Virginia requires that you turn on your headlights if your wipers are on. While I have the Advanced Lighting Pkg, my lights won’t come on “automatically” unless it gets dark enough when it starts raining. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. I don’t mind turning them on, but then I have to remember to turn them back to Auto when I get where I’m going or it quits raining. And several times they have come on when it started raining, only to go out because it got a little brighter and I’m driving around in the rain thinking my lights are on. And I DO like them on when it’s raining, required by law or not.

I didn’t know if there was a “secret” setting so the lights could be linked to the wipers, even if a tech needs to do it. I’m hoping to make my Intelligent Light System even more intelligent.

mine GLC Coupe too, few seconds after wipers are on, lights turns on automatically

Where does it say in uk law that you must have headlight on if you are using wipers?

I agree they do come on when it starts raining IF it’s dark enough. But when they decide to go off if the skies lighten up a little, even if it’s still raining.....my wipers stay on but my lights MAY have turned off. Virginia law probably doesn’t care if my headlight sensor doesn’t call for the lights to be on. If it’s raining they’re supposed to be on. That’s the problem.

With all due respect, I suspect members that notice their lights coming on when the wipers are turned on are just seeing the sensor call for the lights to come because it’s gotten darker. Not because the wiper activation called for it. I’d be fine with that because if they go off, it’s no different than what they might do at dusk. It’s just that Virginia law I’m trying to comply with. And, BTW, I think wipers on/lights on is a great law that could help avoid accidents.

I appreciate all the comments.

Well, I brought my GLC in for State inspection and “A” service and the MB service manager said the wiper and headlight sensors are totally independent and separate. I AM gonna ask before I leave if any “settings” or programming can be changed like you can do on BMW’s for certain functions. Looks like it’s up to me to either turn the headlights on when it starts raining or be vigilant to notice that they’ve stayed on once they come on.

No biggie, but just thought I’d ask what others do.

OK, MB service manager says SOME things can be changed with programming, but not headlight sensitivity to light. I thought MAYBE they could be set to come on a little sooner, which I wouldn’t mind even in normal driving. Sometimes if I’m out at dusk I wish they would come on and then they usually do or either I’ll just turn them on. Guess I’ll just do the same when it rains.

i STILL love the ILS on my car. It does some amazing things while driving at night.

On my 2016 the headlights come on after the wipers have been on, in any mode, for a minute to a few minutes. This happens in bright daylight or when overcast. The headlights go off during daylight after the wipers are off for a minute or two. I haven’t found anything indicating that this wiper/headlight function can be changed by the owner.

Hmmm, when I asked my original question I didn’t anticipate members would actually report different headlight/wiper behavior than I had noticed. I just wanted them to operate together, which you and others report yours do. They’re calling for rain every day starting tomorrow so I’ll have plenty of opportunity to pay close attention to my headlights. I swear the green “headlight on” icon comes and goes when it’s raining, so maybe I just have a flaky headlight sensor. I hope you guys are right.

I was out Sunday, also, and in similar conditions to what you described, mtberman. And my headlights came on, much as you described, but during a brief brighter spell, while it was still raining, they eventually turned off, I guess as the “light load sensor” called for. Then, as I entered a much darker area of rain they EVENTUALLY came back on. But a minute or two, as mtberman mentioned, is enough time for someone to pull out in front of you. I guess the saving grace are those beautiful eyebrow DRL’s. I’m not trying to argue the point, but IF it matters to members that their headlights may be off, even after noticing that they came on initially, you may want to notice how they react to different levels of “brightness”. I think you’ll be surprised that they do actually turn off and can be a little slow coming back on. VERY different from the way they come on when I drive into my dark garage.

I accept that there is no way to tie headlight operation DIRECTLY to wiper operation and have decided I will just turn my headlights “on” if I want to be sure they are burning when my wipers are on. Then the next time I’m driving at night I’ll wonder why they aren’t changing automatically!

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.