GTi dashboard lights

[truckerash]

Is this the early stages of dementure ?

I'm driving along in normal daylight. NO lights on. Suddenly it goes all dull outside and I think, hang on a minute, I can't see the speedo or rev counter properly, they are not lit up, but the computer display is.
So I put the lights on and hey presto, speedo/rev counter light up.....

Should the speedo/rev counter be lit up (with computer display) when there are NO lights on ?

I've only had the car 2 years   

[ajmoir36]

Mine isn't lit up. Although I have my DRL's disabled.

[Neil gti]

Speedo lights etc only come on with the headlights not the Drls
I always leave my light switch on auto, if it's dull outside the lights and speedo lights will come on automatically 

[mwad gti]

My speedo/rev counter always light up regardless of whether the headlights are on or not.
My dials light up as soon as key turns on ignition.

[Booth11]

My dials only light up when headlights are on.

[SRGTD]

No, the OP isn't in the early stages of dememture. The speedo and rev counter should be illuminated in bright, daylight conditions without the lights being turned on. In dull / poor natural light conditions, the dashboard illumination should dim automatically, so only the needles will be illuminated; assume this is what the OP is describing. This is a prompt to switch on your lights, because of low light levels outside, and so you can be seen by approaching and following road users, as well as being able to see where you're going.

This is covered under 'Instrument Cluster Lighting' on page 105 the owners manual for 2012 model year GTI and GTD models.

[dubber36]

Well I never knew that. Mine are always on AUTO, so more often than not the lights will come on when they should anyway. It's very rare that I've had to turn the lights on manually because the car hasn't done it for me.

It's no bad thing tho'. My old Mk1 Leon Cupra had its dashboard lights illuminated all the time. I once drove for several miles in the dark without realising that I had no lights on.

[Obbzi]

My headlights are always on really annoying feature of the xenons wish the sidelights could be set as DRLs instead if main beam

[Snoopy]

You can turn them off with vagcom mine are off I got sick of the looks from people in the summer bright sunshine and hes got his lights on look...

[dubber36]

Can't you turn early xenon DRL's off with the indicator down, headlight flash, blah blah blah, like you can with other early halogen cars?