Hi all, hoping that someone will be able to clear this up.

 

I had thought that Intelligent Light Assist was standard on the Scout, but according to the brochure spec it isn’t, but optional.

 

However on the Optional Equipment pages the only headlight add-on for the Scout is: ‘Bi-Xenon headlights with AFS and LED daytime running lights’.

 

Am I confused does this optional extra include the Intelligent Light Assist functionality, to me there does seem to be a bit of a crossover in the descriptions of the two.

 

Additionally I took a Scout for a test drive the other day and the headlights were set to ‘Auto’.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

John

I have a suspicion that maybe the Scout has Light Assistant with the auto dipping rear view mirror but perhaps not high beam assist which is basically ILA.

HBA is OK, its diode rather than camera based on cars without the lane assist camera gubbins so works well enough but at times isnt very accurate or responsive enough to prevent oncomming traffic from flashing. The Scout has standard lane assist I believe so save paying for it as an option you could just get someone on here to code HBA for you for beer tokens as lane assist equipped cars have the hardware to support HBA..it just isnt coded at the factory...instead they hope you oay a few hundred quid for something that can be done using VCDS in a few mins with the kit and know-how.

I have diode based HBA in my Elegance with Halogens but rarely use it...it on the most part does my head in, do without it in my GTD and cant say I miss it at all...but that does have adaptive Bi-Xenons. Its no doubt better on the lane assist equipped cars though.

Edited 17 November, 201510 yr by pipsypreturns

My VAG car came with HBA and I've deactivated it through the menu system.  On the A road where I am you typically get cars every 20 seconds or so, and you can see them coming around the bends before the HBA decides what to do.  In such circumstances its easier to remain on dip and not gamble with blinding oncoming traffic.

 

I've turned off the auto wipers too which are similarly unsophisticated.

 

Great on paper, but not so great in practice I think.

Thanks both so far for your help, although as someone coming from a stock 2010 Fabia the stock new Scout that I took for a test drive feels like driving the Starship Enterprise; a lot of these terms are new to me.

 

So just to clarify the Scout comes with Light Assistant as standard; which will do what is set out here (I know this is for Superb, but it seems to be the same feature):

 

Light Assistant

Leaving Home, Coming Home, Tunnel Light and Day Light (lights go on when wipers go on, which would happen automatically as Scout has rain sensor)

 

The Intelligent Light Assist (adjusting between dipped / main beam depending on light levels and oncoming traffic) uses a camera to sense this, but I can’t see the option for this in the brochure, although on the page describing the feature it lists this as an option for the Scout (scratches head).

 

Bi-Xenon headlights with AFS and LED daytime running lights: fancy pants lights that bend into the corner and adjust focus depending on speed (provides both low and high beam).

 

 

Anyone have the Bi-Xenon with AFS on a Scout, do they dim in the face of oncoming traffic; generally what are they like to have on any car?

Thanks both so far for your help, although as someone coming from a stock 2010 Fabia the stock new Scout that I took for a test drive feels like driving the Starship Enterprise; a lot of these terms are new to me.

 

So just to clarify the Scout comes with Light Assistant as standard; which will do what is set out here (I know this is for Superb, but it seems to be the same feature):

 

Light Assistant

Leaving Home, Coming Home, Tunnel Light and Day Light (lights go on when wipers go on, which would happen automatically as Scout has rain sensor)

 

The Intelligent Light Assist (adjusting between dipped / main beam depending on light levels and oncoming traffic) uses a camera to sense this, but I can’t see the option for this in the brochure, although on the page describing the feature it lists this as an option for the Scout (scratches head).

 

Bi-Xenon headlights with AFS and LED daytime running lights: fancy pants lights that bend into the corner and adjust focus depending on speed (provides both low and high beam).

 

 

Anyone have the Bi-Xenon with AFS on a Scout, do they dim in the face of oncoming traffic; generally what are they like to have on any car?

 

They're the same lights (Bi-Xenon with AFS) whether they're fitted as standard e.g. L&K / vRS, or whether fitted as an option.

 

I personally think the system is very good, albeit they aren't the brightest Xenon lights I've experienced on a car. Still though, miles better than a halogen system, and the AFS works well in my opinion.

I have Bi-Xenons with AFS on my Scout and they seem to work well. Dipping is prompt (haven't been flashed by any oncoming cars yet) and the cornering headlamps are very useful in country lanes.

Just realised how wrong I was and spotted the Intelligent light assistant with high beam control listed under Driver Assistance in the brochure.

 

It's £310 to add to the Scout vs £970 for the Bi-Xenon with AFS, I appreciate that this isn't an either or situation but are they worth that, would anyone else say they wouldn't do without them?

Just realised how wrong I was and spotted the Intelligent light assistant with high beam control listed under Driver Assistance in the brochure.

 

It's £310 to add to the Scout vs £970 for the Bi-Xenon with AFS, I appreciate that this isn't an either or situation but are they worth that, would anyone else say they wouldn't do without them?

 

For the difference the car would cost you per month, definitely.

 

All you will end up doing (if lights are important to you - seems they are), is upgrading the bulbs, which is still nowhere near as good as Xenon light.

 

Which scout are you after? Considered an L&K 4x4? That will have all the bells and whistles on, and may have a better residual value...

For the difference the car would cost you per month, definitely.

