I have Matrix lights on my vRS and when running dip (locked to dip; not auto matrix), the cut-off to the nearside is close to the straight-ahead position and quite big in terms of area illuminated. Instead of the usual wedge shape, it goes up vertically in a big block, managing to illuminate anyone to the left on a multi-lane piece of road, shining right into their offside door mirror and at times illuminating most of the back of their car. Seems to be wrong and seeing as I have had rear fogs flashed at me, pretty annoying for others.

 

Anyone else have Matrix and seen similar on dip?

 

The proper Auto setting seems quite clever and works well on quieter roads, but ironically dip not so good.

 

TIA

Edited 7 November, 20223 yr by OverTheHill

They're definitely very bright, I've had a few drivers in front putting on their rear fogs or hazards too.  No issues at all with the matrix on auto, probably best thing about the car!  My car's in for the SOS issue end of the month, I'm going to bring this up and see if there is anything they can do with the headlights.

Will be interested to read how it goes.

 

It seems to be the way the kerbside part of the beam is shaped. That big vertical 'lump' seesm to be the source of it. I guess the matrix is a collection of rectagles switched on and off, so it will never be v shaped. Could do with switching one of the bank off and mocving the pattern to the kerb a bit more. 

A few weeks into regular use on dual carriageways and I'm not satisfied the dip is fit for purpose. The cut-off illuminates road signs to the left really bright and inside vehicles I'm passing. You can see how big the lit area is when going past a big motorway sign. On a 10 mile trip in the evening it's pretty much 50/50 if I get the flash / fog light treatment. As soon as time allows I'm taking it in under compliant. TBH the infotainment has low usability and the plethora of touch sensitive switches around the sunroof area mean I'm just as likely to call breakdown assistance as I am to close the sunroof shade when driving. If this is the new Skoda, then it's my last.

Have you tried to adjust the dipped beam?

Yes, it has a strange shape compared to older types of lamps, but i find it works quite ok. Personally was never flashed on dipped beam. Might be that yours are missalligned.

I’ve got the matrix and have been getting flashed a bit on dipped beam.

 

ive felt they seemed high from day one. 
 

i also notice the full beam seems a touch high, and there’s a thin strip of light slightly above head height, and a shadow below. 
 

the matrix operation seems to work pretty well. 

I’m going to bring them down a touch though.  
 

the left is slightly higher than the right, can someone confirm this is how its supposed to be in the UK? Or should they be level?

i believe you adjust one of the white plastic screws on top of each of the lights. One of them will do the height, the other the left and right direction of each unit. 
 

I’d recommend counting the turns so you can set it back to how you found it if it goes wrong!!

These style of headlight's need a diagnostic computer usually to put the lights into 'basic settings' otherwise known as learning mode.

 

Then you need a special whiteboard board that has to have the light aimed at and then you can use the adjustable screws.

 

After the adjustment, you then use the computer to complete the process by 'locking in' the adjustments.

 

 

I've reduced the information down a lot as it's pages long in the maintenance manual for the matrix headlight's.

10 hours ago, Benjybobs said:

the left is slightly higher than the right, can someone confirm this is how its supposed to be in the UK? Or should they be level?

They should be on the same level.

9 hours ago, varooom said:

These style of headlight's need a diagnostic computer usually to put the lights into 'basic settings' otherwise known as learning mode.

 

Then you need a special whiteboard board that has to have the light aimed at and then you can use the adjustable screws.

 

After the adjustment, you then use the computer to complete the process by 'locking in' the adjustments.

That's correct. You need any kind of diagnostic tool for VAG, it can be OBD11 (that's what i used). It's needed to save new settings, otherwise computer will move lights to initial position.

As for special whiteboard, you can use some wall, measuring tape and something to mark position on the wall. Height can be easily calculated.

9 hours ago, varooom said:

I've reduced the information down a lot as it's pages long in the maintenance manual for the matrix headlight's.

Matrix calibration and level adjustment are two separate things fortunately. I have adjusted height without touching matrix calibration.

