Dynamic Light Assist

[Ralfi]

I didn't even realise I had this feature until the dealer got back to me with confirmation today.

Thing is, I can't find the setting within the Infotainment menu to activate it.

Manual states it should be found under Car>Settings>Light Settings>Light Assist>>Dynamic Light Assist

My Infotainment menu however has no mention of 'Light Assist' & only contains some of the Light Settings listed in the manual.

& when I push the indicator stalk forwards, I only get the high beam symbol but without the "A" within it indicating the Dynamic Light Assist activation. Although, I've only tried to activate it whilst in a closed garage, so not sure if the surroundings prevent it from being activated?

Does having Bi-Xenons always guarantee you have this Dynamic Light Assist feature?

[DV52]

I didn't even realise I had this feature until the dealer got back to me with confirmation today.

Thing is, I can't find the setting within the Infotainment menu to activate it.

Manual states it should be found under Car>Settings>Light Settings>Light Assist>>Dynamic Light Assist

My Infotainment menu however has no mention of 'Light Assist' & only contains some of the Light Settings listed in the manual.

& when I push the indicator stalk forwards, I only get the high beam symbol but without the "A" within it indicating the Dynamic Light Assist activation. Although, I've only tried to activate it whilst in a closed garage, so not sure if the surroundings prevent it from being activated?

Does having Bi-Xenons always guarantee you have this Dynamic Light Assist feature?

Ralfi: hello. In answer to your question, there are the following different versions of the headlights available for the mk7:

1. Halogen headlights
2. Bi-xenon headlights
3. Bi-xenon headlights with dynamic cornering light (AFS)
4. Bi-xenon with dynamic light assist (DLA)

Below is a description of DLA headlight from VW:

Technical features
The dynamic light assist (DLA) incorporates the dynamic cornering light (AFS) and dynamic main beam control (MDF) functions.  The layout of the bulbs and the appearance of the bi-xenon headlight with advanced frontlighting system (AFS) and dynamic main beam control (MDF) is the same as that of the bi-xenon headlight with AFS. The design of the inside of this bi-xenon headlight is, however, different. It features a group of individually moveable screens which can be swivelled into the light cone cast by the main beam lamp.  The dynamic main beam control function, that is, the partial masking of certain areas of illumination, is implemented through a combination of the screens and the horizontal adjustment of the module

Hope that this helps
Don

[beingaware]

It also requires the lane assist camera which we don't have in Australia.



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[DV52]

It also requires the lane assist camera which we don't have in Australia.



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beingaware: very true!! The camera is what VW call R242 (it's mounted on the windshield in the RLHS housing- I believe)

[Ralfi]

Thanks, DV52.

That cluster does look familiar - Mine http://i.imgur.com/hj2LWjU.jpg

So, mine's the third one listed, sans the group of individually moveable screens.

Sounds like the dealer isn't really sure of their product..

------

Now, I'm not so sure if my Bi-Xenons have the headlight washers equipped. They apparently activate every 10 times the windscreen washers are used. I 'think' I noticed an extra spray down low when I first used the windscreen washers, but aren't sure now...

[beingaware]

Thanks, DV52.

That cluster does look familiar - Mine http://i.imgur.com/hj2LWjU.jpg

So, mine's the third one listed, sans the group of individually moveable screens.

Sounds like the dealer isn't really sure of their product..

------

Now, I'm not so sure if my Bi-Xenons have the headlight washers equipped. They apparently activate every 10 times the windscreen washers are used. I 'think' I noticed an extra spray down low when I first used the windscreen washers, but aren't sure now...

You have type 3.

Which has the static turning lights.

To enable DLA, you will need the DLA RHD headlights, the isight camera and a new windscreen as our AU spec golfs have tinting where the camera would go.

Then at install, you would need vagcam to enable the feature.
(:

I'm in the process of Euro Speccing my Golf R, the cost to get DLA which also enables lane assist will be around $3000.





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[AdamD]

The S3 with LED headlights and Assistance Package gets the feature; it automatically drops the main beam when the camera detects oncoming traffic. It's a great feature if you do a lot of country driving, but of little to no benefit in metro areas.

[Ralfi]

Thanks for shedding light on the topic, people.

& yeah, thinking about it, it would be more beneficial in rural area where you'd have less light poles, so not really missing out on much.

The B-Xenons with dynamic/static turning lights are much more useful on the roads I use.

