Drove my Porsche 718 for the first time in the dark the other night (only got it in May), it has the standard "low power" bi-xenon lights ie no headlight washers/self levelling. Range of the lights is significantly better than the higher power lights in my Skoda.

 

I know the Skoda ones angle for corners etc but wont pay extra for that option again

Does anyone know if the LED lights are better?

Edited 18 September, 20196 yr by Q102

4 minutes ago, Q102 said:

Drove my Porsche 718 for the first time in the dark the other night (only got it in May), it has the standard "low power" bi-xenon lights ie no headlight washers/self levelling. Range of the lights is significantly better than the higher power lights in my Skoda.

 

I know the Skoda ones angle for corners etc but wont pay extra for that option again

Does anyone know if the LED lights are better?

The LED's fitted to the Octavia are pretty good.  The ones elsewhere in the group, e.g; the SEAT Leon are pretty damn terrible, nice colour effect but no range and dire in poor weather.   The 'Matrix' LED's fitted to Audi's are pretty damn good...not sure about the new LED units in the facelift Superb...my point being that not all LED's are not equal and the same is true of xenon. 

 

Have you thought about changing the bulbs?  Massive difference between the OEM Osrams fitted to my Superb and a set of Osram Cool Blue Intense which I replaced them with.  Crisper light, significantly greater range and the beam pattern is just where you need it.   I've had cars with LED's drive past me at night and their beam has 'disappeared' into mine.  Oh but be warned, they are a PITA to access and replace!

I've got xenon's in the Superb and LED's in the Cupra and the latter just edge it IMHO.

Thanks for the info @penguin17

Superb is being replaced next year (it's a company car).  I've read the threads about how to replace them or how to adjust the beam, I'm not sure it's worth the faff and possibly the replacement ones have a shorter life? I've managed the last 3 winters and driving through the night to Austria for skiing holidays.

 

Standard ones in the 718 seem to have twice the range😶

 

 

 

Sounds to me like ur Superb needs it's headlights realigned to fix the range.

 

If aligned correctly, the bi-xenons r  good.

 

U want more whiter light - upgrade the bulbs.

 

U want better light range - get it calibrated.

1 minute ago, JR RS said:

Sounds to me like ur Superb needs it's headlights realigned to fix the range.

 

If aligned correctly, the bi-xenons r  good.

 

U want more whiter light - upgrade the bulbs.

 

U want better light range - get it calibrated.

 

@JR RS makes a good point... @Q102 I wonder if you have one of the earlier models which could be effected by the auto-calibration/alignment failing, leaving the bulbs/projectors pointing woefully downwards.  My first S3 was a MY17 car and when it was cold mine suffered with this (being stuck outside in the cold was the only pattern to it happening); apparently there was a software update to fix this.  It doesn't happen on my current, MY18 car. 

 

Do your lights do 'the dance' when starting the car and can you see them raising upwards? 

1 hour ago, Q102 said:

Drove my Porsche 718 for the first time in the dark the other night (only got it in May), it has the standard "low power" bi-xenon lights ie no headlight washers/self levelling. Range of the lights is significantly better than the higher power lights in my Skoda.

 

I know the Skoda ones angle for corners etc but wont pay extra for that option again

Does anyone know if the LED lights are better?

I find range on my headlights really good (comparable to newer BMW 5 series, Audi A6, Audi A4 and Audi A8 2012 that I drove). However, ASF works bit faster on other high end cars (faster turning in corners, even on "sport") but that's it... Whatever issue you have with range its related to invalid settings of headlights. Xenon is Xenon, there can not be "BIG" difference. The only difference can be in lens which can be "clear" or not "clear" and 90% cars have non-clear lens. That's aftermarket upgrade for max max performance but the gains are not worth it as u have to take apart headlight housing etc... 

Superb wise I don't think u can get better headlights. Newest models with Matrix LED should be better though, already cause there is more bulbs inside which makes density of light better in areas of view. But light output wise it's probably the same, as LED and HID  are both limited by certain lumens for safety reasons (reflections, rain, etc...)

 

P.S.: Bulbs can make big difference, if the car is older or has really bad bulbs in, they make world difference. 
P.P.S.: Normal headlights are bs so not paying for HID is really horrible idea. I don't even see why car manufacturer still makes cars without HID. The difference between normal and HID is day and night. 

Edited 18 September, 20196 yr by JackySi

When I first got the car (it's a June 2016 car so possibly an early one?), lights were shocking.