The main part of the dip pattern is good, it's the bit that is like a kerbside illumination that's off-kilter. It doesn't point at the kerb; it's almost straight ahead on the offside lamp. If I walk away from the car and squat down, then the light nearest the radiator grille on the offside unit is dazzling. Feels like a simple misalignment, but now I have it booked in for warranty work, I'm loathe to fiddle in case I get accused of being the problem.

9 hours ago, Felix2021 said:

Matrix calibration and level adjustment are two separate things fortunately. I have adjusted height without touching matrix calibration

I’m happy to have a go at the height level, as i can’t see that impacting on the matrix much. The block outs during the matrix operation all seem to be in vertical strips. 
 

I’m not going to touch the horizontal adjustment, I can see how that might impact the matrix more.
 

Although mine seems okay in that department. 
 

I’m going to have a try tomorrow and will report back. 

1 hour ago, Benjybobs said:

The block outs during the matrix operation all seem to be in vertical strips.

That's exactly the case.

Actually there might be dependency, but only in case of bigger differences in height. If i'm not mistaken, each vertical segment consists of 2 blocks, so in theory system could switch off only higher block, leaving lower one on, and thus dazzling someone. But in reality resolution of our matrixes is so low, that it would require adjusting headlight quite much higher.

It will be different though in more expensive cars, where matrix resolution is much higher...

 

1 hour ago, Benjybobs said:

I’m going to have a try tomorrow and will report back. 

Just remember to set adjusting mode to on, and save new value. Otherwise light will come back to previous level.

So i took them down a notch and can confirm I’m much happier. 
 

the white adjustment screws on top on the lights are what you need with a 6mm hex / allen key. 
 

the ones near the centre of the car do left and right alignment (don’t mess with these, is my advice) the ones near the sides of the car do the up and down.
 

Take it easy though, one full rotation doesn’t look like much if you’re pointing at a nearby flat surface, but makes a big difference on the road. 

 

i can no longer see the silhouette of the driver in front’s ears on road signs ahead, and the full beams seem to point ahead now and not slightly skyward as before. 
 

I’ve restarted the car a few times since and can confirm the change has remained. 
 

i think if you’ve got a problem with any of the individual 4 light units pointing the wrong way, or the matrix not working correctly, then this is unlikely to help. For that, you’ll likely need a proper dealer calibration, as mentioned by a previous poster. 

1 hour ago, Benjybobs said:

I’ve restarted the car a few times since and can confirm the change has remained. 

Wonder what's the dependency here. I've seen someone on Polish forum adjusting without computer, just like you, and it worked.

For me it didn't work when i tried. Fortunately i have OBD11 so could do it properly.

December update - I've been diverted by personal issues for most of November and so unable to get to a dealership. I went this week and the tech did a static (MOT) check on alignment and read fault codes. All okay and so dealer advice was that nothing else that can be done with the tech actually describing the nuisance caused to others as a "feature".

 

Suffice to say I'm not especially amused by this and have written a letter back quoting rejection under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to see if that stirs them into action. I offered they take it for a night drive (hardly a huge ask 1 week before the winter solstice), but no. Hopefully they have a trained tech who can look into the software of the lights and recalibrate. 

 

The vRS drives well, but the minor electronics are an all-round disaster, from lights to instruments and infotainment. If you want a quick estate there are few choices without spending a lot of cash, but right now this is looking like my last Skoda. 😞 

It’s funny because i was driving on the motorway a while ago and being blinded by a car in the opposite carriageway. Some 4 lanes of separation and a central barrier between us. 
 

it was an octavia vrs. 
 

I think some deffo weren’t set up correctly. Worth trying a different dealer perhaps?
 

 

On 16/12/2022 at 18:19, Benjybobs said:

It’s funny because i was driving on the motorway a while ago and being blinded by a car in the opposite carriageway. Some 4 lanes of separation and a central barrier between us. 
 

it was an octavia vrs. 
 

I think some deffo weren’t set up correctly. Worth trying a different dealer perhaps?
 

 

Will do a phone around to gauge interest and if they have any prior knowledge of the issue. First up was the Chichester Azur lot, certainly a good positive attitude, if not familiar with the issue in itself.