European Matrix Lights: some thoughts

[AlexJ]

Somewhere I read that there are many compliants in EU of these matrix headlights blinding oncoming drivers, can't find the report at the moment. It seems matrix technology looks good on paper and the lab and work well on quiet roads but fail otherwise. They are a still a nuisance around town, especially to those of us with cataracts.

Drivers seem to like them however. But personally I need high lighting down to 5 mph and even more to the left/right. Although some of the newer animal detection systems work well, I still need a deer spotter. Lighting that shine off to the right and left of the roadway to detect approaching deer via reflection from their eyes. I haven't found matrix lighting to be effective as my 85 Vette's sealed beams... but thats just me.

There’s been report going round in Europe about this yes.
Some mention that just the very white color is a bit more blinding.

I think it‘s down to a couple of things: some carmakers are notorious for having extremely bad lights, and often in SUV, and headlights being quite high.

It’s also the first generations of headlights that are able to do a cut out of the oncoming car, and light around it.
My 2015 BMW had this; it worked somehow great when brand new (though something like 80% of the time), but after a windshield replacement, it’s become utterly useless.
I’m sure too many people used to put it on and not monitor it; same issue that driving in the fog has become very dangerous.

I’m sure that they did split headlights on the Macan for that reason as well, to be lower to the ground.
The matrix works really great, You really see it being adjusted many times per seconds, to not blind oncoming traffic.
I’ve never been blinded by a Macan or other Porsche.

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[Petzi]

matrix works flawlessly. never had a bad reaction from oncoming traffic. like with most of the complaints here: when you do not like it, dont use it.

 

[W1NGE]

There’s been report going round in Europe about this yes.
Some mention that just the very white color is a bit more blinding.

I think it‘s down to a couple of things: some carmakers are notorious for having extremely bad lights, and often in SUV, and headlights being quite high.

It’s also the first generations of headlights that are able to do a cut out of the oncoming car, and light around it.
My 2015 BMW had this; it worked somehow great when brand new (though something like 80% of the time), but after a windshield replacement, it’s become utterly useless.
I’m sure too many people used to put it on and not monitor it; same issue that driving in the fog has become very dangerous.

I’m sure that they did split headlights on the Macan for that reason as well, to be lower to the ground.
The matrix works really great, You really see it being adjusted many times per seconds, to not blind oncoming traffic.
I’ve never been blinded by a Macan or other Porsche.

How would you know....it's dark when the vehicle passes??

 

[Petzi]

How would you know....it's dark when the vehicle passes??

if you have it, you see it.
or just google it..

 

[AlexJ]

How would you know....it's dark when the vehicle passes??

Actually yes.
You can clearly see the outline of light around the car.
Especially if there’s a small bump and the headlight beam dips a bit, it’s completely dark where the car is.

 

[jsclarke]

If you live in the US, adding LED Matrix Design Headlights is a $1,280 option.

And for that, you get a light that turns on when you make a right or left turn from a stop, and you get auto high beam dimming. And that's it, right?

For that you could get noise insulated glass instead. Or a leather package. Or both messaging and vented seats. Or park assist or drive assist. Or the Bose upgrade.

How could this possibly be worth it, and why do most US cars option this?

 

[W1NGE]

If you live in the US, adding LED Matrix Design Headlights is a $1,280 option.

And for that, you get a light that turns on when you make a right or left turn from a stop, and you get auto high beam dimming. And that's it, right?

For that you could get noise insulated glass instead. Or a leather package. Or both messaging and vented seats. Or park assist or drive assist. Or the Bose upgrade.

How could this possibly be worth it, and why do most US cars option this?

US owners live in hope of regulation change...perhaps but you're correct (you may also get a different DRL setup).

 

[jsclarke]

Yeah when we bought a Cayenne with matrix headlights, my dealer said a regulation change was expected "any day now".

That was 5 years ago.

 

[alxman]

Yeah when we bought a Cayenne with matrix headlights, my dealer said a regulation change was expected "any day now".

That was 5 years ago.

Well, he was right then. Unfortunately, the new regulations (in 2021, I believe) were different from the ones in the EU and require different hardware and software settings. I too wasted money ordering matrix headlights in the hopes that Porsche may file for an exemption which now I know it will not happen. I am left with the foolish dream of someone offering a reprogramming to the European standards. However, even this may be too much of a risk considering the possibility of causing other software bugs if not done correctly. What is disappointing is that even on the newer models (Macan 2026 or Cayenne EV) the matrix or HD matrix headlights are still not compatible with the US regulations.

 

[jsclarke]

overheard in Stuggart...

"think we should spend a little time trying to get our matrix headlights approved for use in the US?"

"why should we? Americans pay for them whether they work on not!"

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