[RMBB]

Just wanted to add 1 point that I know is a localised issue, particularly on our roads. Dynamic Light Assist will not work well in Australia because of all the reflective gear we have on our roads. This includes cat eyes (little reflective units in the middle of the road) and the 1 metre white posts which are also reflective. In Europe and many other countries they lack the same level of reflective gear we have here in Australia.

These reflective units actually trick the camera into thinking that it is either brake lights from another car (if it is red in colour) and the orange/white reflectors will trick the camera into thinking it is oncoming traffic. The end result is that the high beam dances around up and down and will sometimes miss cars or be extremely distracting to other drivers that might be further ahead since bi-xenons are so bright. Your would need some ridiculous algorithm to make Dynamic Light Assist work effectively here.

I know this through experience since I have driven a new Mercedes which had the auto high-beam feature installed. I drove to Thredbo from Sydney and it was all over the place, especially in the country side when you would want it the most.

So keep that in mind, it isn't worth it for the auto high-beam function (dynamic light assist). It won't work properly. That being said, lane assist would work well if you wanted that.

EDIT: I actually might be mainly talking about the Main Beam Assist. I am sure the same principle would apply to the Dynamic Light Assist as both use the camera to analyse the driving environment.

[point]

I've driven an Audi A6 with the Matrix LED headlights (same concept - selective high beam that can keep the high beam on while not blinding other cars), and it worked just as described even on our roads with reflectors. It would keep the high beams on almost permanently at high speed but the lights would dim out where another car was, keeping the area surrounding that car bright with the high beam. i didnt find it confused by the reflectors- but this could be just on the Audi system.

This video shows DLA pretty well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11PbenBRVjk

i would KILL for DLA on Aus spec Golfs, if it was availabe i'd trade up in a heartbeat.

@Beingaware, when you say speccing your Golf to euro-spec, you just doing DLA and Discovery Pro? Has anyone retro-fitted Dynaudio?

[AdamD]

Just wanted to add 1 point that I know is a localised issue, particularly on our roads. Dynamic Light Assist will not work well in Australia because of all the reflective gear we have on our roads. This includes cat eyes (little reflective units in the middle of the road) and the 1 metre white posts which are also reflective. In Europe and many other countries they lack the same level of reflective gear we have here in Australia.

I drive on country roads quite often, and have been surprised by how well it works actually - and how good it is at differentiating between reflectors, road sign reflections, and traffic. There are times when it does get it wrong, but more often than not it's not fooled by the things that you'd think might confuse it. I suspect the algorithm relies on determining the size and distance of the light object based on its trajectory.

[RMBB]

I drive on country roads quite often, and have been surprised by how well it works actually - and how good it is at differentiating between reflectors, road sign reflections, and traffic. There are times when it does get it wrong, but more often than not it's not fooled by the things that you'd think might confuse it. I suspect the algorithm relies on determining the size and distance of the light object based on its trajectory.

To be fair, on that particular drive to the snow there seemed to be an above normal amount of reflective gear around, specifically there were a lot of white 1 metre posts with the red reflective squares that admittedly do look like brake lights. To digress though, I am far than impressed by the newest generation of Mercedes-Benz ML headlights all together. They are great for the driver because it lights everything up... but the lights auto level way to high and blind other drivers. I hardly drive the car, but in the past year I have had 2 people road rage at me and flashed at least 2 times on top of that. Only driven it about 5 times this past year if that says anything.

There would be a lot of variables and the lights would have to be fail safe as to not blind anyone else. So although the computer probably could determine that it wasn't a car, it would programmed to not take any chances. The Mercedes system would definitely work better in a european environment, a lot less reflective gear in Europe.

I just wanted to let you guys know incase you hadn't thought about what could go wrong with the system in AUS. Hard to say how the VW system would go without actually trying it though.


Point, those new Matrix LED lighting systems look amazing. Definitely the latest and greatest around!

[beingaware]

Point, I'm also looking at adding the auto park assist that the gti has as well as auto folding mirrors.

RMBB, easy fix for that, find the manual vertical control screw and lower each light slightly.

My Mark 7 R was too low when I got it, so I manually leveled them a bit higher, much better light throw.
Also switching from the OEM Osram 4150k globes to osram cbi 5500k helped a lot too.
Though I suspect my left protector might have some imperfections as it seems dull compared to other 7r cars.


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[7R]

I have DLA on my new Mazda6 wagon - just took it up to Nelson Bay for a four day weekend and it works fantastic... never missed a beat.

[RMBB]

RMBB, easy fix for that, find the manual vertical control screw and lower each light slightly.

That sounds great, I haven't come across that adjustment before. I'll definitely look into it!