How do I tell if I have adaptive headlights

[TOOGECKO]

Been reading up on this and checked my original window sticker but no mention. I have a 2011 S5 with Prestige package. Is there a way to tell with VIN etc. or is only way to try and get a wall to shine my lights on and turn my steering wheel? Garage is not set up very well with this as I don't have a lot of room...

[Mops@Nemesis]

Find a dark area, go 10+ mph, and it will be very clear when you move the wheel back and fourth.

[4RingRook]

Prestige comes with AFS.

[bknewtype]

Prestige comes with AFS.

dont think so. chi's s5 was prestige and it wasnt adaptive

[Jeff V.]

My car came with AFS. According to the PR decoder, it's option 8Q5. "Headlight-range adjustment, automatic/ dynamic with dynamic bending light (AFS 1) "

[4RingRook]

dont think so. chi's s5 was prestige and it wasnt adaptive

Actually you're right.

FL Includes the AFS but non does not.

My bad OP

[mozman68]

Find a dark area, go 10+ mph, and it will be very clear when you move the wheel back and fourth.

This...it's very easy to tell.

[Octothorpe]

Actually, you don't even need to be moving. If you have the car on, you can see it go through its self-leveling test. If you have AFS, you will also see the headlights go cross-eyed and wall-eyed before popping back to straight ahead. (You can also just pull the wheel right/left, and you'll see your side light up).

[mozman68]

Actually, you don't even need to be moving. If you have the car on, you can see it go through its self-leveling test. If you have AFS, you will also see the headlights go cross-eyed and wall-eyed before popping back to straight ahead. (You can also just pull the wheel right/left, and you'll see your side light up).

Really? I've never noticed it unless I was moving.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Actually, you don't even need to be moving. If you have the car on, you can see it go through its self-leveling test. If you have AFS, you will also see the headlights go cross-eyed and wall-eyed before popping back to straight ahead. (You can also just pull the wheel right/left, and you'll see your side light up).

Yep, also true. The GTI does this in a very exaggerated fashion. It's kooool :)

[Octothorpe]

Really? I've never noticed it unless I was moving.

It *may* be a difference in the more modern cars? Donnow. It's quite obvious on my RS.

[mozman68]

It *may* be a difference in the more modern cars? Donnow. It's quite obvious on my RS.

That sounds like a slam on my "crappy old" S5...


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[Octothorpe]

That sounds like a slam on my "crappy old" S5...

well, I wasn't gonna say it outright, but…

[DeMOROlized]

Actually, you don't even need to be moving. If you have the car on, you can see it go through its self-leveling test. If you have AFS, you will also see the headlights go cross-eyed and wall-eyed before popping back to straight ahead. (You can also just pull the wheel right/left, and you'll see your side light up).

I have AFS but it doesn't do the sideways "cross-eyed and wall-eyed" test at startup. Up/down only.

[JamesRS5]

Actually, you don't even need to be moving. If you have the car on, you can see it go through its self-leveling test. If you have AFS, you will also see the headlights go cross-eyed and wall-eyed before popping back to straight ahead. (You can also just pull the wheel right/left, and you'll see your side light up).

But don't confuse the self leveling headlight which is compulsory on all HID light equipped cars with adaptive lights. The self leveling just goes up and down on its initial test.

[B44]

The light will adapt to the surroundings bright and low and turns left and right

[Octothorpe]

But don't confuse the self leveling headlight which is compulsory on all HID light equipped cars with adaptive lights. The self leveling just goes up and down on its initial test.

After the up and down, mine go cross and wall-eyed. It's easy to see if you are close to a wall. Not sure if you can tell as easily if you don't have anything within, say, 5 meters or so. It's pretty slight, and very quick.

[Octothorpe]

I have AFS but it doesn't do the sideways "cross-eyed and wall-eyed" test at startup. Up/down only.

Interesting. Do you have ecodes? It shouldn't matter, as the AFS behaviour shouldn't change, but I've got 'em, and while the 'dance' is very quick, it's also pretty obvious (to me).

[TOOGECKO]

My car came with AFS. According to the PR decoder, it's option 8Q5. "Headlight-range adjustment, automatic/ dynamic with dynamic bending light (AFS 1) "

Next dumb question, where do I find my build sheet? I know they can be hidden quite well...

[Jeff V.]

Next dumb question, where do I find my build sheet? I know they can be hidden quite well...

There's a label in the trunk in the spare tire well. It has all sorts of build info on it, along with all your option codes. I didn't even have to pull the tire to see mine. Take a photo of it with your phone. Then take it to your computer and put all the 3 character codes into the decoder I linked to. It's pretty informative.

[TOOGECKO]

Most helpful, thank you very much. Recall seeing it and never thought much about it

[Jeff V.]

