Do These IQ Lights Turn Around Corners?

[Ian T]

Hi

I don’t think I’ve ever been so confused by something so, seemingly, simple.

As the nights draw in, I’m obviously paying more attention to my headlights right now

On my headlights themselves it actually says ‘IQ Light’ on them however:

The Handbook says that they are Advanced main-beam control (Dynamic Light Assist) No mention of cornering.

Yet:

The configurator says that they are ‘Matrix LED headlights with automatic headlight control, dynamic cornering lighting’

They don’t seem to beam around corners when I turn into them like my previous Golf R did (which did not have IQ Lights and was brilliant in country lanes for example). As far as I can tell, mine don’t have that function. They just sweep up and down on startup, they don't sweep side to side like the Golf did.

I get that they allegedly turn the high beam away from cars driving in in front and also oncoming traffic etc but like I said I’ve never been so confused by something so, seemingly, simple. What lights do I have…. Are there different versions of VW ‘IQ Light’ depending on the vehicle i wonder?

[lancslad1985]

I had the matrix leds on my gti and they were superb as they dimmed for oncoming cars. They didn’t sweep around corners however.

[SRGTD]

Ian, I wouldn’t rely on the accuracy of content of VW’s configurator; historically, it’s been littered with errors and inconsistencies, so it could be the information on cornering lights for the current model Polo GTI is incorrect.

However, assuming the configurator content is correct, the cornering lights could be the same / similar to those on the mk8 Golf GTI which also has IQ LED Matrix headlamps. On the Golf GTI they’re a separate small inboard LED light within the headlamp unit, close to the outer edge of the upper grille. You can see them on the (US spec) mk8 Golf GTI at 6m 15s - 6m 45s in the YouTube video to the link below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGsMVBXbldw

[Mike222]

I have Polo (2023MY) with IQ headlights , They do NOT turn around corners, what look like fog lights in the front bumper (3 LEDs) each side are permanently on with the headlights and not controllable separately ,they provide a wide area of illumination on to verges etc , The way the lights behave when switched to auto main beam is very clever and superior to the Lights on my previous car (2019MY GTI ) LED dipped/Main ( very defined cut off which I found too contrasting between light and dark !The fog lights on that car were switchable separately and operated with the indicators when turning left or right !
I hope this helps .

[Ian T]

I have Polo (2023MY) with IQ headlights , They do NOT turn around corners, what look like fog lights in the front bumper (3 LEDs) each side are permanently on with the headlights and not controllable separately ,they provide a wide area of illumination on to verges etc , The way the lights behave when switched to auto main beam is very clever and superior to the Lights on my previous car (2019MY GTI ) LED dipped/Main ( very defined cut off which I found too contrasting between light and dark !The fog lights on that car were switchable separately and operated with the indicators when turning left or right !
I hope this helps .

Thank you that is very helpful actually and you have answered my question, so the latest version of (Polo anyway) VW IQ Light don’t turn around corners and confirmed what Lancslad kindly posted and as did SRGT when he said VW’s configurator (and it turns out their handbook) are littered with errors

[Harrihealey02]

I believe they meant that your car has cornering lights, which operate separately from your IQ lights. In my Polo, which also has IQ lights, the cornering lights are actually the fog lights, not built into the headlight unit. The fog lights illuminate on the side you’re turning, similar to the cornering lights in the headlight unit. I found the standard 120 degree activation angle too wide, so I adjusted mine to come on with a 60 degree turn. I’m considering reducing it further to 40 degrees, so the side I'm turning lights up with less steering input as this is particularly useful when driving quickly on country lanes. These adjustments were made using VCDS, as there's no way to modify this setting within the car itself.

[CricketLover]

This is a very useful and informative thread. I have the ‘standard’ 2023 Polo gti. My previous Polo 2018 gti plus model - was also the ‘standard’ spec. On my previous 2018 gti plus Polo I had the very helpful and effective cornering lights - which as stated above is actual in fog lamp unit.
I didn’t do much night driving last winter in my 2023 model Polo - but I am this winter. I may be wrong, but either I don’t have cornering lights fitted on my current vehicle or they are not set up correctly.
I am going to get a friend to help me test them next weekend.