My new RR Sport was ordered with adaptive headlights and I have been charged for them on the invoice. However I am not sure I have them. Driving home yesterday evening included 5 miles along a very twisty, unlight country lane. I was expecting to see some difference from our D3 which doesn't have adaptive headlights. The only difference I noticed was that on tight corners an "extra" sidelight seemed to come on to light the near verge, which then went off when the car straightened up. Oh, and the headlights seemed to have a larger field of light on high beam, including quite a bit more height, than I have experienced before. I had expected more from the adaptive lights than that and am left wandering whether perhaps they aren't fitted at all ?

You do have them, as you've noticed the extra light come on. As you probably know, the adaptive lights turn left/right on the horizontal axis so when you turn into a corner, the rights turn to light up the rest of the road in the corner instead of pointing straight into the hedge or field ahead. Matt
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RRS ownership for 1 yr, then D3 for 2 yrs. Then cut back to old bangers and working my way back up through two Peugeots in 6 months. Now got Saab 9-5 2.3t and enjoying the performance!

I wish I had them - but for the money I'm not sure it's worth it. The fridge is another thing though! 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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Anyone now where I can get an adaptive wife?  2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
2009 Alaska TDV8 - Gone and much missed.



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Very annoyed wrote:

Anyone now where I can get an adaptive wife?

If you solve that one you'll be a very rich guy!

At first I thought the Adaptive headlights were a bit of a gimmick, but then I found them really useful when at night, pulling into a parking space in the dark, the extra sidelight completely illuminates the space, allowing me to see if there is anything obstructing or anything I might not want to drive over for example.

The xenons do move on the horizontal plane as you steer, but you tend not to notice it much as you are concentrating on other things. I am used to them now and when I drive my wife's car with normal non xenons, I find it frustratingly old fashioned! L319 D4 HSE

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I don;t have the adaptive headlights, but have been getting distracted, by what I assume is the same extra sidelight that comes on when you indicate, never came across anything like it before, strange (for me) but can see the use. HSE TD6 (Java Black/Ivory)
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RRUK wrote:

At first I thought the Adaptive headlights were a bit of a gimmick, but then I found them really useful when at night, pulling into a parking space in the dark, the extra sidelight completely illuminates the space, allowing me to see if there is anything obstructing or anything I might not want to drive over for example.

The xenons do move on the horizontal plane as you steer, but you tend not to notice it much as you are concentrating on other things. I am used to them now and when I drive my wife's car with normal non xenons, I find it frustratingly old fashioned!

Ha-ha!! So it's not just my wife then - since driving the RRS in comparison to her car with standard halogens I have had to buy her some upgraded lamps to make sure she can see properly. Personally, I could still see fine with the old lamps but her eyes don't seem to work very well in lower light situations anyway (i.e. she always has to have the big light on in a room, much to my annoyance!)  

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well i think the problem is increased somewhat in that saab, as the headlights are unusually dim compared to other cars, our megane is fine and i normally hoon that around with no problems at all, just the damn keyless entry causes us a lot of headache on that car, but thats another story!

Getting back to the point, adaptive headlights do seem like a good option, and i didn't really know what they were or how they worked until the last meet where RRUK gave a demonstration by turning the car on when stationery, turning the lights on, and turning the wheel to the right, the little light on the right front corner lights up, and then the same if you spin the wheel to the left. Try it on your driveway, you will get how it works then, and its such a simple system, i am sure it will be standard fit on most cars within 3-5 years.

What lights are you guys talking about? I don't have no friggin' extra sidelights turning on as I steer sharply, yet I am supposed to have adaptive headlights (they are included in the "luxury package" here in the US.) Is that another feature we don't get here, like alarm motion sensor, locking fuel filler door, power folding mirrors, etc.?  

The corner lamps are part of the adaptive upgrade, they activate when turn the steering or operating the indicators. they are located in the same place as the side lights and are excellent at highlighting the road to either side of the car when in use. Its out there somewhere. Second V10 Treg on the drive at the moment.

The Land Rover website shows that the "corner lights" are bundled with the Bi-Xenon lamps and are standard in the UK on the SE and HSE and an option on the S. The adaptive headlights are a £300 option on the SE and HSE and not available on the S. The LR website describes the adaptive headlights as follows :

"Range Rover Sport is available with three levels of headlights: Halogen, Bi-xenon and Bi-xenon Adaptive headlights. Bi-xenon lights emit a bright, natural light for wide illumination and exceptional night-time vision. Bi-xenon Adaptive headlights make night driving effortless. As the vehicle´s steering direction, pitch and speed of vehicle change, they quickly respond, moving left, right, up or down, following the curve of the road and allowing easier night-time driving".

I still cannot see any evidence at all that my headlights "quickly respond, moving left, right, up or down, following the curve of the road". I would have thought that that feature would have been pretty bvious on a twisty lane in the pitch black. Can anyone describe what the lamps actually should look like. Our RRS lamps look the same as our Disco 3 lamps and the latter certainly aren't adaptive.

Smarticus, if you have Adaptive Headlights... it'll be pretty obvious that the lights turn left and right as you turn the steering wheel. Even when sitting in a parking garage. Drive slowly and turn your steering wheel hard.

umbertob, Fixed Cornering Lights are not available in North America. (They don't depend on the Adaptive Headlight option.) The Adaptive Headlight version is technically called "Static Bending Lights"... also not available in NA. Probably due to conflict with some state laws.

Last edited by grommet on Tue Dec 20 2005 6:38pm. Edited 2 times in total

Grommet, the adaptive lights do not move when the vehicle is stationary, they actually go back to centre as the car comes to rest and this can clearly be seen when coming to rest on my driveway or at a particular set of traffic lights close our home.
Smarticus the best way to see them move is drive about 10 mph and turn the steering to any side and you can visibly see the beam of the light move to the same direction as the front wheels are pointing.
Also on several occastions you see the lights sway around when first switching on this I presume is to re align the lights to the correct central position. Its out there somewhere. Second V10 Treg on the drive at the moment.