 

All you will end up doing (if lights are important to you - seems they are), is upgrading the bulbs, which is still nowhere near as good as Xenon light.

 

Which scout are you after? Considered an L&K 4x4? That will have all the bells and whistles on, and may have a better residual value...

I don't think the Octavia Scout comes in L&K, the Octavia does, unless I’m wrong?

 

I'm actually planning on leasing it.

 

I live in a rural location and do a lot of night driving on unlit, windy, slippy, narrow roads, but my budget isn’t endless and the bi-xenons are my only likely extra other than SmartLink.

If leasing id not bother with the Bi-Xenons. They are great but it will add about £1100 to the cost of the car and you'll pay most if not all that additional cost in your lease payments.

Like most things if youve not had them you wont miss them.

All my previous cars have had Halogen lights, as much as Ive always liked Xenons they have always been optional on the cars ive purchased and Ive never been able to justify the cost. Having recently got a GTD conpany car with standard Adaptive Bi-Xenons I now know what I was missing and think id struggle to run a daily drive without them such is the difference....but I still wouldnt want to pay the money for them.

You might be better off looking at a vRS or L&K 4x4 as both come with Xenons and can have ILA activated at no cost using VCDS. The L&K comes with a ridiculous amount of standard kit too.

I don't think the Octavia Scout comes in L&K, the Octavia does, unless I’m wrong?

 

I'm actually planning on leasing it.

 

I live in a rural location and do a lot of night driving on unlit, windy, slippy, narrow roads, but my budget isn’t endless and the bi-xenons are my only likely extra other than SmartLink.

 

Sorry, I meant consider the L&K instead of the Scout. Both are 4x4, so will meet the needs of your rural location. Unless you particularly love the look of the scout over the normal Octavia?

 

I also leased my L&K and got a great deal on it - may be worth considering if your only need is to have 4x4?

If leasing id not bother with the Bi-Xenons. They are great but it will add about £1100 to the cost of the car and you'll pay most if not all that additional cost in your lease payments.

Like most things if youve not had them you wont miss them.

 

 

Thanks for that, you're right, it more or less gets added on to the quote 100% over the 42 months. I think you've convinced me to put my sensible hat on.

 

Sorry, I meant consider the L&K instead of the Scout. Both are 4x4, so will meet the needs of your rural location. Unless you particularly love the look of the scout over the normal Octavia?

 

 

 No problem, I thought that's what you meant; you're right I do like the look of the Scout, plus the look was one of the reasons I used to convince my OH it was a good alternative to a Yeti.

Once you've had xenon or bi-xenon headlights you'll never go back to standard halogens.

 

If as you say (like me) you do a lot of rural driving then they are worth every penny of the extra outlay.

 

It would be a no-brainer for me, a must-have. I won't have another car without xenon or LED headlights.

 

The LED DRL's that come with the bi-xenon headlights look great too, they really make the car stand out, especially compared to the yellow halogen DRL's in the standard headlights.

I have leased a Scout, and, as you say, the cost of extras is paid in full over the lease period. So I went with standard halogens and had HBA (or ILA if you prefer) put on by VCDS. I'm happy enough with the halogens and extremely pleased with the HBA system. I haven't yet felt the need to dip manually before it operates.

I have a '15 Scout 184 DSG, unfortunately with halogen headlights, they are CRAP! I had bi xenons on my previous car the lights on that we're far superior to the standard Scout headlights.

I have changed the dipped beam bulbs to Phillips X treme vision +130, but they still nowhere near as good as xenons. I have tried HID conversions but am having trouble with Canbus issues and I don't have VCDS.

Given a choice( my car is a 4 month old ex Skoda management car) I would order a scout with Bi Xenons and Park assist

All depends on whether you are willing to pay the extra monthly cost for brighter headlights.

I love Xenon lights but I personally wouldnt be.

Id be enclined just to buy some Osram Nightbreakers/Phillips Xtremevisions....never going to be as good as the Xenons but will be way better than the crap candles they put in stock and stand to save you quite a bit of money.

Aftermarket bulbs do tend to blow quite readily though (after all you are basically making a poxy little metal fillament burn more brightly) so do factor in that the bulbs might let you down occasionally and require replacement.

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by pipsypreturns

If xenon were priced at say max £200 as an option I'd have them but have never added them yet. Previous cars have had them as standard but I can't say I've really missed them and have never yet upgraded my halogen bulbs. Admittedly our Fabia's headlights aren't the best but I've never found others to be lacking. I also live in a rural location.

I'd spend the money on a sunroof every time. Unfortunately my current car was already built and it's the only thing I (and my dogs) miss.

I know most will disagree, but it's still a valid opinion. If I were buying used, xenon would be like most other options - a differentiator but worth little to no premium to me due to their high cost if they went faulty or were damaged.

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by Jeeves

i have the VRS and it is going in for a Scout (to lease). I have the xenons now and they are not as powerful as other car brands. They look good but i do not rate them. Therefore my new Scout will not have the xenons at an extra of £1000!! Does the Scout have the daytime running lights?

Yeah it does but just halogen ones, so they look yellow.

You will notice a marked difference if you're used to Xenons - granted the ones in the octavia aren't the best out there, but they are way better than a standard halogen setup!

Wish i could cancel picking up the car which is waiting at the local dealers - never mind, changed from PCP to lease, only a 2 year sentence. Tried to cancel but they ordered in from a UK port