Headlight Washers

[anilberke]

You can change the delay of the headlight washers in mk7 via vcds.

There two options to adjust, one of them is interval of the washing operAtion like every 3rd time or every 4th time, second one is for delay, when you hit the washers you need to pull it for xx seconds to activate headlight washers for the first time.

[stuart.cameron]

I thought you only got these with the winter pack (which I don't have) or are they as standard?

As said - they are standard with xenon lights to comply with UK law. However, VW also give you a larger 6 litre washer resevoir and the low fluid level warning, the latter also being part of the Winter Pack.  If you spec leather seats you also get seat heaters thrown in... however VW 'generously' still allow you to purchase the winter pack if you have xenons and leather - so for £250 you get heated washer jets 

Heated washers are good, but not good enough for £250!

[p3asa]

If you put the lights down to sidelights, the headlight washers won't activate.

Not sure its law to have washers with Xenons as a few Audis have Xenons without them but have a nano coated light instead!

[dubber36]

Not sure its law to have washers with Xenons as a few Audis have Xenons without them but have a nano coated light instead!

Xenon or LED headlights?

[p3asa]

Xenon

[corgi]

If you put the lights down to sidelights, the headlight washers won't activate.

Not sure its law to have washers with Xenons as a few Audis have Xenons without them but have a nano coated light instead!

It is a requirement for cars fitted with Xenons to have a mechanism for washing the headlamps and to have an automatic levelling adjustment - It is part of the construction and use regulations.

The suggestion about putting the lights down to sidelights... Don't do it, the general consensus from Advanced Drivers is that sidelights should only be used as parking lights when parked. If it is dark enough or visibility is poor enough to warrant lights, then use headlights..

The washers are there for a reason. Would you not use your windscreen washers because their use might streak the paintwork on the roof?

I think you guys need to reset your priorities... they're cars, they will get dirty and will need to be cleaned... especially at this time of the year 

[JoeGTI]

I've no problem with using them and they don't really leave streaks on white paint anyway, but I'd have big doubts about their actual effectiveness! I mean, if I squirted the windscreen with the washers and the wipers didn't immediately wipe, then the windscreen would still be dirty. It's the wipers with the help of the washer fluid that do the cleaning. I don't think the squirting of washer fluid onto the headlamps is all that effective...

If you put the lights down to sidelights, the headlight washers won't activate.

Not sure its law to have washers with Xenons as a few Audis have Xenons without them but have a nano coated light instead!

It is a requirement for cars fitted with Xenons to have a mechanism for washing the headlamps and to have an automatic levelling adjustment - It is part of the construction and use regulations.

The suggestion about putting the lights down to sidelights... Don't do it, the general consensus from Advanced Drivers is that sidelights should only be used as parking lights when parked. If it is dark enough or visibility is poor enough to warrant lights, then use headlights..

The washers are there for a reason. Would you not use your windscreen washers because their use might streak the paintwork on the roof?

I think you guys need to reset your priorities... they're cars, they will get dirty and will need to be cleaned... especially at this time of the year 

[Mark V GTD]

Joe I agree with you 100% - Corgi's points are sensible and well argued but I would say the reason the washers are there is to comply with regulations! They do not provide any significant cleaning action in day to day use. I guess if you went through a rally stage to the extent the lights were covered in mud and completely blocked they might have some use but day to day, no.

[dubber36]

I agree with the points that Corgi made, but on the other hand, can't abide headlight washers either.

The necessity to wash the windscreen/headlights can also depend on how you drive. I did around 300 miles in my Passat last week and the sides and rear were absolutely filthy. So much so that you couldn't read the rear number plate. The front however, was virtually spotless. My wife took it out, did 12 miles and the front was almost as bad as the rest of the car. She says she doesn't follow cars to closely, I beg to differ.

[corgi]

Joe I agree with you 100% - Corgi's points are sensible and well argued but I would say the reason the washers are there is to comply with regulations! They do not provide any significant cleaning action in day to day use. I guess if you went through a rally stage to the extent the lights were covered in mud and completely blocked they might have some use but day to day, no.

When the roads were caked in salt last night as I had to work my way south avoiding the devastation that was the M6 near Stoke by using A-roads, the washers on the 911 certainly clear off the worst of the salt that gets deposited on the light when following other traffic.

I agree though they are of limited effectiveness in most situations and are there for the regs