drw

Finally picked up my new TL today, and I am happy to report that the car is simply amazing and has exceeded all of my high expectations. I can't tell you how many comments I got when driving it around. Driving at night is so much fun- the brightness/clarity of the interior is incredible- I got in my 01 Accord and I could not believe the difference in the brightness of the interiors of those two cars.

This is my first experience with HID headlights and they too are great- again the brightness and clarity are so striking that they take some getting used to. I am sure this has been discussed before, and may be a dumb question- but those headlights are so incredibly bright, how do they not blind oncoming traffic? Is it the way they are aimed? The cutoff? On my first nighttime drive, I found it hard not to be self-conscious that I might be blinding other drivers.


Thanks!

boltjames

It's two things:

1. The aim.

2. The 'stepped' cutout on the driver's side lamp that cuts the light off just at the windshield level of oncoming traffic.

Congrats on the car! What color combo did you choose?

BJ

BJ

caball88

yes HID's have a charper cutoff and is aimed pretty low. some drivers complain about how low they are aimed because they can't illuminate road signs as well. but nontheless HIDs are great and really help with the clarity of the road at night.

rets

Congratulations.

Enjoy your new ride and this forum.

Stewie

The cutoff of these headlights is amazing. When they shine on my garage wall the cutoff is so sharp its like you cut the light with a knife.

Aquineas

One thing I wish HIDs could do is detect when you're about to go up or down a hill. That's when I find they're the least effective.

drw

I got Silver/Ebony 5AT with Navigation;. Thanks for the explanation!

Road Rage

I have never been blinded by headlights, because I do not stare at them - maybe alien moth-people have in-bred with humans.

The TL system is very much like the S2000's, except in the S2000 I get flashed a lot, because the short wheelbase and the stiff suspension make the ride choppy, and on the upswing, the headlights can bother some folks. But I think some people are a bit too trigger-happy and anal about the whole thing, and get downright agressive in flashing and hinking at those of us with better lights than they have. Too bad - I eat better too.

I had a nitwit cop flash me, I did nothing, then he flashed me again, and I flashed him with the hi-beams real quick (which are yellow halogens on the S2000) just to show him I was being cool. Instead, he does a quick 180 and lights me up! Very hostile encounter. He asked why I had tried to "blind him"?, and I pointed out he had flashed me first, twice. He then said I must have "illegal bulbs" - and I had to pop the hood, and show him the HID ballasts with DOT approval on them - all by the side of the road, cars whizzing by, and he is leaning with his Batman utility belt (or Merman is more like it) a mmilimeter away from scratching my awesome paint job. I finallyt got tired of it and asked if I was free to go, or was he going to charge me with a crime, and if so, what? He grumbled a bit, handed me back my license, and told me to "Watch it". Watch what, do you suppose? Right, the company I keep on the highway. Jeesh, what a marone.

boltjames

Could be the funniest reply of the year. LOL.

BJ

planman_RENAMED

Does #2 above explain why the driver's side headlight has a cutoff that is a few feet short of the passenger side's? Makes sense...and makes me feel better that my headlights aren't misaligned.

-=¤willhaven¤=-

yeah. thats normal

Xzinkz

funny story. i'm driving home from a friends house. I'm on the freeway and it is roughly around 8:45 pm. driving 67mph and following a what seems to be a 94' accord. the accord is driving kinda slow so i pass them off by switching into the outer right lane. as i'm passing the car i see hands waving to me. they don't seem to be praising me on the car. but rather telling me to turn off my highbeams. i'm thinkign "but i don't have my highbeams on". so i just go on my way. i just thought this was something funny to share with you guys/gals.

Aegir

Agreed. I just sprayed coffee all over my desk!

DopeTL04

Best color combo available...congrats!!

special e. dition

.. I agree..it started in 99.. nice to see the good ideas stick around!

SouthernBoy

To Aquineas;

Use your fog lights.. that will eliminate the "when you're about to go up or down a hill" problem.


To drw;

Don't feel a bit quilty. If the added lighting keeps you from hitting a deer on a country road, you'll say to yourself, "screw what other drivers think.. I just saved my car and maybe my ass".

lstepnio

I was suprised the lights aren't auto/manual-leveling.

JBM

Does anyone know if the 05 will have auto or manual leveling headlights? I never thought that this was important. But my A4 has it and it is quite helpful when going up and down hills. Actually, for a while, I thought these were required with HID headlights because of the brightness.

corey415

auto leveling hids are required by law in europe, but not here in the US.