Headlights - Active high beam vs Adaptive Shadow Technology

[Lexman8]

I've had an XC90 for 9 months and use AST whenever it's dark. I haven't been flashed once and I'm always amazed at how well the system works; far better than I would've expected.

[NickHoward]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

I've had an XC90 for 9 months and use AST whenever it's dark. I haven't been flashed once and I'm always amazed at how well the system works; far better than I would've expected.

I wonder if the height of the lights makes a difference (XC90 vs V90).

I love how it works, but I need to test it out more before I get a good opinion on it.

Certainly seems to suit the country roads more than anything else.

[Munroes]

Originally Posted by NickHoward

I wonder if the height of the lights makes a difference (XC90 vs V90).

I love how it works, but I need to test it out more before I get a good opinion on it.

Certainly seems to suit the country roads more than anything else.

If I am not mistaken, I seem to recall a setting under the lights menu which enables you to set a faster reaction time to the 'dipping' of the main beam.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by NickHoward

I wonder if the height of the lights makes a difference (XC90 vs V90).

Also, the camera (at top of windscreen) which feeds the AST system is higher up.

[jmot]

only driven once at night since having it and I must say.... amazing! Being able to actually see at night LOL.. Novelty

Had standard Halogens in the now sold A4 Allroad which were like candles in jam jars. Utterly useless.

Not even managed to try AHB yet.

[neon]

Excellent lights, have had the odd flash from oncoming traffic, but not enough to be concerned.

[soupytwister]

Not driven on a country A/B road yet to judge it, but i put the main beam on in our street (i.e., streetlights), and all the street signage for about 200m lit up in bright white like nothing else!! I suspect these lights are going to be mighty impressive on the A-roads....

Got in our old XC90 to move it tonight, and everything seemed so.......yellow?

[Jcbrown]

I think the AST is brilliant (groan ) Lights up the road and surrounding area fantastically well, reacts well and quickly when coming up behind another car, or an oncoming vehicle comes into view. A little late in reacting on occasion (and I have it set to the fast option), but most of the time it works great. Almost, but not quite, makes me want the nights to draw in again, or to just go out for an early/late drive just for the hell of it.

But, I do wonder about the brightness of the lights in general and peoples reaction to LEDs. When I took the demo S90 out for an overnight test drive back in early Dec I did about 100 miles and was flashed 5-or-6 times. I doubt I was flashed as many times in the whole 5 years I had my previous car (Bi-Xenons) as on that one night with the S90.

Maybe the settings were on slow, the LHD mode activated, or the lights out of line, but 2-3 of the flashes I got were in lit areas when the main beam was not even on. One car flashed me once, twice, and then put their main beam permanent on. I flashed them, and they reverted to dipped.

Since I got my own S90 I have been flashed a few times, including once/twice when only on dipped beam. I think people are still becoming accustomed to full LED systems, see the clear, bright white and think you have main beam on.

[soupytwister]

Originally Posted by Jcbrown

I think people are still becoming accustomed to full LED systems, see the clear, bright white and think you have main beam on.

To be honest, i will also say some of the ever whiter & brighter LED lights may present an issue. As we all age, your night vision does deteriorate, and your eyes become less able to react to dark & light, which results in "blindness" to the dark areas of vision. As lights get ever brighter, the dark areas get ever darker....

Fine if you're driving a car with bright white lights, but if you're in a car with yellow candles for lights, you're at a distinct disadvantage.

[Torshen]

Related question - if you have these switched on, how do you flash other cars, EG to let someone know you're letting them pull out or whatever?