Audi A1 TSFI Sportsback 2017

Zellah

OP, not all cars have the auto headlights as standard. It usually comes with mid or high range version, ie your A1 is a base/low spec (aka 'poverty' spec). However if you're really desperate, they can be retrofitted with genuine OEM parts by some companies. On VAG cars they're usually part of the rain sensor package so you will need your windscreen replaced as well. So not a cheap job. I've used this company before and they're quite good:
https://www.hazzydayz.com/genuine-audi-auto-lights-rain-sensor--dimming-interior-rear-view-mirror-package-521-p.asp

Jack_Cork

Zellah said:

Jack_Cork said:

facade said:

ToxicWomble said:

Automatic lights should be removed from every single vehicle imo.
Countless times I come across cars at dusk/dawn quite happily driving at 70 on the motorway with just daylight running lights on - so flipping dangerous
My rant over

The obvious (and therefore won't ever happen) solution is to have the tail lamps on with the DRLs...

They have the tail lamps on with DRL's in Scandinavia. I used an ODB2 and Crista software and turned the tail lights so they were on all the time on an Audi A4 as there was a setting to do this

Done the same on my A6, OBD11 is fantastic for mods like this.

Carista is a good app as well for Audi's, loads you can turn on, sweeping needles on the dials for instance. All a bit childish, which is good as I'm a child

[Deleted User]

Zellah said:

OP, not all cars have the auto headlights as standard. It usually comes with mid or high range version, ie your A1 is a base/low spec (aka 'poverty' spec). However if you're really desperate, they can be retrofitted with genuine OEM parts by some companies. On VAG cars they're usually part of the rain sensor package so you will need your windscreen replaced as well. So not a cheap job. I've used this company before and they're quite good:
https://www.hazzydayz.com/genuine-audi-auto-lights-rain-sensor--dimming-interior-rear-view-mirror-package-521-p.asp

My old peugeot 2005 plate 206 had them and that was way off being mid range on top of being a less than premium badge, it's more likely they're not on that spec due to the Audi badge price inflation so they cut extras like that to keep it affordable.

lesalanos

ToxicWomble said:

Automatic lights should be removed from every single vehicle imo.
Countless times I come across cars at dusk/dawn quite happily driving at 70 on the motorway with just daylight running lights on - so flipping dangerous
My rant over

They obviously haven't got automatic lights then otherwise they would have automatically come on.  The danger is drivers without auto lights who mistake DRLs for having their lights on

neilmcl

ToxicWomble said:

Automatic lights should be removed from every single vehicle imo.
Countless times I come across cars at dusk/dawn quite happily driving at 70 on the motorway with just daylight running lights on - so flipping dangerous
My rant over

That's because, as already mentioned, these cars don't have auto headlights and it's been left to the flawed actions of the human brain to think about switching the headlights on. Not every car with DRLs will have auto headlights as the latter isn't mandatory.

Ditzy_Mitzy

Auto lights.  Running lights.  Dashboards that light up by themselves and headlights that switch on or off depending on whether one's going in a straight line or round a corner.  It's a car, not a carnival float.  None of this is necessary. 
I've got an old car with a three position switch: if it's daytime and bright the switch is turned to 'off'; if it's daytime and gloomy or raining or rubbish, the switch is turned to 'sidelights'; if it's night time, the switch is turned to 'dipped headlights'.  That's all any sane person needs headlights to do.  It's really, really easy.  
Modern cars, with their multi position switches, light sensors, Orgone energy detectors and dowsing rods are simply too complicated for their own good.  I don't need the lights to flash in time to the radio or to form the pattern of my favourite constellation.  We've got a modern car in the family.  I haven't got a clue whether the headlights are on or off or looking for extra-terrestrial life most of the time I'm driving it.   

macman

Elkafunds said:

This is why i posted to hopfully get some advice as ive never purchased a car before. Off cousre i drive with due care and attention i didnt come on here to get nasty comments. Yes ill ask the garage on Saturday when I go in. 

The best advice to give you is not to buy a car for £13K, or even for £1.3K, without test driving it first.
The issue of non-automatic headlamps pales into insignificance in comparison. VAG cars are notoriously sparsely equipped on the basic trim levels: I'm surprised they aren't even charging you extra for the actual headlamps...
Perhaps you could go back to your other post and let us know why you proceeded to buy a car that you didn't know you had agreed to buy? That is far more interesting.

photome

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

Auto lights.  Running lights.  Dashboards that light up by themselves and headlights that switch on or off depending on whether one's going in a straight line or round a corner.  It's a car, not a carnival float.  None of this is necessary. 
I've got an old car with a three position switch: if it's daytime and bright the switch is turned to 'off'; if it's daytime and gloomy or raining or rubbish, the switch is turned to 'sidelights'; if it's night time, the switch is turned to 'dipped headlights'.  That's all any sane person needs headlights to do.  It's really, really easy.  
Modern cars, with their multi position switches, light sensors, Orgone energy detectors and dowsing rods are simply too complicated for their own good.  I don't need the lights to flash in time to the radio or to form the pattern of my favourite constellation.  We've got a modern car in the family.  I haven't got a clue whether the headlights are on or off or looking for extra-terrestrial life most of the time I'm driving it.   

Should never be a need for sidelights. In your 3 scenarios , 2 of them should be headlights on.

dont get me started on fog lights though

AdrianC

photome said:

dont get me started on fog lights though

Since rear fog lights have been a legal requirement on all new cars in the UK for 40 years, I presum you mean front fog lights?

They are very useful indeed. Not only is sidelights-plus-front-fog the most effective combination in proper fog (not the light mist that many confuse with "proper fog"), but they also help to fill in light underneath main beam.

Neither of these are going to be remotely relevant to urban-dwellers, or even to those in commuter-belt suburban "rural", but here in proper rural, they are both very frequently used for a large slice of the year.

I'd estimate I drive on main beam much more than on dip, to give you an example of what I mean. When I lived in commuter-belt suburban "rural", main beam was almost never used.

Grumpy_chap

There is nothing 'wrong' per-se with the features such as auto lights, but unfortunately some drivers fails to realise they remain in charge of the vehicle and responsible for the correct operation and illumination of the same.  So, if the switch is moved from auto to off (say, during a service), there are some individuals who do not then take the care to check the switch position and spend the following period relying on just DRL.  This is not safe.

In part, I think cars fitted with front DRL should also have rear DRL, but that is compensating for driver incompetence and may even make the matter worse.

I assume the reference to fog lights, whether front or rear, is in the context of people who never seem to turn the fog lights off.  Very annoying.  Seems more common to see people with fog lights on when they shouldn't be than off when they should be.  (Maybe I just don't see the ones with fog lights off when they should be on?)