I've noticed that sometimes my xenon's do a little routine (swivel down, swing left & right, then swivel back up) when I switch them on, and sometimes they don't.

Does anyone know why it's only sometimes and not always ? Does the car know to do it every 'x' times the lights are switched on ?

It does it every time the engine starts whether the lights are on or not. This is maybe why you don't see it sometimes if you switch lights on after starting engine.

Out of interest is there any condensation in your light units?

It does it every time the engine starts whether the lights are on or not. This is maybe why you don't see it sometimes if you switch lights on after starting engine.

Out of interest is there any condensation in your light units?

Cheers for the info re start-up

As regards condensation, I don't think there is any, but after reading your post I will be taking a closer look in daylight tomorrow.

It's the same as the needle sweep in the dash - as these are digital systems part of the startup sequence is to push the units to their min and max points to make sure they operate - if not the car can alert with a warning light.

To get Vertical, Horizontal and focus tests on the Xenons.

ive notice on mine that if i move off quickly after starting then it only does the up/down and seems to cancel the cross eyed look. if i keep the handbrake on and hang around after engine start it does both

Cheers for the info re start-up

As regards condensation, I don't think there is any, but after reading your post I will be taking a closer look in daylight tomorrow.

No problem HTH.

It's the same as the needle sweep in the dash - as these are digital systems part of the startup sequence is to push the units to their min and max points to make sure they operate - if not the car can alert with a warning light.

I'm not seeing the needle sweep on my brand new MY2011 Scout (but would like to :p). Is this something that is configurable with VCDS?

I'm not seeing the needle sweep on my brand new MY2011 Scout (but would like to :p). Is this something that is configurable with VCDS?

There was a thread on the a couple of weeks back: Needle Sweep aka "Staging".