darker the lights come on, go through a tunnel the lights come on, exit the tunnel, they go off etc.
I've noticed recently, that on very bright days that after driving into some shadier areas - under trees etc, the lights come on and stay one for a long time even when back into bright sunlight. They eventually go off but not like the normal behaviour.
It's like the sensor is reading the relative value as opposed to the absolute value.
Anybody else had the same?

 

[srhutch]

It's to do with frequency nor brightness apparently. My E87 lights are on quite a lot, and the zed more so when the roof is down for some reason or other, although in the zed I now have the on all the time as otherwise the cars seems to be invisible to quite a few drivers :headbang:

 

[bladeowner]

Interesting. I must admit I have also noticed it more with the roof down.
I have led sidelights as DRLs set via the intravee.

 

[cj10jeeper]

It's to do with frequency nor brightness apparently. My E87 lights are on quite a lot, and the zed more so when the roof is down for some reason or other, although in the zed I now have the on all the time as otherwise the cars seems to be invisible to quite a few drivers :headbang:

Agree with this as the frequency changes by time of day and other conditions. Often see them come on in bright sun in the evening or after a heavy storm.
I also think they average out light so can come on if in and out of tree shade.

 

[ZedFourM]

I have automatic lights on all my cars and I never, ever, use them.

If I could not decide for myself when my lights need to be switched on or off, I might as well hand in my licence and give up driving.

 

[srhutch]

I have automatic lights on all my cars and I never, ever, use them.

If I could not decide for myself when my lights need to be switched on or off, I might as well hand in my licence and give up driving.

So you will never buy an automatic either then.

 

[bladeowner]

I have automatic lights on all my cars and I never, ever, use them.

If I could not decide for myself when my lights need to be switched on or off, I might as well hand in my licence and give up driving.

Well yes but I find them quite useful. If they don't come on when I want them on - I switch them on or vice versa. For most scenarios leave on auto and forget.

 

[cj10jeeper]

I have automatic lights on all my cars and I never, ever, use them.

If I could not decide for myself when my lights need to be switched on or off, I might as well hand in my licence and give up driving.

Well yes but I find them quite useful. If they don't come on when I want them on - I switch them on or vice versa. For most scenarios leave on auto and forget.

Same as here. In auto but I override if need to.

Try driving on the Costa del Sol with a hundred tunnels where it's illegal to not switch in and off for each tunnel in a hire car with manual lights - Real pita.

 

[Athos]

I have noticed the same behavior with my auto lights,

They have a tendency to stay on in the mornings and tend to operate normally at night... :?

 

[bladeowner]

Seems it's a feature, not a fault

 

[thecremeegg]

Yea the auto lights are a nice idea in theory but I never use them - my headlight switch is set to off at all times, I've just set the dipped beams to be DRLs via the coding software so headlights are always on!

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Thought that option (ECE_tagfarhlicht ??) just disabled the lamp warning when left in auto and turned them on all the time?

 

[thecremeegg]

You referring to me? If so I just used the option in the Carly app I think. Just the option to set DRL and you can choose from dipped beam, sidelights etc.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Ah ok, a lamp as DRL - there is also the option in NCS for ECE_(something German) - in that mode you just leave lights in auto and they come on all the time, I suppose the only benefit is you can turn them off?

 

[Mr Tidy]

It's to do with frequency nor brightness apparently. My E87 lights are on quite a lot, and the zed more so when the roof is down for some reason or other, although in the zed I now have the on all the time as otherwise the cars seems to be invisible to quite a few drivers :headbang:

Just a thought, but I wonder if your Z being black doesn't help. I also feel like my car is invisible quite often, but it did seem to happen much more when I had a black car! :roll:

 

[thecremeegg]

Ah ok, a lamp as DRL - there is also the option in NCS for ECE_(something German) - in that mode you just leave lights in auto and they come on all the time, I suppose the only benefit is you can turn them off?

There is that

 

[thecremeegg]

It's to do with frequency nor brightness apparently. My E87 lights are on quite a lot, and the zed more so when the roof is down for some reason or other, although in the zed I now have the on all the time as otherwise the cars seems to be invisible to quite a few drivers :headbang:

Just a thought, but I wonder if your Z being black doesn't help. I also feel like my car is invisible quite often, but it did seem to happen much more when I had a black car! :roll:

A small black convertible is the worst for people not seeing you! I had a black MX5 and people just thought I didn't exist and would tray and drive through me! I was stationary in a petrol station once and a guy just reversed all the way into me despite having a camera etc! Lights on all the time for me to try and lessen that problem.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

This is exactly my thought, its a very low profile car and I think grey blends in even more to the urban background. I run with headlights on almost all the time, DRLs are on the to-do list.

 

[cj10jeeper]

This is exactly my thought, its a very low profile car and I think grey blends in even more to the urban background. I run with headlights on almost all the time, DRLs are on the to-do list.

Big issue for me with this is that you have tail lights on too and that diminishes the differentiation in daylight of brake lights coming on, especially as I have full circle side lights. Relies on the centre light much more.

Converted to DRL halos recently to cover all bases

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Not as bad for facelift but I take your point. DRLs are the way forward in my mind. I will be trying to set the BFD to flashing as well, I don't like the fogs lighting up, think it confuses most average Joes... question marks above the head then crunch!