Weird headlight anomaly

[JMG]

I went into the garage to get something out of my car, so I unlocked it, got my stuff, then locked it again with the remote. After about 30 seconds the headlight blinked once. WTF? Is this a feature or do I have electronic gremlins? The blinkers usually blink when I lock/unlock, but this is 30 seconds after that, and it was the headlights.

BTW the headlight switch is set to auto. I have the auto leveling, steering-adaptive HIDs, and the car is stock.

[blkb707]

Mine does exactly the same thing but i never really asked myself what is the cause. Must be some kind of reminder but for what? no idea!

[wezlo]

mine does this too time to time... i have no idea what the deal is

[supamannn99]

mine does the same thing. i ignored it the first time thinking i was imagining things but it happened again a few days after. i've never really figured out what that's for... but i guess its normal

[greene08]

Possibly the confirmation of the alarm arming? Maybe the door wasn't completely shut and it finally triggered. Mine doesn't do this.

[RedS-line]

maybe check headlight coding in vag-com?

[ABanT]

Has happened to me as well. I was actually right in front of the car as it happened, crouching down to get something so it caught me square in the face.

I've asked my tech but he didn't know anything about it.

[SwassMike]

I read that the xenon gas can spontaneously flicker when cooling as part of some kind of pressure thing, how is that for the most general statement in the world.... Mine did it once, and I haven't seen it do it since.

[brownishwater]

Holy thread revival, batman!

[harryd14]

^hahaha... ya seriously, brought that one out of the dead!

[Jetblast]

Its just a reminder to lock the car.

[SwassMike]

I was searching for an answer to my flickering "auto" light on my headlight switch. I now need to rewire the harness as all the wire is now gone.....Trying to find an answer to that now.

[oatzel]

bump, anyone ever find an answer to this? mine is doing it

[Subaru71]

bump, anyone ever find an answer to this? mine is doing it

lol 2nd revival, but I don't mind.. I had this before too.. anyone?

[brownishwater]

This thread got a little distorted, but basically the Op's issue is a standard feature on HID bulbs. If you are driving around with the headlights on for a while, turn the car off, and sit and wait for a little bit, they will occasionally flash. It's the bulbs/ballast getting rid of the excess xenon gas. Most every car with factory bi-xenons do that same thing.

At some point in the thread, someone started talking about the lights flickering while driving which is in unrelated issue.