I get a TSX loaner when I bring in my '03 TL-S for service. There is a set of back (unlighted) roads I can take (lots of twists and turns) that I enjoy zipping thru while going to the dealer. It seems that the TSX's headlights have very little "throw" for lack of a better term.

I have seen several gripes on the TSX boards regarding this, but wanted some opinions from those of us with TL's who have driven TSX'es as well.

Thanks.

 

i have the TSX for more then a year now and the headlights have always worked well. i also have fogs so i'm sure that wouldve helped

on a side note, i had a '03 TL loaner for a few days and IMO the headlights were worse then my TSX. not sure if TL and TL-S have diff headlights?

 

TL-S and TL have the same headlights...

 

I just brought back my loaner TSX after having to get my 00 TL's trans replaced. I noticed, like you, that the distance of the headlights are not as good as the TL's, however, they seem to be "brighter" when you light something up that's close by (ie, the bumper of the car in front of you at a stop light looks brighter with the TSX). Also, the area the TSX's light is much more defined, meaning, there's a very pronounced horizontal line of light. I'm sure that's because of the projector setup, but it's still neat to look at.

If they could design a housing/headlight combo that had the range of the TL's lights, and the definition/clarity of the TSX's lights - I would be the first in line with a check in hand.

 

The 02/03 TL has a headlight system that seems to be derived from a typical halogen system. The HID bulb projects the light via a large reflector lens facing forward. It seems to give a brighter and wider field of view and light dispersion.

The TSX, the 04/05 TL and the 05 RL has a "projector" lens which seems to concentrate the light on to a certain angle of view while driving. More like a "spot" beam to a certain point before the beam disperses. It seems that this is the "wave" of newer cars and an evolution in headlight design following the likes of Mercedes and BMW who had the projectors on for a few years now.

 

it's just you.

 

Correct. It is proven that projectors HIDs provide greater output than reflector based HID. I believe the sharp cutoff required for projector setups makes one believe that the headlights are not as good as a reflector HID.