I have a Superb Combi and use AUTO settings for Xenon lights. That means it turns them on, when a sensor thinks its dark outside. I have noticed, that it turns them on and off many times, because i drive on a road with many tunnels, dark forest areas and so on. In 20km drive it turns the lights on and off again at least 10 times.

Is that good for Xenon or not? Is it better to turn them on constantly?

That is a really good question, and as I live in an areas with lots of trees I can imagine I will have the same thing happen to me.. Anybody know the answer to this? How much do replacement bulbs cost and how long should they last?

Xenon's do not like to be turned on and off constantly, this is going to drastically shorten their life.

Personally i am probably going to disable the auto lights function (with VCDS) when mine arrives.

The bulb needs approx. 12.000 volts to ignite, therefore shortening the life if it's turned on and off continuously. HID stands for High Intensity Discharge. It refers to lighting technology that relies on an electrical charge to ignite xenon gas contained in the bulb. Every time the lamp is turned on the Xenon gas will slowly be absorbed by the electrical discharge.

I would recommend having them turned on all the time or off. Life time when turned on constantly is around 3000 hours. Do the math yourself. :yes:

I have a Superb Combi and use AUTO settings for Xenon lights. That means it turns them on, when a sensor thinks its dark outside. I have noticed, that it turns them on and off many times, because i drive on a road with many tunnels, dark forest areas and so on. In 20km drive it turns the lights on and off again at least 10 times.

Is that good for Xenon or not? Is it better to turn them on constantly?

According to the Wikipedia article on HID lamps:

Factors of wear come mostly from on/off cycles versus the total on time. The highest wear occurs when the HID burner is ignited while still hot and before the metallic salts have recrystallized.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_discharge_lamp#High-intensity_discharge_lamps

Lots of on-off cycles with a short periods in-between that do not allow the lamps to cool adequately will shorten their life.

Best regards

David

I've also noticed this about the auto-headlamp function: it's too quick to turn the lamps on and off in response to changing ambient light. In other words, the control logic needs greater hysteresis.

Apart from shortening the life of the lamps, I think it annoys other road users when following them - so I tend to turn off the auto-headlamp function when driving in conditions of fluctuating ambient light.

Are the main beams - as opposed to dipped beams also this light type??

If so when you 'flash' some one will you not be doing exactly what the bulbs dont like??

B

Yes the main beam is also xenon (the same bulb with a 'shutter' system), BUT there is also a separate halogen bulb for the sole purpose of 'flashing' the headlights.

thanks for that - looks like someone in Skoda has thought about that then

While we are talking about Xenon and auto-settings.

I have noticed that it switc from DRL to XENON if you are drive at high speed (90/95 mph),even in broad daylight. But not changed back, or it takes a long time, even though the speed is lowered.

Others that have noticed the same?

While we are talking about Xenon and auto-settings.

I have noticed that it switc from DRL to XENON if you are drive at high speed (90/95 mph),even in broad daylight. But not changed back, or it takes a long time, even though the speed is lowered.

Others that have noticed the same?

Quoted from handbook

If the automatic light control has been switched on and the vehicle speed is over 140 km/h for at least 10 seconds, the side lights and low beam are switched on automatically If the vehicle speed is below 65 km/h for at least 2 minutes, the lights are switched off.

Quoted from handbook

If the automatic light control has been switched on and the vehicle speed is over 140 km/h for at least 10 seconds, the side lights and low beam are switched on automatically If the vehicle speed is below 65 km/h for at least 2 minutes, the lights are switched off.

Sounds like a mode designed for the Autobahn. All they need to do is activate the front parking sensors so that you can accurately hold yourself off the rear bumper of the car in front by two metres.

Quoted from handbook

If the automatic light control has been switched on and the vehicle speed is over 140 km/h for at least 10 seconds, the side lights and low beam are switched on automatically If the vehicle speed is below 65 km/h for at least 2 minutes, the lights are switched off.

Thanks, I think I will read a little more in that manual :yes: