The use of fog lights as cornering lights on vehicles built on Volkswagen’s MQB platform, such as the Audi A3 and Golf Mk7, often causes confusion when using VCDS for modifications. While this functionality is accurate for vehicles with incandescent headlights, it differs for those equipped with OEM HID headlights.
For vehicles with incandescent headlights, static cornering functionality utilizes the fog lights. This means adjustments made through VCDS to channels Leuchte12NL LB45 (left fog light) and Leuchte13NL RB5 (right fog light) within the static AFS Light group will correctly configure the cornering lights.
However, in MQB platform vehicles with factory-fitted HID headlights, the static cornering function is managed by a separate module, specifically the headlight control module (often referred to as J745) at address hex55. While the BCM still uses the same adaptation channels within the static AFS Light group to control cornering lights for both incandescent and HID systems, the underlying mechanism is different. The HID system doesn’t directly control the fog lights for cornering; instead, dedicated cornering lamps within the HID headlight housing are activated. Therefore, adjusting the aforementioned Leuchte channels in VCDS won’t have the desired effect on vehicles with HID headlights.
This distinction is crucial for VCDS users. Attempting to activate cornering lights via fog light channels on an HID-equipped vehicle will be ineffective. Instead, modifications related to static cornering lights in these vehicles should be focused on the headlight control module (J745) at address hex55. Consulting the factory settings within the VCDS admap listing for the specific vehicle model will provide accurate information on the appropriate channels and values for adjusting the static cornering feature on HID systems.
The common MQB platform shared by vehicles like the Audi A3 and Golf Mk7 can lead to assumptions about shared functionalities. However, differences in lighting systems, such as incandescent versus HID, require distinct approaches when using VCDS for customization. Understanding these nuances is crucial for successful coding and avoiding unintended consequences.
