Car is MY 2016 Superb SE L Executive Estate Mk 3. Bi-Xenon Headlights are providing lower light levels than similar cars (have done night-time comparisons with three friends' comparable cars). Any suggestions as Dealer is either stumped or not very clued up - too polite to say which at present.

What sort of speeds/roads are you testing on? The HID lights will adapt the pattern depending on driving. But dipped headlights should still be bright in the parameters.

 

So on slow local roads the beam does not project as far and will be wide to light up either side of the car. At faster speeds the beam will adapt and throw light further into the distance and not as far either side of the car. This is what my Audi A3 did... I was more impressed with the previous car (Passat).

 

.... so on the Superb I have the smart light assist to see how it goes.

Edited 13 November, 20178 yr by rtj70

Our tests between cars are basic as we don't have the kit to test lumens, lux etc.  We do have very dark rural situations and time to play. When we set the offending car (Car X) stationary alongside a comparator, we can observe the throw and if objects placed at same distance from X and the comparator are illuminated. Have used same technique when test driving - along straight roads at same speeds so Light Assist does not affect result - Car X lights are simply not providing same output as the comparator cars of same MY and spec (yes , this car model is popular round here!).

 

I don't know who could test the actual lumen & lux output and what kit would be needed - it would prob be complex because of the way a Xenon projector structures the beam.

...I'm guessing you can't easily swap the bulbs over with your mates to see if they work less in theirs too or if they still appear weak?

Do you mean the lights don't shine as far/wide, in which case they have haven't been set up the same as the vehicles you are comparing them to, or do you mean they don't give as bright a light as the comparison cars?. 

 

On my last Superb when on low beam the lights didn't shine very far down the road, I got my dealer to adjust them and it made quite a difference.

If the lights aren't as bright maybe different bulbs are fitted.

The light pattern is meant to adapt depending on speed and the type of road you are on. Local roads and the beam will be shorter and wider.... on the open road at higher speeds it is longer and narrow at the sides. It's adaptive lighting.

 

With smart light assist you can have main beam on for longer and even when cars are nearby - it just dips part of the main beam. It's why I got that option - better lighting.

35 minutes ago, rtj70 said:

The light pattern is meant to adapt depending on speed and the type of road you are on. Local roads and the beam will be shorter and wider.... on the open road at higher speeds it is longer and narrow at the sides. It's adaptive lighting.

 

With smart light assist you can have main beam on for longer and even when cars are nearby - it just dips part of the main beam. It's why I got that option - better lighting.

But it's only as good as the person who calibrated it in the first place, if it's been poorly set up or set to the lower end of the calibration limit it could need adjusting to get the best from them as in my case. Worth checking it out,

thanks for all your comments and suggestions. The car (my son's) is now being compared by Dealer and other owners with a variety of similar Superbs with Bi-Xenon, with some unusual findings  - it is not resolved yet. I have the L&K with Smart Light Assist - it is brilliant, no pun intended.