I saved my codes and their descriptions to a spreadsheet in case I needed a quick reference in the future. Start to finish it took maybe 15 minutes.

[Citizen Sane]

Have a 2012 S5 with Prestige pkg. The window sticker provided shows "Audi Adaptive light" under the section that lists the "S5 Prestige model"---other included Prestige features are also listed (Audi advanced key, Audi side assist---etc etc)
However, I just entered the PR codes from the car and do NOT see the adaptive light code shown/included.
I do not believe it is on my car as I really have noticed very poor cornering illumination at night--in fact I was going to bring this up to my dealer (believing it is a mal function).
So, what do I do---the car was sold to me with this feature (I bought it used last June --still under factory warranty) IF I can rely on the window sticker and IF the feature "Audi Adaptive light" equals this feature.

Anybody have any thoughts (have I been scammed?)

[Jeff V.]

However, I just entered the PR codes from the car and do NOT see the adaptive light code shown/included.

Maybe they changed the code?

IF the feature "Audi Adaptive light" equals this feature.

I'm looking at the owners manual right now, and under the "adaptive light" section it says "This feature provides better illumination when you drive through a corner".

I don't know if I'd say you were 'scammed'. But it is possible the car was built or labeled wrong. It's definitely something I'd follow up with the dealer and/or Audi Customer Relations.

[Citizen Sane]

my car was in a front end "fender bender" a month before I bot it from the stealer. Believe that one or both headlights were replaced (along with the front bumper and hood)
This could get interesting. I was told the car was brought up to OEM standards and was given the body shop repair bill (from the number one repair shop in St Louis area). The car was NOT sold to me as a CPO unit
Based on my experience with these people, I doubt they'd be cooperative.
I'm due for a 35K service --think I'll bring it in and list this as a warranty item to fix and see what happens.

[TOOGECKO]

Disappointed, I don't think I have it. Found a dark spot last night and paid attention when I turned my wheel. Saw no side lighting that I could tell, will check the sticker/codes today...

[ExhaustNote]

If you remove one of your headlights, you can check to see if you have it. Non-afs headlights have just the ballast screwed onto the housing whereas the afs headlights have the ballast as well as another module screwed to the housing.

[audi_s5]

MY 09 S5 Prestige came with AFS - just open hood and look at lights as exhaustnote described


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[sirmium]

They had it in 2008,2009,
They removed it 2010 and 2011 (I had 2010 Pretige without AFS and thats when i did some research and was very disappointed)
They added it back in 12,13,14,15...

[superswiss]

Doesn't look like anybody has pointed this out yet, unless I missed the post, but adaptive headlights only work if the light switch is on Auto, otherwise they behave like non-adaptive headlights.

[mozman68]

Is that true? I always have it set to auto since it is my daily driver, but didn't read that part in the manual.


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[superswiss]

Well it's what it says in my manual and how it also worked on my B7 S4.

[TOOGECKO]

Still don't think I have it, I'm always set to automatic. I thought that was the setting to have them come on at dusk

[TOOGECKO]

Drove to work this morning on the very dark backroads and made sure my lights were in Auto mode. 99(% sure I don't have this. I did get a photo of my options sticker, just haven't plugged it into the linked website to be 100%. So new question is if I decide to get E-Codes, can I get adaptive lighting and a VagCom to make them work? Anybody know the cost if this is possible? This, folding mirrors and lane assist and I will be all optioned out. Actually, I still need coilovers, big brakes and new wheels and life will be complete! It is a sickness, I know...

[bknewtype]

too much of a headache to retrofit adaptive on non adaptive. better off getting non adaptive

[TOOGECKO]

Thanks. And just to be clear, I have decoded code 8Q3 as Auto range adjustment. Is this just the self-leveling function without side lighting?

[mozman68]

All hid have auto adjust. Since you transfer your existing to the new light housings, I believe you would need all be ballasts, adaptive motors, blah blah blah to make it work.

I live that I have them, but I wouldn't switch overbid I didn't.


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[milesed]

2011 Prestige S5 here and do have it. I can tell when parked in garage with lights facing wall. As I start car, the lights shown on the wall in front of me go up and then quickly down to correct level. It's fast and hard to tell, but if your lights move at all, you have it.

[mozman68]

2011 Prestige S5 here and do have it. I can tell when parked in garage with lights facing wall. As I start car, the lights shown on the wall in front of me go up and then quickly down to correct level. It's fast and hard to tell, but if your lights move at all, you have it.

No...all HID lights do the self leveling and that is not the same as adaptive head lights.

Adaptive move left to right as you turn the steering wheel to help you see into the turn.


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[superswiss]

Just remembered that I took this pic a while back. Another way to tell if you have adaptive lights is if you have the corner bulbs. These bulbs are aimed ~45 degrees and illuminate the sides in front of your car when turning the steering wheel at parking lot speeds.