Nope.... However, the sensor is there. The instrument panel lights up only when it is dark and shuts off when there is light. They have the sensor, they just don't want to use it to control the headlights.

 

Automatic Headlights? What is that? Is that the car turning on the headlights when it thinks its too dark? I've seen those cars.. their headlights come on when they are 1/2 way through the tunnel and shut off 1/4 mile past the end of the tunnel. Turn your own lights on by hand. Sheesh.... YOU, the driver, can do it better than any automatic system ever could, short of a computer that uses vision and reasoning to replicate your thinking. I'm all for modern features, but I doubt you will ever see automatic headlights unless they are legally mandated, because as a German, I think that such functionality is pointless, and actually dangerous as it causes drivers to forget about their headlights entirely.

 

It's also why I hate DRL's and electroluminescent dash displays. People think that they can manage with DRL's only but never realize that the rear lights are not lit, so they are a hazard to drivers behind them.

Electroluminescent displays fool people (usually Blackberry latte ladies farding in their Lexus SUV's) who are so clueless that they drive home in the dark with no lights on at all. Doh!

It's all about how technology is actually making us more stupid rather than smarter, and auto-on/off headlights are right up there with other "Gumpology" aids to make life easier for the driver, and make the driver more stupid.

 

Agreed Le Chef ... need drivers more in-tune w/ their car, the road, and the vehicals around them.
And there are other concerns that DRL are not even net positive.
GM drove the issue ..... not statistics

 

MINOK
"but I doubt you will ever see automatic headlights unless they are legally mandated, because as a German, I think that such functionality is pointless, and actually dangerous as it causes drivers to forget about their headlights entirely. "

My wife's 2008 BMW 335xi has the "auto lights" function. You can set it to "Auto" and the lights will turn on when it senses dark, like pulling into the garage, or you can turn them to the "On" setting and they are always on. Those darn Germans, what will they think of next!

 

I have auto headlights on my '08 Cayenne GTS. If I leave it on "auto," I'm not always sure if the lights are on, such as in rain during daylight. I would rather not have this option, and simply turn on/off the lights when I start the car. I don't miss them at all on my C2S.

 

When I rotate a switch over by the key my lights automatically come on-does that count?

 

Only if you stayed at a "Motel 6" last night!

 

I think I see more people that FORGET to turn their headlights on when its dark. It would be safer for all to have the headlights on more often than not in general.

I actually didn't like the feature at first but after using them awhile I grew accustomed to the convenience of them.

How I've seen it implemented is there is a separate selection for them to be enabled, so auto, off, on. So you could easily manually operate the headlight if you wanted. There is no control being given up by you the driver...its just your preference.

Its interesting to see how people are so up in arms about this. If you don't like the feature, just don't use it. Simple as that. I personally think it would help people who forget to turn on their headlights and off when they shut off their car (I'm guessing this has happened to most people at one point in their life, if not, good on you.).

 

I have cars with both, so I'm paranoid about forgetting to turn off the lights in my 911, as I don't have to in my M5.

 

The auto-headlight technology would actually prevent the scenario you described of someone driving around in the dark with no headlights on. Unfortunate that this happens, yes but at the end of the day if it helped keep us all safer on the road, I'm all for it.

 

I would hope they've implemented a shutdown of the headlights after a certain period of time so the battery doesn't get drained when the key is out of the ignition?

Whole heartedly agree though, I never need to worry about leaving them on now in the BMW.

 

Thats why there is a buzzer when the headlights are still on and you pull the key... or am I the only one with that feature? Between the morons driving around with their amber parking lights on, with just DRLs and no back end lights, or with no headlights on at all (and Washington state law makes it a crime for me to flash my lights at them to let them know their lights are off - the police want to be the only ones in our state to be able to tell motorists to turn on their headlights... presumably at the scene of the accident), I don't see any hope for making things safer, given the number of ninnies driving that would find some way of screwing things up even with an automatic system.

 

Same situation for me.Two of the three cars I own have the automatic lights, set 'em and forget 'em. They come on and off automatically and I like 'em. On the P Car I have to remember to turn them off. Good thing the chimes go off to remind me they're going to stay on until I turn them off.
And while I still love the Porsche and can easily live without the auto lights, it would not break my heart if someday they added that feature to a Porsche and marched straight into the 21st century with almost very other make on the planet regardless of the sticker price.

 

Directed 545T Nite Lite System gives that functionality if anyone wants.

http://www.deiproducts.com/servlet/t...te-Lite/Detail