Obscure Features

[snerlo]

Just further to the self parking wipers, have you noticed that they sometimes flinch one you turn the car on? That's because they flip the wiper over so that the wipers when they are at rest, don't constantly have the wiper "folded" one way. It flips the blade over so that it is "folded" the other way. It prolongs the life of the blades unlike normal cars where your wiper blades might be folded one way for months before you have to use them and they sort of stay in that shape because they have been sitting out in the sun and get baked because they are rubber. Another great little feature.

[kleung]

I tried quoting inline to your post but there's so much detail, it became a mess so I'll just chuck all my replies in and hope it makes sense.

Yeah sorry, I tend to get carried away with the details.

Climatronic notes: I don't think the upgraded climatronic came in until MY10 or MY10.5? But the behaviour you're describing is accurate.

You could be right - there was an overlap where some white MFD-equipped Passats still got the older three-dial Climatronic panel.

Instrument lighting: Not sure this is accurate. I have an MY10.5 with white MFD and mine doesn't have this feature. If it is sunset and I have my headlight switch to off, the dials will become unreadable until I turn the parkers on, when it then goes to whatever brightness I set with the brightness dial. The needles are always lit but the dials are not lit until I turn the parkers on and then they're just lit to where I tell them to be.

I just went out to my car (MY10.5 like yours) and re-checked it for myself - have a go with your car. Dark environment, headlight switch at 'off' position. Insert key to 'on' position, without starting the engine - the instrument cluster should be dimly lit. It will fade to 'off' if you start the car. I think the idea is that the darkened dials with contrasting lit needles become a subtle hint to the driver that you should probably have your headlights on.

If you have a torch, shine it into the tacho - the backlighting should rise quickly to full brightness.

Remove the torch, and the backlight will slowly fade back to its previous brightness.

On not being able to change the comfort indicator numbers in the MFD menu, double check, I could be wrong. I haven't adjusted any of those settings since I bought the car and the VCDS cable.

I just did - the comfort indicators setting is either 'on' or 'off' on my car.

I didn't think to use the key as a lever for the fuse box but surely that's a coincidence? Remember the car also comes with a screwdriver in the back as well with the tyre jacking tools.

It's possible that it's a coincidence (correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation and all that) - but the lever hole for the fuse box is almost exactly the right size for the key blade.

Knew about the blind being able to be attached with the seats forward, didn't know about the welding stuff, that's cool.

VW get plenty of stuff wrong, but they get oh so much right as well. The combination of features, technology and attention to detail is something you'd expect from a much higher-priced car than the Passat. There are signs of cost-cutting, like the collapsing R36 seat bolsters and the hard plastics below elbow height, but things like alcantara/microfibre seat upholstery, inflatable seat bolsters, rear thorax airbags and rear seat heaters are not features you expect to see at this price point. In the B8, you even get tri-zone air conditioning.

1. When you turn the car off or on, the fuel and temperature gauges no matter where they are always hit zero or their marks at the same time? So if your temp is at 90 but your fuel is at 100% and thus fuel gauge has twice as far to travel, it will move twice as quickly so they both hit zero at the same time. Blew my mind when I noticed, such a tiny feature that would have to have been coded meticulously by a programmer for such minimal gain.

That's awesome. I'll have to keep an eye out for that the next time I'm out and about.

2. On some cars, with VCDS, you can enable "Needle staging" on startup. It doesn't seem to be related to model year as my MY10.5 can't do it but someone else's on here they were able to enable.

Most B7 Passats had this enabled by default I think. My sister's B7 118TSI does it.

I'm sure I can come up with more later!

