ByByBMW

In many states, it is required for headlights to be on when the wipers are running. Why is there no way to determine if my cars headlights are on? This is the first, out of probably 30 cars that I have owned, that does not have this indication.

superswiss

There is. The icons around the headlight switch are illuminated if the headlights are on, but regardless, with the headlights on Auto, they turn on automatically if the rain sensor detects rain and starts operating the wipers. Why even bother?

SYMAWD

Because not everyone uses the rain sensor. It's the first thing I disabled in my car. My parent's VW Routan had the best system. Turn the wipers on and the headlights went on just a few seconds later.

snagitseven

Why would you want to disable the rain sensor feature? Even if activated uou still have control over the wiper interval and can manually override on/off or speed with the stalk. In the auto position you also solve the headlights on in the rain question.

SYMAWD

Because the least sensitive position is still too sensitive for my liking.

ByByBMW

Are you saying the lights automatically come on if the wipers activate? Does that include when the wiper stalk is in the rain sensing position?

superswiss

Yes, as long as the light switch is on Auto. If the wiper stalk is in the rain sensing position, then the lights come on shortly after the sensor senses rain and if it stops raining, the lights turn off.

superswiss

You can't please everybody. Some people just want to swim upstream constantly and make it harder than it needs to be. First world problems I guess.

Tman007

The way I tell if the headlights are on is I simply look if all the steering wheel buttons etc are illuminated.

newmoon

Actually I learned it on this forum that there is an 'in between' mode where it is not dark enough for the backlighting for the buttons to come on, but the headlights are on because the wipers are on. The way to tell is the lightbulb icon on the switch is lit (which is very hard to see behind the steering wheel).