Auto high beams

[Everest]

On the early 2CV’s the there was a lever inside the cabin, when you wanted a longer reach with the headlights, you just pulled the lever, which then was attached to a head light bar running through the engine bay.

Citroën were also leaders with directional headlights on the DS...

PH Origins: Directional headlights

Citroen achieved mass-production of directional headlights but it wasn't the first company to arrive at the concept

www.pistonheads.com

 

[TimothyN]

I don't think it's right to say that the 2CV was a leader in this respect (much as I loved early Citroens, and the 2CV in particular).

The mechanically dipping headlight was a Cadillac invention as early as 1917. It was replaced by the Osram dual filament bulb in 1925, a much neater, better and cheaper solution which became standard until the 70s or 80s.

If Citroen put a mechanical dip on the 2CV (and that's not my memory, I think it had a lever to level the lamps when there were people in the back, but I may be wrong about very early ones) then it was a retrograde step.

By the time I drove a 2CV in 1974 (I'm not sure how old it was, but not very) the dipping mechanism was dual filament.

 

[Fred69]

The S5 and my previous ZSEV auto headlights are terrible - just turn it off. They take about 2s or more to react (if they do at all) and just annoy everyone else on the road.

My previous car's headlights were utterly amazing (2015 Merc E220D cabriolet) with "intelligent LED Light System". It's not a simple dip/high, but the beam "shapes" round the vehicles in front, so the main beam stays on except in the bit cut out around either rear brake lights or oncoming headlights ahead and changes dynamically as it moves. The beam also tracks round corners, so when you're going round a right hand bend the beam swings right to illuminate the road you're heading onto. Everything happens in an instant, zero delay and I can never remember being flashed. I bought the car 2nd hand and didn't even notice the £2k+ optional extra on it, which turned out to be the best bit of tech on the car and I've never come across anything like it in any other car. There's a video here and here which gives a flavour but probably doesn't do it full justice.

I've had similar LED matrix lights on a Vauxhall and I found them excellent - I'll miss those, picking up MGS5 tomorrow..

 

[MG Clive]

I've had similar LED matrix lights on a Vauxhall and I found them excellent - I'll miss those, picking up MGS5 tomorrow..

Nice one @Fred69, welcome to MGEVs.

 

[Joningy]

It’s not terrible, it does actually work most of the time. You’ve just got to be aware of the limitations of it - looking around bends mainly.

It’s the same as most things that require any car to look ahead. They only seem to look in a straight line.

My previous car (Ioniq 5) also had similar shortcomings. There is a particular urban road I drive on most days where there is a slight bend and there is usually loads of parked cars. Every day the car thought I was heading straight for the cars parked just after the bend and triggered the collision detection. At least I don’t have that problem in the S5

@Hugo A Go Go same here, slaps on the effing brakes every time, exactly the same on my previous MG4.

 

[Joningy]

Our other car is a Hyundai Tucson (rare 4WD) it has a lovely lighting system, especially useful are the cornering lights, activated when turning at lower speeds and lights up the nearside kerb/verge area.
That is something I really miss having on the MGS5, sometimes at night wondering if I'm going to kerb the wheels because the nearside is in darkness, a great feature, probably only available on more expensive cars.

 

[Everest]

If Citroen put a mechanical dip on the 2CV (and that's not my memory, I think it had a lever to level the lamps when there were people in the back, but I may be wrong about very early ones) then it was a retrograde step.

I'm pretty sure @Lovemyev was referring to the headlamp height adjustment - at least that's how I read it - he didn't mention "dipping" in his post

 

[TimothyN]

Oh yes! A bit confusing in the context of dipping!