![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Because they don't entirely do so - the dip only in areas where the system has detected it should. I often see cars I know are fitted with such systems drive towards me, I can't see an obvious dipping of the lights but I'm also not blinded by them, so the system must therefore be working...
Brightness/ alignment of new cars/ LEDS head lamps
- Thread starter cu3ed
- Start date
Because they don't entirely do so - the dip only in areas where the system has detected it should. I often see cars I know are fitted with such systems drive towards me, I can't see an obvious dipping of the lights but I'm also not blinded by them, so the system must therefore be working...
They're probably doing it because you are driving towards them in a massive 4x4 with headlights that are much higher up.
I don't get the same problem you do, I wonder what the difference is?
Last edited:
I beg to differ. I've seen a few cars go past in specs that I know have auto headlights but still have the headlights off. People have put the switch back in "Off" instead of leaving it on AUTO and are too stupid to recognise they have no headlights on, often mistaking their reflected DRLs as their headlights.
More likely the switch was moved to off when it went in for a service or tyres or something to stop it blinding everyone in the workshop and the person driving hasn't noticed they altered the control switch.
New cars must now have a headlight system where the default each time you start it is 'Auto', not 'Off'.
You can't leave them in 'Off'.
I did not know that. I assume this means most cars will now have some kind of touch interface for light switches? I'm guessing that's much easier than making a mechanical switch that can be electronically moved back to the auto position.
They can still be dazzling though. What it doesn't account for is the light reflecting off the surroundings or scattering and obscuring things behind. It can be really bad in the wet or mist. When a headlight is dipped it's not scattering at eye level which was the whole point in it.
It can also just not work properly or sensors be faulty. Have fun replacing one of these lights it when that happens
Last edited:
Sorry, I need to make my sarcasm more obvious.
Mine just has buttons where the switch would have been - one of them is 'Off'. The status resets each time you start the car (Perhaps from cold?)
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Apr 2014
- Posts
- 7,421
- Location
- Hampshire
The issue isn't factory-fitted LEDs. By law, anything with an output over 2000 lumens needs auto headlight levelling.
The issue is putting LEDs into halogen projector, or worse - reflector, housings. Beam patterns aren't often correct, and you can end up with light bleed at the edges.
Auto high beam is a little annoying but I wouldn't say it's any worse than people that just forget to turn it off anyway.
Personally I don't have an issue with LEDs/high output headlights in cars. I can see better with them on and I'm not impacted by other road users enough for it to be a problem.
The issue is putting LEDs into halogen projector, or worse - reflector, housings. Beam patterns aren't often correct, and you can end up with light bleed at the edges.
Auto high beam is a little annoying but I wouldn't say it's any worse than people that just forget to turn it off anyway.
Personally I don't have an issue with LEDs/high output headlights in cars. I can see better with them on and I'm not impacted by other road users enough for it to be a problem.
In terms of LEDs, for some reason I seem to find Tesla's the worse of all, even on "dipped" beam the driver's side cluster seems blinding when they are oncoming.
But it's not even just LEDs, so many vehicles have such high fronts because of this SUV fad, even when they are halogen they can be blinding just because of how high up the headlights are and I'm still sitting at car level. It's even worse sat in something like an MX-5.
But it's not even just LEDs, so many vehicles have such high fronts because of this SUV fad, even when they are halogen they can be blinding just because of how high up the headlights are and I'm still sitting at car level. It's even worse sat in something like an MX-5.
Last edited:
For me its definitely new cars on the road, a lot of them with the "split" multi bulb design.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Apr 2014
- Posts
- 7,421
- Location
- Hampshire
Have you tried getting some night time driving glasses, which are filtered and polarised?
If anything (for cars with a thumbwheel adjuster) people have the headlight level set way to low, and I've no idea why.
Maybe they don't like to see where they're going?
One problem I do see a lot is broken adjusters on the suspension arms, which means the beams will either be on the floor or dazzling aircraft, and another is idiots fitting HID kits in non compatible headlamp units, which is a MOT fail and one I take great pleasure in.
Maybe they don't like to see where they're going?
One problem I do see a lot is broken adjusters on the suspension arms, which means the beams will either be on the floor or dazzling aircraft, and another is idiots fitting HID kits in non compatible headlamp units, which is a MOT fail and one I take great pleasure in.
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 17,662
- Location
- Shakespeare’s County
They can still be dazzling though. What it doesn't account for is the light reflecting off the surroundings or scattering and obscuring things behind. It can be really bad in the wet or mist. When a headlight is dipped it's not scattering at eye level which was the whole point in it.
It can also just not work properly or sensors be faulty. Have fun replacing one of these lights it when that happens
The sensors are in the windscreen...
And this somehow makes them immune to going faulty?
Rarely do I drive on main beam at night. It would have to be right out in the sticks to do so. Just drive more slowly and dip the rear view mirror.
I am back on my major beef. Dip switches used to be on the floor. Under your clutch foot. So eminently sensible that I am surprised it went on a stalk.
I am back on my major beef. Dip switches used to be on the floor. Under your clutch foot. So eminently sensible that I am surprised it went on a stalk.
Been noticing it for years as I've had a commute home that is 30 miles of A/B country roads. I wear glasses too so makes it even worse, another pane of glass to starburst off of.
I think the colour temperature of the lights doesn't help. They are so blue. Maybe they should mandate all car bulbs to be a certain temperature so that they are yellower. They're much less harsh. I think modern LED lights and also the ubiquity of SUVs are why more people are noticing it more and more.
I think the colour temperature of the lights doesn't help. They are so blue. Maybe they should mandate all car bulbs to be a certain temperature so that they are yellower. They're much less harsh. I think modern LED lights and also the ubiquity of SUVs are why more people are noticing it more and more.
