Can you set lights to come on with wipers?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Can you set lights to come on with wipers?
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.
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.
#2
Super Member
Too the best of my meagre knowledge MB haven't implemented that. You're going to have to go the manual route. That's also the law here in the UK.
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Vaboy (07-18-2018)
#4
Senior Member
My lights come on automatically during the day when my wipers are on. Sometimes it takes a minute or so before I see the light on the dash.
#5
#6
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#7
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Thornhill, ON
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2018 GLC 43 & 2014 SLK 350, gone 2016 E63 Wagon
My 2018 GLC43 does the same thing...lights on when the wipers operate. I believe that the lights also came on when the wipers were on in my 2011 GLK.
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#8
Super Member
Looks like I'm going to have to test that out though I'm not sure when we're going to get some rain in sunny olde Blighty. It's 1976 over again here...
#9
Junior Member
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
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.
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.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
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.
No biggie, but just thought I’d ask what others do.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
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.
i STILL love the ILS on my car. It does some amazing things while driving at night.
#14
MBWorld Fanatic!
#15
Super Member
#16
Super Member
As usual with UK law, this is kinda implied. Highway Code Rule 226 which states you must use your headlights if you cannot see for more than 100m. So if you're in light rain and can see more than 100m you don't need them. In heavy rain you might, that will depend on if you can prove you can see more than 100m.
#18
Member
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.
#19
Senior Member
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.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
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.
#21
Member
#22
Senior Member
It started raining yesterday afternoon while I was driving, giving me the opportunity to test this feature on my US model '18 GLC. It was mostly sunny with isolated storms. I moved the wiper control from "off" to the first setting, "automatic". The wipers operated at irregular intervals depending on the rain sensor, and the headlamps activated automatically about one or two minutes later.
I had a 2008 Ford Escape with the same feature.
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Me too.
It started raining yesterday afternoon while I was driving, giving me the opportunity to test this feature on my US model '18 GLC. It was mostly sunny with isolated storms. I moved the wiper control from "off" to the first setting, "automatic". The wipers operated at irregular intervals depending on the rain sensor, and the headlamps activated automatically about one or two minutes later.
I had a 2008 Ford Escape with the same feature.
It started raining yesterday afternoon while I was driving, giving me the opportunity to test this feature on my US model '18 GLC. It was mostly sunny with isolated storms. I moved the wiper control from "off" to the first setting, "automatic". The wipers operated at irregular intervals depending on the rain sensor, and the headlamps activated automatically about one or two minutes later.
I had a 2008 Ford Escape with the same feature.
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.