Brightness/ alignment of new cars/ LEDS head lamps
- Thread starter cu3ed
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Soldato
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They don't project straight out at your eye level you donut. There are regulations for beam patterns including the projection height and angle.
Depends what vehicle you're in/on no? An MX5 is going to be different to another SUV which is going to be different to a motorbike. Even if everything is set as per regulations.
Most cars dim the headlight when the indicator is on for that reason I presume
True, but it’d have to be one very very tall car to project out at eye level.
Soldato
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But if the projected light meets regulated beam pattern and height then if anything, an SUV will be better as the beam will be pointed slightly downwards to meet the regulations.
So there will be slight variations, yes, but as per my original point (specifically) SUVs won't be projecting their beams into peoples faces. If this were the case, the problem would be independent of headlamp type and would have been an issue for years.
SUV headlights have been an issue for years, the source of the light being higher on the car makes a big difference. The beam pattern is measured according to the center axis of the beam, not the car, or the average drivers eye level.
The difference now though is that those lights are exceptionally bright compared to what Xenons / halogens were.
The difference now though is that those lights are exceptionally bright compared to what Xenons / halogens were.
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Are they really though?
The move to LED headlights was more about the fact they are more efficient and consume less power, not that they are brighter. I have driven many cars with LED headlights which were not as good as my previous car with Xenon headlights.
I agree with you compared with halogen lights, but then this is surely a good thing as halogen lights were very poor and I think the additional safety provided by having headlights that actually work well is worth it.
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Soldato
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Tearing down an unlit autobahn at night with no cats eyes at 120mph would warrant very bright lights, but not on UK roads please.
Other manufacturers are following suit. I had a car behind me yesterday and it cast a huge shadow around my car, it was like an alien visitation.
Ridiculous.
Other manufacturers are following suit. I had a car behind me yesterday and it cast a huge shadow around my car, it was like an alien visitation.
Ridiculous.
Soldato
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I‘ll bite, hoping it’s the LH bulb that’s correct as both of mine look like that. I do drive an LHD car in an LHD country if that helps…One I've just MOT'd..
Any guesses which headlight bulb has been fitted incorrectly?
It passed it’s Contrôle Technique this time last year with the bulbs fitted this way and I know headlight/beam alignment is part of the CT.
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My "rant" is more with the rear cluster designs nowadays. Indicators that are teeny tiny and have a brake light surronding them, so you can't clearly see the indicator flashing if the brake has been applied. I much prefer the indicator being underneath for example on Audi's with the nice sequential pattern. Dead easy to see it. To be honest the use of indicators in general seems to be getting worse. Oh god... I must be getting old.
Sequential/dynamic/sweeping indicators are purely for bling, they're less visible than a total on-off flash.
Hmm I tend to think the other way. Because of their unique style it is more obvious to me.
Soldato
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I must admit when I 1st drove my new car at night I was worried about the lights. they are fully automatic and can run partially full beam even with on coming traffic.
my vision with them is superb but I was worried they were dazzling other drivers.
however in 6 months I have not been flashed yet and actually it is some sort of wizzardry when you look at the shadow around cars, the system is amazingly accurate and quick to respond.
I guess it's an example where the tech actually works well.
my vision with them is superb but I was worried they were dazzling other drivers.
however in 6 months I have not been flashed yet and actually it is some sort of wizzardry when you look at the shadow around cars, the system is amazingly accurate and quick to respond.
I guess it's an example where the tech actually works well.
I've mixed opinion on this - most cars with this kind of tech do well enough when another vehicle is oncoming, and it can actually work really well when following a car with the additional light to the sides, however especially the Audi variants seem to poorly handle vehicles like pickups and vans and the result is if you are the driver being followed while the central rear view mirror is fine the wing mirrors are lit up like mini suns destroying your night vision... (for a van without the rear view mirror that is a big problem).
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Soldato
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that is an interesting point I never thought about. I followed my wife and she said it was fine.... however she was using her rear view mirror not her off sides and obviously it's not possible for a vehicle I am following to flash me if I am dazzling them so wouldn't know if white van man is struggling
(not all van drivers are speeding nutjobs trying to break the sound barrier in 30mph areas or climb in the boot of my car... so I should not tar them all with that brush and say tough luck, karma is a female dog
)
PS note the smiley at the end. am not being serious.
(not all van drivers are speeding nutjobs trying to break the sound barrier in 30mph areas or climb in the boot of my car... so I should not tar them all with that brush and say tough luck, karma is a female dog
)PS note the smiley at the end. am not being serious.