T5.2 Auto Headlights Retro Fit?

[Pominoz13]

Keep us posted, I'm in the same boat. I used an underground carpark during the day and forgot to turn my lights off when I got home during to kids yelling and rushing to unload the car. The result......

a flat battery and a very helpful neighbour jump starting me again.

i miss auto lights, you'd think a 2011 tdi400 would have them!

[YellowLemon]

Best bet would be to visit your friendly local VW parts dept and get them to find what switch you need. Once you have the switch, given that you have the autowipers and the sensor, it may be as easy as coding the car with VCDS to enable the auto headlights.

I'm afraid it's not that simple: The reason VW don't put the 'auto lights' in the T5.2 Multivan, even at MY2011, is because the light wiring setup is entirely different compared to the Golfs post mark V, and as mentioned above, the T5 is based on the Polo 6R electrics, which itself is based on the Golf Mk4 electrics.

The T5 actual switch with the 'big' plug carries the full current of the headlights and parking lights and DRLs. But the BCM powers the fog lights, reverse lights and number plate lights. Whereas the Highlines with auto headlights, and the models 2012/2013+ then have all the lights running via the BCM as per the latest Golfs etc....

You will also notice that "Coming Home/Leaving Home" also don't work in the T5 ... even though the Comfortline BCM has bits in VCDS to activate CH/LH!!

For a 2011 there are basically two options:

1) Buy one of these aftermarket custom light modules that translates the old 'big' plug to the new 'small plug' and has a separate little light sensor and works with the new light switch. Available for ~$50 from AliExpress incl. new switch. The old version of this module you had to run a wire to the BCM for CH/LH function, but now the Chinese have some other logic to detect unlocking (the indicator lights perhaps??) which makes it plug&play.

Link: Aliexpress.com : Buy Volkswagen Auto Light Sensor Headlight Switch Automatic induction Control For VW Golf 4 IV Jetta MK4 6 VI Bora Polo 5ND 941 431B from Reliable switch touch suppliers on SFMD Company | Alibaba Group

2) Possibly you can swap the BCM for a later version, and essentially rewire the entire lighting system (and any other changes with the BCM)

I got one of the chinese ones after accidentally leaving the lights on at night and having the cops knocking on my door because someone reported "a suspicious white van parked on the street with it's lights on" (I'm used to the Tiguan where the headlights go off after 1 minute as part of the CH function)

Disclaimer: Info gleaned from the German Transporter forums here: Warum ist im T5 EZ 09/2011 kein CAN Bus Lichtschalter verbaut? | T5-Board

[Sunny43.5]

Maybe one of these might be the answer seem pretty straight forward $60 KIT - AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS 10/13 | Automotive | Electronic Project Kits | Kits, Science & Learning | PRODUCTS | KC5524 | Jaycar Electronics
Or this one will admit the first one looks a bit more upmarket Universal Auto On/Off Headlights Sensor w/ Switch :: Auto Headlights Sensor :: Auto Accessories :: ModifyStreet

[YellowLemon]

The ones on AliExpress and eBay are VW specific and plug-and-play

Search for "polo auto headlight"

Like this one: FOR VW Golf MK4 NEW Bora Polo Lavida Jetta Auto Head Light Sensor Switch Module | eBay

[Sharkie]

I'm afraid it's not that simple: The reason VW don't put the 'auto lights' in the T5.2 Multivan, even at MY2011, is because the light wiring setup is entirely different compared to the Golfs post mark V, and as mentioned above, the T5 is based on the Polo 6R electrics, which itself is based on the Golf Mk4 electrics.h

The T5 actual switch with the 'big' plug carries the full current of the headlights and parking lights and DRLs. But the BCM powers the fog lights, reverse lights and number plate lights. Whereas the Highlines with auto headlights, and the models 2012/2013+ then have all the lights running via the BCM as per the latest Golfs etc....

You will also notice that "Coming Home/Leaving Home" also don't work in the T5 ... even though the Comfortline BCM has bits in VCDS to activate CH/LH!!