Did the startup dance but a very low beam and would angle when steering turned but beam pattern didn't change at all.

As my SE Business didn't have the lights as standard they didn't believe me and said there was nothing they could do. Master technician at local dealer hadn't got a clue how they worked. Eventually got them to inspect the car, all they did was plug in the diagnostic pc and run a check ( I had the footage on my dashcam ) then as if by magic they worked correctly.

 

 

 

Hi, have only had the car a few months, & it being summer in theUK have never really driven in the dark in it.

i did an airport run up to Newcastle Airport at mid night last night, I cannot rate the lights highly enough. The spread, brilliant white colour, and the distance illuminated were fantastic.

They are the xenon s with the Auto facility. They worked perfectly, it even seemed like where circumstances permitted, it adjusted / dipped the drivers (offside) beam, whilst still leaving the near side unit on main beam or it seemed so.

I cannot rate them highly enough, a true relaxing, ‘dark drive’ experience on the unlit A1.

 

1 minute ago, Stella6yew said:

Hi, have only had the car a few months, & it being summer in theUK have never really driven in the dark in it.

i did an airport run up to Newcastle Airport at mid night last night, I cannot rate the lights highly enough. The spread, brilliant white colour, and the distance illuminated were fantastic.

They are the xenon s with the Auto facility. They worked perfectly, it even seemed like where circumstances permitted, it adjusted / dipped the drivers (offside) beam, whilst still leaving the near side unit on main beam or it seemed so.

I cannot rate them highly enough, a true relaxing, ‘dark drive’ experience on the unlit A1.

 

Nice to hear. I don't have best experience with SLA (Smart Light Assist). Compared to other cars I mentioned above, its much slower and "laggy". Takes way too long time to dim lights for cars ahead (rear tail lights are too dimm for the sensor?). But it does work cool when it does work properly. In some cases it came out really really good. But on Highway it's terrible, specially for truck drivers when their main beam isn't visible because of the protection "fence?" and their upper lights are not strong enough for the sensor to pick them up. In that regard both BMW and Audi do FAR better job.... Really far far better job. 

I thought the 718 had LED rather than Xenon?

 

I know the Xenons on my O3 were really poor, and that was to do with the optics more than anything. As a rule, a good performing Xenon light will have a higher light output (lumens) than LED, and also operates at a better colour temperature for the human eye. 

 

Manufacturers are turning to LED because it’s cheaper, and should last a lot longer than anything else. Outside of the latest laser light LED tech in BMW / Audi, I’d still rather have a Xenon system. The standard fit LED lights in my G30 5 series are appalling! 

16 hours ago, JackySi said:

Nice to hear. I don't have best experience with SLA (Smart Light Assist). Compared to other cars I mentioned above, its much slower and "laggy". Takes way too long time to dim lights for cars ahead (rear tail lights are too dimm for the sensor?). But it does work cool when it does work properly. In some cases it came out really really good. But on Highway it's terrible, specially for truck drivers when their main beam isn't visible because of the protection "fence?" and their upper lights are not strong enough for the sensor to pick them up. In that regard both BMW and Audi do FAR better job.... Really far far better job. 

 

My SLA performs really well, in various situations/roads/traffic.

Doesn't lag, and is quite accurate with its "masking".

....despite having retrofitted mine.

Very happy with it.

SLA doesn't switch to High Beam while not completely dark,
dealer weren't able change that threshold 😞
video 175Mb -> http://www.superfm.lv/m/Auto/Superb_2016/20190825_no_Automatic_Highbeam_02.mp4

 

adding LEDs to Front Fogs improves a lot illumination, but that's illegal in most of countries

 

also i have replaced stock OSRAM 66340HBI by OSRAM Next Gen 66340XNL-HCB

 

13 hours ago, GoneToBeemer said:

I thought the 718 had LED rather than Xenon?

 

I know the Xenons on my O3 were really poor, and that was to do with the optics more than anything. As a rule, a good performing Xenon light will have a higher light output (lumens) than LED, and also operates at a better colour temperature for the human eye. 

 

Manufacturers are turning to LED because it’s cheaper, and should last a lot longer than anything else. Outside of the latest laser light LED tech in BMW / Audi, I’d still rather have a Xenon system. The standard fit LED lights in my G30 5 series are appalling! 

My 718 is a 2017MY so standard fit low-power Bi-xenon, new models have Bi-xenon with LED running lights with an option of full LED headlights