Should MY19 LED Lights have a washer system?

[Forestfire]

So new xcellence 1.5dsg led lights has no washer system ., while I see lots of pictures of cars with it(or at least the shape for it on the front bumper) , including a MY18 car in work that has them.

My understanding was the facelift had the new style LEDS and these where 30% brighter and required the washer system.

Can anyone confirm what cars come with and without the washer?

 

[Maypack]

My wife’s 2017 1.25 Leon Xcellence has a Washer System for the headlights. It was a standard car and we only specified the colour, everything was standard, Heater Leather Seats, Keyless Entry, Wireless Charging and Heater Washers for Headlights.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[daniel_ley]

Headlamp washers come as part of the winter pack, which includes heated seats and washer jets. Do you have this pack?

 

[Seriously?]

I think the UK MY18 Xcellence didn't have the washers as standard; they were added to the MY19 EasyOffer spec.
Search for EasyOffer as posted by Scrogg.

 

[Forestfire]

No don't have the winter pack and that's probably the reason, but I thought there was a regulation that a car should have them if the light intensity was above a certain value?

This was to avoid the light diffusing, when the covers are dirty, into oncoming traffic.

 

[DEAN0]

I think the washer system is only legally required with projector style lights - not led lights

 

[SRGTD]

No don't have the winter pack and that's probably the reason, but I thought there was a regulation that a car should have them if the light intensity was above a certain value?

This was to avoid the light diffusing, when the covers are dirty, into oncoming traffic.

Yes, there is a legal requirement for headlamp washers to be fitted (LED’s or projector xenon’s) if the headlamps emit a light source of more than 2,000 lumens.

Some VW’s with LED headlamps don’t have headlamp washers either - e.g. the current Polo model. In fact the Polo’s winter pack doesn’t even include headlamp washers.

I personally don’t like headlamp washers. I’ve got them on my VW and they seem to be very ineffective at keeping the headlamp lenses clean, and using them quickly empties the washer fluid reservoir. They do seem to be very good at spraying washer fluid all over the car bonnet though - really annoying if the car’s just been washed!

 

[Damo H]

The LED’s on the Leon don’t need the washer system. I think Xenons require them because it’s a single light source, where as although the LED’s are ‘in theory’ better, as they are not a single light source, they get around the 2,000 lumens.

The point of the washer system is to stop dirty lenses bouncing light into oncoming traffic, but let’s be honest I’ve not yet seen them make a difference on any car.

 

[Kinetic]

I have them and they're a PITA. The increased screen wash usage negates any benefit, if indeed there is a benefit.

 

[SRGTD]

I have them and they're a PITA. The increased screen wash usage negates any benefit, if indeed there is a benefit.

Agree 100% with this!

 

[Forestfire]

Thanks for all the replies, maybe I should have worded the question a little different....

I am not too bothered about the washer system itself and all the issues it brings.

My main concern was that Seat had done some sort of cost down to remove the washer by reducing the LED brightness (if they were linked, which it appears they are not) .

I wanted to make sure the Led lights I have are to the higher spec, as it's not so easy to trial them now due to bright evenings.

 

[KXL]

I believed that in the past the Xcellence had them as standard, however nowadays, I believe only Xcelence Lux has them (could someone with Xcellence Lux confirm?). Washers are legal requirement if single source of light exceeds 2k Lumens. My Ibiza Bi-Xenon had them, and my Leon SE Tech Pack MK3 1st Gen (2013 model) LED headlights had them, even though I had no winter pack. Perhaps when Seat first released the LEDs, they fitted them 'just in case.' late 2014 Leon models with LED headlights did not have washers anymore unless winter pack. You would notice, that for instance, all Audi A3 LED (single source) headlights have washers, and even the Mercs E class with dual LEDs (not single source) do not have these washers. However the Golf GTI/GTD with lower 25watt Bi-xenon or current dual LED headlights did not require them. The total light output from the FL Leon LEDs may exceed 2k Lumens, but not as a single source. Washers are especially useful (yes not in UK) in snowy winters as they can wash away the snow or ice that cannot be melted away from the head of the lights.

From experience from the driving seat, LED headlights (from Mercs, Prius, Seat, BMWs) are not as glaring and jittery as the Bi-Xenons of approaching cars. However, I'm not sure why the Mini and Qashqai's LEDs are glarring and jittery....that said, I never had issues with my headlight washers except that they empty the screenwash far quicker, plus they are especially useful if pedestrians get too close to the front of my car at night ...

Anyhow, now that I have a Volvo V40 with LED headlights (damn they are bright) no headlight washers, as it's a 2 LED per headlight source, everytime I put fuel in, I just spray the headlights manually with my bottle, and wipe clean with cloth...tada, done!

 

[BoomerBoom]

Thanks for all the replies, maybe I should have worded the question a little different....

I am not too bothered about the washer system itself and all the issues it brings.

My main concern was that Seat had done some sort of cost down to remove the washer by reducing the LED brightness (if they were linked, which it appears they are not) .

I wanted to make sure the Led lights I have are to the higher spec, as it's not so easy to trial them now due to bright evenings.

As far as I know there are only two LED headlight versions, pre and post facelift. I've not heard of any difference in those model eras. The facelift version is considerably brighter than the pre facelift, but neither version require washers by law.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

I have them and they're a PITA. The increased screen wash usage negates any benefit, if indeed there is a benefit.

You can always code them off or reduce how often they work very easily

 

[Kinetic]

You can always code them off or reduce how often they work very easily

Yes, I think the option was available when I was on the Carista beta version but I forgot to try it.

 

[martin j.]

Regardless of the light output leds produce very little heat so dirty weather runs off them-unlike the hids in my Honda-this can be a downside when it snows though?

 

[Polly]

OKAY.

Where/how/what

do I have to do the disable them then?

On may last 3 cars [VXR's RennoRS's etc] I pulled plugs on the motor or clamped the feed pipes.

 

[SRGTD]

For anyone in the UK who does disable their headlamp washers, remember that under the current MOT, headlamp washers if fitted are now checked on post-September 2009 vehicles.

From the MOT tester’s manual;

Headlamp cleaning devices
You must inspect vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009 equipped with headlamp washers.
...
Headlamp cleaning device:
- inoperative - Minor
- inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID) - Major

So if your car is 3 or more years old and you’ve disabled your headlamp washers, remember to re-enable them for the annual MOT, or your car will fail if your headlamps are LED (like many mk3 Leon’s are) or xenons.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

OKAY.

Where/how/what

do I have to do the disable them then?

On may last 3 cars [VXR's RennoRS's etc] I pulled plugs on the motor or clamped the feed pipes.

Do you have access to VCDS or OBD11 (Dont know if Carista does it)

I did this for the pre facelift cars http://obdeleven.proboards.com/thread/2633/front-washing-system hopefully it will enable you to change it to how you want it.

 

[Polly]

Sorry No.

Do you have access to VCDS or OBD11 (Dont know if Carista does it)

I did this for the pre facelift cars http://obdeleven.proboards.com/thread/2633/front-washing-system hopefully it will enable you to change it to how you want it.

Sorry no thanks for thinking of it and reply.