I had a 2011 T5GP Comfortline with factory fitted auto lights as an option. Even Coming home worked, so there is a possibility if the sensor is present. Yes, may need a new BCM and switch though.

The Chinese option for those without sensors looks like a brilliant solution though, I'd go with that

[Sunny43.5]

I have ordered one Sharkie through Jaycar , yes its probably made in China but I won't hold that against them LOL .

[YellowLemon]

I had a 2011 T5GP Comfortline with factory fitted auto lights as an option. Even Coming home worked, so there is a possibility if the sensor is present. Yes, may need a new BCM and switch though.

Yes exactly, the auto lights was a separate option, and meant you got the 'high' BCM wired to drive all the lights, while the light switch then would have been a standard VW CAN-bus type one with the little plug.

Since the Transporter goes under the 'commercial vehicles' range, most T5 (even T5GP) just got the old-style mk4 plug,whereas the new-style CANbus plug was standard since Golf mk5 on the passenger vehicles...

[Sunny43.5]

Hmm talk about false advertising I received the Jaycar headlight auto switch kit today , great work Jaycar the kit was described in great detail in regards to its features etc . They stated that there was "some" soldering required , silly me I thought that maybe soldering some wires to the original harness was what they meant . Well open the slickly packaged unit to find nice alloy box circuit board several plastic bags full of diodes resistors chips and a myriad of tiny little electronic components copper wire screws etc. Seems you have to build the bloody thing yourself . What a joke 8 pages of instructions with drawings , okay I will admit after reading the small print on the instructions it stated that if you were not confident in assembling the kit you could pay them to do it or as I will be doing RETURN the kit for a full refund . Buyer beware here is what you see as a finished item not quite matching the description KIT - AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS 10/13 | Automotive | Electronic Project Kits | Kits, Science & Learning | PRODUCTS | KC5524 | Jaycar Electronics

[Sunny43.5]

Well after getting refund of the Jaycar kit I ordered a "complete"kit from here Bluewire Automotive - AUTOLIGHT Mk2 - AUTO HEADLIGHT ON/OFF SENSOR SYSTEM . Fitted it today 20 mins and all done works perfectly as well , as all the wires needed to connect to are on the back of the headlight switch access was easy . Connect one wire to earth one to accessory {on switch plug } one to constant power {on switch plug } then one to the headlight wire and one to tail lights also in switch plug . mounted sensor at top corner of windscreen .

[zanga]

Any confirmation that a 2013 Mutlivan can have the Autolights added with a simple part replacement? and VCDS change?

[Sunny43.5]

Probably can be done but who wants to pay exorbitant prices first for the genuine part and second coding . Maybe this one will suffice most VW switches are the same so this would probably work Automatic Headlight Auto light conversion Kit for VW Jetta Beetle Golf Passat | eBay or this one Automatic Car Light Operating Kit | Maplin and another .Bold-Sport.com :: Auto Driving Light - Upgrade Kit I would check the back of your switch to see if the plug is like the ones shown . These VW ones could have different plugs . The universal kit from Maplin is the same as we have .

[zanga]

I'll check my switch type.
What im actually after is, that when you turn off ignition, it simply turns off all lights (without having to touch switch) or perhaps leaves them on for certain time or until van is locked. Is this the same auto we're talking about?

[Sunny43.5]

Yes that's what ours does , the switch is always in the " Off "position " so when you start up the system becomes active so to speak . When you enter a darkened area tunnel or night etc the lights come on automatically . I bought both ours from two different places as the first one stopped stocking them , the first one has timer delay so it leaves the lights on for a short time after turning the ignition off , the second one turns the lights off at the same time as the ignition is switched off . Ok after some checking it maybe that the VW ones listed are probably like most new cars today where headlights or DRLs are turned on every time you get in the car , the aftermarket Matlin one is the same as ours which has the light sensor to activate the headlights lights when driving into darkened areas , our 2010 model has DLR on all the time when the ignition is on , the kit I fitted turns the headlights on separately from the DLR .Hope that clarifies things for you .