I have a couple more, although some fall under the heading of 'clever' or 'unusual' rather than 'obscure':

• Inflatable front seat bolsters on the R36.
• Oil temperature readout in the trip computer - so you know when the engine is properly warmed up and you can start giving it the berries.
• The fan on the Climatronic does not come on until the engine is running.
• For HID-equipped B6es, the startup self-test 'dance' also doesn't happen until the engine is running.
• Remote open/close the windows - double-press and hold the lock or unlock buttons on the remote to raise or lower all four windows. I don't have a sunroof so I don't know if it also opens and closes with the remote.
• If you press the lock button on the key to lock the car, and then press it again within about 2 seconds, the deadlocks disengage - the doors remain locked, but can be opened from inside the vehicle normally by just pulling the door handles.
• The aircon compressor is a variable output type, which means that a) you don't get that variation in idle revs as the compressor cycles on and off, and b) you don't get the unpleasant temperature variation in vent air temperature as the compressor cycles on and off. This technology is fairly commonplace now, but back in 2006, it was really only available in high-end cars.
• The B8 Passat gets three sets of trip computer data readouts - per trip, per tank and long term. The per-trip readouts reset after the car sits idle for more than a couple of hours. The per-tank readouts reset when the fuel filler door is opened, and the long term readouts are manually reset.
• You can set a maximum starting volume on the stereo, so you if you were listening to loud music on the last trip, you don't get your eardrums blown out the next time you go to start your car.
• The factory fitted parking sensors beep at different pitches so you know just by listening when it's beeping for the front sensors or the rear sensors.
• If you're stationary and the sensors have been beeping continuously for more than about 30 seconds, the volume of the beeps is reduced automatically so they're less irritating.
• Radio text function - on the RCD510 or higher in radio mode, you can turn on a setting so that the bottom half of the display shows basic data being broadcast by the radio stations, like weather information or the currently playing song title. For the B6, this feature is off by default - on the B7 and later it's on.
• Low engine oil level warning - most people with even a passing interest know that when the red oil idiot light comes on, it's already too late - the Passat has a sensor for oil level as well as oil pressure, so you get a warning if the oil level gets a bit low (yellow idiot light plus yellow peril warning in MFD), well before there's any risk of damage occurring.

Strictly speaking, the remote windows and deadlock functions are hardly uncommon these days (hell, my 1996 Holden Berlina had a manual deadlock and the VT Commodores had a remote operated deadlock), but you'd be surprised at how many people don't know about them.

Just further to the self parking wipers, have you noticed that they sometimes flinch one you turn the car on?

On mine, if the wipers have been in use, the arms lift slightly when I turn the ignition off.

[Jakeys]

You might be right about the lights on the cluster dimming, I just thought it didn't because I know if my lights are off and it's dark I can't see the numbers but on thinking about it what you're describing it would do.

On the windows, yeah it will close the sunroof on hold of lock however it will not open the sunroof if you hold open. Dunno why but they do it that way on purpose. The deadlock thing you describe explains the funny double chirp I get sometimes, I must be triggering that. The rest I knew and appreciate.

I guess one small bonus thing is any part of the leather seats that would rub on plastics is actually not leather like you would think but cloth to avoid noises. I thought it was cost cutting at first but I realised it's by design. And the seatbelt clips are all felt lined for the same reason. Just more evidence of smart thinking and attention to detail by VW.

Also there is a screwdriver in with the wheel jack. It looks like it's just Phillips head but the blade pulls out of it and it's actually reversible and is a flathead too. Has come in handy in a pinch to adjust a clamp in the engine bay! And if you buy the VW branded roadside assistance kit like I have you will get a ton of handy other **** as well including a generic brand version of a Leatherman. It's not very good but along with the mechanic's gloves, safety triangle, bandaids, ponchos, battery cables and a host of other ****, it makes the roadside kit accessory pretty cool!

[kleung]

1. When you turn the car off or on, the fuel and temperature gauges no matter where they are always hit zero or their marks at the same time?

I just noticed today that they also do the same thing going the other way, when you turn the ignition on.

The deadlock thing you describe explains the funny double chirp I get sometimes, I must be triggering that.

Yeah, the first press gets you a nice solid 'thunk', but if you press the lock button again to disengage the deadlocks, you get more of a 'shick' sound. It's the same sound you get if you open the tailgate while the doors are locked, and then shut it again.

And the seatbelt clips are all felt lined for the same reason. Just more evidence of smart thinking and attention to detail by VW.

I just looked at that today - that is way cool.

[Jakeys]

Another tiny detail. If you have a warning chime play (Fuel, low tyre pressure, or in my case seatbelt warning due to some weight on the passenger seat) the indicators don't make noise in the cabin until the chime stops! As in the typical "click... click" doesn't happen, the light just flashes.

