Have you wondered how to switch the main beam on/off on the VW ID.4? The concept is relatively similar to the system on most cars.
On this page, you’ll find instructions on how to switch on the ID.4’s main beam lights. You’ll also notice a quick overview of VW’s automatic main-beam control.
Check your VW ID.4 owner’s manual for a complete understanding of the system. Do this before using it!
Table of Contents
What are main beam lights?
Main beam (also known as high beam) lights shine at a higher angle. They illuminate two or three times more space in front of you than your regular headlights.
When main beam headlights are switched on, you’ll notice a blue indicator light on the dashboard. It consists of a headlight icon with five horizontal lines to the left. This icon is standard across all mainstream production cars.
Many newer cars come with a main beam driver assist. With one of these equipped, your car will turn off the high beams if it sees another vehicle ahead. VW’s version of this system is known as Main Beam Control.
How do you turn main beam on in the VW ID.4?
To switch main beam on in the VW ID.4, follow these instructions:
- Turn the ignition on.
- Switch the dipped beams (regular headlights) on.
- If you have the car’s lights set to AUTO, they’ll only come on when it’s dark enough.
- Push the turn signal stalk (also known as the main beam lever or headlight flasher) away from you. Then release it.
- The blue main beam icon will light up on the dashboard. The main beam headlights are now switched on. You should be able to see much further down the road.
How to turn the main beam headlights off on the VW ID.4 EV
When driving, it’s crucial to switch the main beam headlights off as soon as there’s anyone in front of you. You could blind them and cause a serious accident if you don’t. By law, you should turn them off (and avoid using the headlight flasher) within 500 feet of any other vehicles.
Switch the main beam headlights off for any:
- Oncoming drivers
- Drivers ahead of you in your lane, travelling in the same direction
- Pedestrians
- Horses
- Residential areas at night
- Hills and curvy roads
- In fog, heavy rain, or heavy snow (switch the fog lights on instead)
Turning the main beam headlights off is very simple:
- The main beams should already be turned on (see the previous sections). The blue main beam icon will be illuminated.
- Pull the turn signal stalk towards you. This is the same motion as triggering the headlight flasher.
- This turns the ID.4’s main beam lights off. With the main beams already activated, the lights won’t flash.
How to flash the VW ID.4’s main beam headlights
Sometimes, it might be necessary to flash your lights at other drivers. Legally, this should only be done to warn other drivers of your presence. Depending on where you live, it might be customary for people to flash lights to warn of police presence, car damage, to let you into a lane, and more. However, this isn’t strictly legal.
To flash the main beam lights on the ID.4:
- Turn the ignition on.
- Activate the dipped beams.
- Pull the turn signal stalk towards you. Release it almost immediately.
- The ID.4’s main beam lights will turn on for as long as you hold the stalk towards you.
- Don’t hold it too long, as you might dazzle oncoming drivers.
You can’t flash your lights if the main beams are already activated.
How to use VW’s main-beam control
Main-beam control is available on certain specifications of the VW ID.4. It automatically switches the main beam lights on or off depending on what it senses ahead, including:
- Traffic conditions
- Driving conditions
- Road conditions
- Environmental conditions
Switching ID.4 main-beam control on
Switch on main-beam control by:
- Switch the ignition on.
- Turn the dipped beam headlights on.
- Briefly tap the turn signal stalk away from you.
- The blue main beam icon will switch on with a small A in the ‘headlight’.
- The ID.4 will now switch the main beams on or off depending on the above conditions.
How to turn main-beam control off in the VW ID.4
In turn, you can switch the main-beam control off by either switching back to manual or turning the main beams off completely.
- Switch the main-beam control back to manual by pressing the turn signal stalk away from you once more.
- The icon will lose the A. You are now back to manual control of the main beams.
- Pull the turn signal stalk towards you, then release it to switch the main beams off completely.
Systems warnings for main-beam control
Main-beam control is helpful if you often forget to turn your main beams off. However, it’s no replacement for being alert and manually working them yourself.
Main-beam control should be manually switched off in the following circumstances:
- Tight bends or on hills
- When the system doesn’t register a vehicle ahead
- When around road users other than cars (pedestrians, for example)
- Environmental conditions like fog, snow, heavy rain, duststorms, sandy areas, etc.
- Damage to the windscreen or sensors
Here’s a screenshot from the VW ID.4’s owner’s manual. Feel free to browse through it.
