2023 Yaris Cross: EU beam deflectors or computer changes it?

[Tomasz M]

Hi

 

Can anyone confirm if 2023 Cross (LED lights) still requires beam deflectors (Eurolites) for driving in EU or is the beam profile taken care of by the computer?

I asked at the dealership but the guy I spoke to wasn't too sure (looked surprised when I said it's a legal requirement), then said it's all automatic and no need to do anything, the computer will take care of this (based on GPS I presume). Goes without saying, I'm not very confident about his response, so ideally I'd be looking for confirmation from someone that has 2023 Yaris Cross and drove to Europe - had a chance to test it out.

 

Thanks in advance, Tomasz

[TonyHSD]

The easiest way to check your lights pattern is to park against a wall at around 5-6 metres distance at night and look of your headlights projection onto the wall is a straight line or angled. If a straight line then no need to worry about any stickers. If angled then you may want to buy some and have them with you, no need to attach. Also check your headlights plastic covers ( glass) if there are tiny dots in the middle, these are to help you attach the stickers, if no dots and straight lines just enjoy your trip and don’t worry about the lights. This about gps and auto adjustment sounds a bit like a myth to me, but with technology anything is possible. 👍

[bathtub tom]

I know some LED headlights will change their beam pattern by selective operation of some LEDs when oncoming lights are detected. I don't know if this applies to Yarisssssss.

TonyHSD is correct that if the top of the beam is a straight line then no correction is necessary.

[Tomasz M]

I'll go out tonight, do some tests and bring back pics to share here. There's few questions in my mind that I need to check out, to understand what/why. None of that is covered in user manual.

[SinglePointSafety]

Having just been to the EU, I can confirm that there are no indications from the car that it even recognises that it's now in a LHD country, let alone that it does anything about changing the headlight alignment. However, the beam pattern is very flat (I can see that when I drive into my garage) and I suspect that there's no need to fit any beam masking - I certainly didn't, and my driving over there included several tunnels, some of them a few km long so the lights did indeed come on - no-one flashed me.

Two other cars I own(ed), both VW, recognise the change of country: one of them offered to change the beam alignment, the other left it up to the driver - but it was an easy few-step process on the infotainment system. Neighbour's Skoda just does it automatically, after telling the driver about country change

Of course, the clock in the Yaris doesn't register the one hour shift....

[Cyker]

12 hours ago, Tomasz M said:

Hi

 

Can anyone confirm if 2023 Cross (LED lights) still requires beam deflectors (Eurolites) for driving in EU or is the beam profile taken care of by the computer?

I asked at the dealership but the guy I spoke to wasn't too sure (looked surprised when I said it's a legal requirement), then said it's all automatic and no need to do anything, the computer will take care of this (based on GPS I presume). Goes without saying, I'm not very confident about his response, so ideally I'd be looking for confirmation from someone that has 2023 Yaris Cross and drove to Europe - had a chance to test it out.

 

Thanks in advance, Tomasz

Ugh this is the sort of thing that gives them a bad reputation!

The 'computer' doesn't do jack with the lights; I don't think it even knows where it is  

The LEDs in the Yaris and Yarix are projector-style and have a flat cutoff when dipped, so don't need 'beam deflectors'.

The beam deflectors are to block light shining high on the left side of the vehicle, which you get with normal bulbs, but with projector-types the beam pattern is flat so you're fine.

 

[Tomasz M]

Thank you all for very useful answers!

Yes, confusion never helps. I found this https://mag.toyota.co.uk/toyota-car-safety-through-convenience/ and responses by Toyota UK were quite useful:

Quote

All of our new cars with LED headlights have a flat beam pattern so will not need deflectors when driving in Europe. Older models have a ‘kick up’ on the left which would head directly into the view of oncoming drivers. [...] Your nearest Toyota Centre will be able to tell you if the left of your beam has kick-up.

 

That said, nothing beats actual verification - high beam top, low (dipped) bottom.

I think it is safe to say there is no kick-up so no stickers needed. Great news, they can be proper pain to remove cleanly 🙂

[YarisHybrid2016]

Flat with the projectors on the Cross. Best headlights ever!