Automatic lights

[agriff]

Hi All
At the MPH show at Earls Court, I picked up a product called autolights. It's a self install bit of electronics with a sensor to automatically switch on lights when in a tunnel/dark areas etc. It takes power from the ignition switch and you need to tap into headlight and sidelight wires. You also need to position the sensor. My questions are has anyone done this before and if so where is the best place to make the aforementioned connections. With regard to the sensor, it looks like there is an ideal spot in the centre of the dash where it meets the screen. There seems to be a squareish plug that may even be for this purpose had it been done as a factory fit. It would be nice if the wire to the sensor could hidden, but I'm not sure how this can be done.

Any help or suggestions will be most appreciated.

 

[Flash]

On the current generation Mercs i.e. W203s the light sensor is located on top of the windscreen in the black mounted box and is wired into the dome light for power. Perhaps you could possibly retrofit this option using OEM MB parts for a neat wireless finish? Even though I do have the auto light function I never use it and leave the light switch on the zero position as when it gets dark I manually activate the lights. Personally, I would not go to all the inconvenience involved for such a mod like this – if you do not have rain sensing wipers then why not look into this mod (it can be done at a reasonable cost with OEM MB parts on a W210).

The only function that the auto light sensor serves for me is when I lock/unlock the vehicle when it gets dark and the exteriors lights/fog lamps light up the path/road.

 

[agriff]

Thanks Flash. I already have rain sensing wipers and thought this would be a cool mod. However, if it's going to be a pain in the ****, I probably won't bother.

 

[Rory]

I've had several cars with auto lights and I always disable it - I think it's potentially dangerous. Your lights could come on at just the wrong time and someone might mistake it for a headlamp flash and pull out.