Sidelights, Sir? Why, Sir, we don't have front sidelights on the vRS. Of course not- perish the thought! We have three choices when considering lighting the car. 1) have the normal daytime LED running lights at the front and none at the rear at lights position zero; 2) switch the control to position 1 and have red rear lights, but we dim the front LEDs to an almost imperceptible glow; 3) we switch to position 2 and have the headlights and taillights on.

This in effect means that we have a choice of lighting the front OR lighting the rear, unless we want to go to full headlights. This is a little bizarre, to be honest, and a thing that had the dealer foxed for a full morning. Of course the answer is not to use position 1 on the lighting control as it is pointless.

Weird.

You can usually set up the dimming in VCDS.

A play with this would probably see you in the right direction..

Kev

You can usually set up the dimming in VCDS.

A play with this would probably see you in the right direction..

Kev

Aha, this is new. Probably I can read the manual, but before I rush out to the car: what is VCDS?

Thanks!

What are sidelights for apart from parking facing the traffic? I've been driving for 30 years and can't say I've ever used them whilst actually driving....

I've got a Volvo which uses the headlights as DRLs. They turn off when the ignition is off, but if a bulb goes and you don't want to attract Plod's attention the only option is to switch the parking lights on. They off course don't turn off with the ignition and then you get a flat battery if you park up overnight. Then you find that the steering lock needs electricity to release and the boot lock is electric too and that no garage open after 9pm on the South Coast sells jump leads that will work with a 2.0L diesel....

At least the AA turned up fairly quickly

Although the LED DRL's dim when you select side lights they are still brighter than the now defunct sidelight bulb...

... so, just use your lights as you see fit as you did before having DRL's

what makes it more bizzare is that the VRS also has the 'normal' sidelights including the sidelight bulbs but they arent connected to anything!

what makes it more bizzare is that the VRS also has the 'normal' sidelights including the sidelight bulbs but they arent connected to anything!

Bang on mate!!!! It's the "quirky" design that bothers me...

Sidelights, Sir? Why, Sir, we don't have front sidelights on the vRS. Of course not- perish the thought! We have three choices when considering lighting the car. 1) have the normal daytime LED running lights at the front and none at the rear at lights position zero; 2) switch the control to position 1 and have red rear lights, but we dim the front LEDs to an almost imperceptible glow; 3) we switch to position 2 and have the headlights and taillights on.

This in effect means that we have a choice of lighting the front OR lighting the rear, unless we want to go to full headlights. This is a little bizarre, to be honest, and a thing that had the dealer foxed for a full morning. Of course the answer is not to use position 1 on the lighting control as it is pointless.

Weird.

My LEDs only dim when the headlights (and therefore also the rear lights) are on. Position 1 is LEDs at front only. Then I have auto and then it's headlights on, rears on and LEDs dim. So I don't have the position 2 you highlight of rears with dim LEDs only.

Sarge.

what makes it more bizzare is that the VRS also has the 'normal' sidelights including the sidelight bulbs but they arent connected to anything!

Can they be connected?

Yes why would anyone want to use sidelights, other than for parking? If it dark wnough for lights it is dark enough for headlights. Actually you may be breaking the law if using only sidelights and you are involved in a collision - after all you risked assessed that it was dark enought o rewuire lighting, but then didn't apply the appropriate control measure of headlights! Front fog light users (excpet in real fog or heavy snow - the ONLY reasons) and sidelight drivers should be pulled over and have their licences revoked and cars crushed. Oh and add in the 'no indicator' brigade, and rear fog lights in wrong conditions and...............

The DRL are dimmed when the lights come on, because otherwise they are too bright and can cause glare for other drivers.

IIRC the laws that require DRLs on new cars require this feature.

Edited 11 August, 201015 yr by cheezemonkhai

As already said can't really see why you would need anything else. DRL are bright to be used in the day so bikes pedestrians etc can see you easier and then you have dipped headlights for when it is dark. Sidelights should not be used for driving as it says in the highway code and are only for use when stationary. As someone else said, dark enough for you to think hmm lights? Then lights it is, dipped ones!

What are sidelights for apart from parking facing the traffic? I've been driving for 30 years and can't say I've ever used them whilst actually driving....

I've got a Volvo which uses the headlights as DRLs. They turn off when the ignition is off, but if a bulb goes and you don't want to attract Plod's attention the only option is to switch the parking lights on. They off course don't turn off with the ignition and then you get a flat battery if you park up overnight. Then you find that the steering lock needs electricity to release and the boot lock is electric too and that no garage open after 9pm on the South Coast sells jump leads that will work with a 2.0L diesel....

At least the AA turned up fairly quickly

If the plod pulled over every car that had faulty lighting, they'd do nothing else but!

btw.. if you get the auto lights (tunnel lights) this switches off the lights no matter the position so no flat batteries...

If the plod pulled over every car that had faulty lighting, they'd do nothing else but!

btw.. if you get the auto lights (tunnel lights) this switches off the lights no matter the position so no flat batteries...

Maybe they should pull a few. Saw a car with both tail lights out this week...

Maybe they should pull a few. Saw a car with both tail lights out this week...

I saw one just this morning, very dangerous and the driver had no idea!

Yes that is precisely what they are for and what they are best at, and which is why it is decidedly odd that you have the choice of lighting EITHER front OR rear. Why bother with that position at all?

Yes why would anyone want to use sidelights, other than for parking? If it dark wnough for lights it is dark enough for headlights. Actually you may be breaking the law if using only sidelights and you are involved in a collision - after all you risked assessed that it was dark enought o rewuire lighting, but then didn't apply the appropriate control measure of headlights! Front fog light users (excpet in real fog or heavy snow - the ONLY reasons) and sidelight drivers should be pulled over and have their licences revoked and cars crushed. Oh and add in the 'no indicator' brigade, and rear fog lights in wrong conditions and...............