How well does High Beam Assist work?

[Walpurgis]

Could someone who has got the Driver Assist Pack, please comment on how well the automatic beam-dipping function (High Beam Assist) works? Can you rely on it to work every time and how soon after passing another vehicle does it return to high beam?

I am about to order an SC and can't decide whether to order the Convenience and Driver Assist Packs. I can manage without the lane assist and auto-dimming mirror functions, and I've never seen the point of rain-sensing wipers. But if the High Beam assist function works well, then I will probably specify the packs.

Also, is it obvious when the headlight beam is raised automatically at speeds above 70mph? And can you over-ride this function (is it the same as the normal high beam)?

Finally, a question for Syphon. In his feature on the new Leon written last November, he mentioned plans to use the Lane Assist/High Beam camera to identify speed limit signs which would happen "next year". I can't remember reading anything more about this function since then. Do you (or anyone else) know whether this would be offered as a software upgrade for existing Leon Mk3s, or would it be part a future "refresh" of the range? Again, it's not a vital function, but it would be interesting to find out a bit more about it.

Thanks.

 

[GrahamFR]

I cant answer any of your questions but i wouldnt mind knowing how the high beam assist works and whether it could be something that you could turn on with VCDS? ditto on the lane assist although i think this would be more of an annoyance than an assist in some cases

 

[robtheplod]

lane assist is odd - not sure I like it..... ;-/

 

[GrahamFR]

How sensitive is it, im not saying I drift about like a p*sshead but sometimes in the right conditions I may use all of the road

 

[robtheplod]

it feels like the road markings are tramlines, with the steering 'nudging' when you get close. I tried taking my hand off the wheel (scientific test!) and it steered the car for about 10 seconds before it notices and tells you to take over again!

 

[GrahamFR]

Righto, that's not for me then

 

[robtheplod]

me too. I leave it switched off - it's a bit of a gimmick. If you need lane assist then you're not in a fit state to drive....

 

[shnazzle]

Eeekk...computers manipulating steering whilst driving at speed? Me no likey.

The only thing I'd say is that auto-dimming mirror is a lifesaver for me. Maybe because Im sensitive to light, but still. I really notice it.

Agree on the rain sensors. They're sh1t. They don't turn on when you need them and the my spontaneously kick in when you least expect it (bright sunlight, flare, dust on windscreen)

Is the high beam thing kind of like that stuff Vauxhall developed? Because that looked amazing. The one with all the LEDs.
Or is it a poor-man's version of that?





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[JK1]

Only time I've had issues with auto-wipers is when my wipers perished and weren't wiping completely. Replaced them recently and auto-wipe is back to normal.

I didn't bother with the high beam assist as I knew I'd be second guessing it. Plus it only picks up their lights so if you see the other persons headlight beams coming around a corner normally you'd turn off high-beam at that point but it won't do anything until the windscreen camera sees their lights (and you've already blasted them in the face with full beam). Didn't like the sound of Lane Assist either.

 

[Nath.]

Every car I've had with the auto lights or auto wipers has been fine. If I drive one without it I miss it.

Hill hold assist is OK once you get used to it. On the VAG cars there is some adjustment of the sensitivity with VCDS.

Electronic hand brake is rubbish IMO because it's either off or FULLY on. The sound of the handbrake mechanism straining Every time it's put on bothers me.

IIRC steering assist is standard on a lot of cars now, little nudges in the direction it thinks you need when cornering. (this is without lane assist) I think it's all part of ESP.

 

[LBB]

From the one Mk3 Leon that's around here I think they recognise a StVZO dynamo bike light at a reasonable distance, that or the driver is very observant/courteous. So it gets my thumbs up on a provisional basis.

 

[GrahamFR]

Maybe it is sensitive, this needs some investigating, but how does it differentiate between a bloke on a bike and just a random street light? and more importantly is it something that can be turned on via vcds?

 

[Walpurgis]

How does it differentiate between a bloke on a bike and just a random street light?

Maybe its vertical viewing angle is restricted to "eye level" and below.

 

[GrahamFR]

Maybe, but given my current mk's ability to see darkness everywhere with automatic lights ill still be little doubtful on this one. Could just be my luck but chances are if I ever spec this it will mess up and try giving me epilepsy lol

 

[LBB]

Maybe it is sensitive, this needs some investigating, but how does it differentiate between a bloke on a bike and just a random street light? and more importantly is it something that can be turned on via vcds?

StVZO bike lights are shaped & have a smiler pattern to motorbike headlights. They're not like most UK bike lights with a crude symmetric diffuser.

 

[GrahamFR]

So what your saying is that the halfrauds special bike riders among us my still be blinded by this?

 

[LBB]

Maybe, I have no idea. I run StVZO lights on all of my bikes through simplicity. Everything had a hub dynamo powering B+M dynamo lights.

But then again what do you expect if you don't ride with legal lights? The majority of UK cyclists are riding illegally at night, even if they have lights their lights do not meet legal requirements. Not that it's their fault per-se, walk into most bike shops & you can't buy a light which conforms to the UK traffic regs! I kid you not! It's a totally insane position to be in really.

Thankfully the UK police are normally perfectly sane about applying the law on this subject; Can I clearly see a front & rear light on the bike that doesn't dazzle? Yes = let them be. No = wrist slapping.