[00100100]

Two things to add to the list that not everyone might be aware off:

- The sunroof shade cover has open slots in it. That is so that on hot days, you can tilt up the sunroof when leaving the car and not have to open the shade cover. Hence sun light will not come in through the sunroof. Hot air will flow through the slots of the shade cover and out though the sun roof.

- The sun visor, when using it against the side driver window, it can slide backwards or forwards to better cover the sunlight that might be coming through the driver window during sunrise or sunset.

[weonarok]

Probably a good thing the wiper blades 'flip' to prolong their life considering that they are $80 or more a pair against 'old style' blades being a couple of bucks. [emoji104]
With Ross Tech the 'lane changing blinkers' can be changed from off too 5 flashers.
On latter models you can also go in and change the values to make the speedometer more accurate. Mine is now spot on with my GPS.
There is also provision to correct the odometer settings (I run much larger tyres on my rok and the odometer reads low) but it needs a code that unfortunately only My VW himself appears to have. [emoji22]


"You don't know what you don't know"

Cheers dave

[Jakeys]

Probably a good thing the wiper blades 'flip' to prolong their life considering that they are $80 or more a pair against 'old style' blades being a couple of bucks. [emoji104]
With Ross Tech the 'lane changing blinkers' can be changed from off too 5 flashers.
On latter models you can also go in and change the values to make the speedometer more accurate. Mine is now spot on with my GPS.
There is also provision to correct the odometer settings (I run much larger tyres on my rok and the odometer reads low) but it needs a code that unfortunately only My VW himself appears to have. [emoji22]


"You don't know what you don't know"

Cheers dave

For wiper blades I buy Bosch Aerotwins. They make them for front and also rear for wagon. Fantastic blade, wasn't much more expensive than when I was buying them for my old Verada. I haven't actually ever replaced with OEM so I can't say a direct comparison but I've been very happy with the price and performance of the Bosch wipers and have always heard good reviews from others. Food for thought there.

On the speedometer accuracy, while that is true, I looked at doing that and realised it's actually a bit more difficult than just adding or subtracting a number of km's, there are ratios and different ranges involved. I would suggest unless you're very confident with what you're doing not messing with those speedo numbers.

[OilBurna]

Don't forget auto hold will not engage unless you have your seatbelt on


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest001]

Probably a good thing the wiper blades 'flip' to prolong their life considering that they are $80 or more a pair against 'old style' blades being a couple of bucks. [emoji104]
With Ross Tech the 'lane changing blinkers' can be changed from off too 5 flashers.
On latter models you can also go in and change the values to make the speedometer more accurate. Mine is now spot on with my GPS.
There is also provision to correct the odometer settings (I run much larger tyres on my rok and the odometer reads low) but it needs a code that unfortunately only My VW himself appears to have. [emoji22]


"You don't know what you don't know"

Cheers dave

Well I do know what I do know and I know I cant get my speedo more accurate. Went to the correct place in VCDS and changed the values to every different one and no matter what I did it hasnt changed anything.

Any further asssitance would be appreciated.

[kleung]

Found another cool feature.

The brake discs are also equipped with a kind of wiper. Reason: In heavy rain, a water film can form on the brake disc and reduce its response. This is where the new “wiper” function comes in. At an interval of five minutes, the brakes are applied with a minimum amount of pressure to dry the discs. You do not notice this process while driving.

New Passat Launched In Germany - Over 40 New Photos And Full Specs - VWVortex

No idea if AUDM Passats got this feature, but it's clever nonetheless.

[claude626]

Someone mentioned the cruise control speed increments being 1kmh and 10kmh, all I can do is the 10kmh increment...

Any thoughts?

[Eaglehawk]

Don't you just pull the stick towards you to make it go up in 1km/h increments?

[Harrydhillon]

Usually the 'Set' and 'Resume' button for +- 1km/h


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Guest001]

You pull the stalk towards you for 1 k increments up and press the button in the end of the stalk for 1k increments down. At least i do in mine using Adaptive Cruise.

You push the stalk up for 10 up and down for 10k down