Automatic Headlights Question

[HeatherC]

I just bought a 2004 G35 Sedan yesterday and I love the car. However, the sales person told me that the vehicle had automatic headlights (something that is very important to me) but I discovered last night that this information is incorrect.

After further research, I found that the automatic headlights were part of a premium package with 10 other things I really don't care about having.

My question is this: Can automatic headlights be added to the car?

I am trying to decide if this feature is enough to make me take the car back to the dealer and say "no thanks". Right now I think it is. But if it is something that can be added after-the-fact, that changes things.

I appreciate the help...

[GZire]

I haven't heard of anyone trying to go with the auto-on feature for the headlights. I'm not sure if it would be worth the effort to install the light sensor that would be used to trigger the headlights. I assume that there would also have to be some modification to the ECU to recognize the auto-on lights feature.

Anything can be done for a price. However, in this case it's probably not worth the money.

Any particular reason why you need the auto-on feature?

[HeatherC]

Originally Posted by GZire

Any particular reason why you need the auto-on feature?

Laziness. The last two cars I've owned had the feature and I've gotten used to it. It's one of those handy little features that you don't necessarily need, but once you have you realize how convenient it is.

But you're right -- I've learned from the dealer that it is possible to add this feature, but it's very pricey and therefore cost prohibitive. I toyed with the idea of exchanging the car for one with the premium package but considering that I don't care about the other components of the upgrade, I am not willing to fork over the cash.

So, I'll have to get used to dealing with the headlights again. I assume I will drive around with them off a few times, but at least the car is nice enough to beep loudly at me when I forget to turn them off when I'm getting out.

Thanks for the input-

[GZire]

No problem.

I've got a coupe and no premium package either. The only thing I wanted was the upgraded rear view mirror......all the other stuff the can keep.

[dholly]

Hi HeatherC - I'm curious, do you have a base 5at or 6mt sedan w/o premium pkg? BTW, if you ignore that 'you left your headlamps on' reminder, they do have an auto-off feature.

[HeatherC]

Originally Posted by dholly

Hi HeatherC - I'm curious, do you have a base 5at or 6mt sedan w/o premium pkg? BTW, if you ignore that 'you left your headlamps on' reminder, they do have an auto-off feature.

I have the base 5at sedan.

I know I can ignore that annoying "ding" alerting me that I've left the headlights on, but I've noticed that it takes about 5 minutes for the headlights to turn off -- which I think is a bit excessive. I toyed with the idea of leaving them on all the time and just letting them turn themselves off, but I decided to just get used to turning them off and on again.

I'm still having a hard time believing that Infiniti only offers the feature with the premium package. My '99 Ford Explorer even had auto on/off headlights and an auto-dimming rearview mirror so it's amazing to me that a car like the G35 doesn't include these features with its base package.

Oh, well. It's the only thing that I am not happy about but I'm willing to overlook it because the car kicks ass.

[NWG35]

Seemed/Seems odd to me as well, I miss several of the features my IS300 has, the auto-leveling headlights is a big one. Xeon's are so bright, and already people think that you have your brights on half the time, that it's nice to have the leveler to auto-point them on the road, not to mention have them raise up under hard braking conditions when you see a deer in the road at night - nice to be able to see where you are going