[Nai3t]

Now that I've got the ID.4 away from my wife for a couple of days, I'm getting a chance to play around with the headlights.

The auto high beams seem to stay in low beam mode far too much of the time, and I'm confused why. Despite not getting the Matrix system here in the US, would it be safe to assume the VW is using common forward-looking image processing technology to spot oncoming vehicles and dip the beam?

What I'm finding, driving through Oakland's wider boulevards as well as narrow, hilly, bendy residential streets is that the auto high beam system is either being fooled by objects that aren't there, or I'm not understanding how they are intended to work. Sometimes I get high beams, usually I don't. They wouldn't fire driving a section of downhill, but came on when I started climbing the hill.

I'll play some more tonight but curious what you all are experiencing.

 

[NBCGLX]

I don't know if this is some of what you're experiencing or not, but I know that the high beams won't come on in well-lit areas (e.g., city-type roads with street lights) or below a certain speed. That functionality is across VW's with the auto high beams.

 

[Nai3t]

Hmmm... maybe, but not convinced.

Tried then again tonight and there seems to be no rhyme nor reason. A number of times they were so spastic it looked like I was flashing them.

The problem is if I choose to mix in use with Manual high beams, I have to cycle through the Auto setting each time.

I can push forward on the stalk to cycle between Auto and Manual, but if I need to dip my beams for oncoming traffic, pulling back on the stalk, when I go to reactivate them by pushing forward, they first go into Auto.

I'm supposing I can disable Auto in the menu? Forgot to look.

 

[NBCGLX]

Yeah I will say that the one thing that annoys me most (and this isn’t atypical for automatic high beams across manufacturers, in my experience) about auto high beams is that the only way to instantly turn the automatic function off is to turn the high beams on momentarily. Kinda weird.

 

[Keowee]

This was a VW descpriotn of the technology a few years ago. Seems to disbale high beam feature below 60km/h (37 mph). Uses camera for control above 37 mph.

"Dynamic Light Assist
A camera on the windscreen analyses the traffic ahead as well as oncoming traffic. On the basis of this data, the system automatically switches to main beam at speeds of more than 60 km/h and main beam remains activated without dazzling oncoming traffic. This improves the illumination of the carriageway and the roadside in twilight conditions and at night. Continuous main beam operation can therefore help in preventing accidents. In addition, Dynamic Light Assist offers significantly greater comfort as the driver’s eyes tire less quickly. Dynamic Light Assist is available in combination with xenon and LED headlights and Dynamic Cornering Light.

Light Assist
Light Assist is the basic variant of Dynamic Light Assist for models with headlights that do not feature Dynamic Cornering Light. Light Assist uses a camera in the windscreen to analyze the traffic ahead and oncoming traffic and automatically switches main beam on and off (from 60 km/h)."

 

[sprylo]

This was a VW descpriotn of the technology a few years ago. Seems to disbale high beam feature below 60km/h (37 mph). Uses camera for control above 37 mph.
...

That description matches this paragraph from the VWoA ID.4 press release from back in March:

High Beam Control (Light Assist) automatically switches on the headlamp high beams above 37 mph on dark or poorly lit roads, if there is no oncoming traffic detected. Below 18 mph, the high beams automatically switch off.

So to summarize, all three of these criteria must be met for it to turn on the high beams:

• Dark/poorly lit road
• No oncoming traffic
• Speed at or above 18 mph

 

[Nai3t]

Hmmm, ok,I'll have to reevaluate.

But I'm still not tickled I have to cycle through Auto every time I toggle the high beans off when operating them manually. Since it's via software, it should be made to default to the previous state.

 

[gcrone-wayback]

I think it is just how the current technology is that most manufacturers are using. My current (Ford) car has auto high beams as well, and it also is very sporadic feeling in when it decides to turn them on, and when they do come on even the smallest amount of light down the road will turn them off again. It can be a porch light on a house on the side of the road, and it will turn off.

 

[Keowee]

Recently looking at "Light Assist" settings, I can not find a description of what "Turn-on time" actually impacts? Nothing in the manual. Any ideas?

 

[gcrone-wayback]

I’m not sure either, but I assumed it meant how quickly does it turn the light towards the direction the car is turning. Meaning, how long of a pause does it use before turning. My best guess.

 

[gcrone-wayback]

Or maybe how long it waits before automatically turning on the lights? I really don’t know, and am only guessing.

 

[NBCGLX]

Turn on time, if it's like other VW's, is how dark it needs to be, before the automatic headlights are turned on.