General > General Technical Chat
Insane overengineering of a car headlight
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andy2000:

--- Quote from: james_s on February 18, 2022, 05:25:03 am ---
I'm betting they were not aimed properly. Headlamp aiming is actually fairly critical, especially the ones that have that nice sharp cutoff, the dealer is supposed to set up and aim the lights but I think it's rare that they do.

--- End quote ---

It's certainly possible they weren't aimed properly, or something else was wrong, but it was a nearly new car.  I mentioned it as an example of why some people might have a poor opinion of sharp cutoff HID headlights.  If aiming is that critical, then I'm wiling to bet there are a LOT of these cars on the road with dangerously ineffective lights. 

If the headlights are so bright they need an ultra sharp cutoff to avoid blinding other drivers, then I'd rather have slightly dimmer lights with a wider field of view.  I found that with my eyes adjusted to the extremely bright light immediately in front, it made seeing anything in the shadows even harder. 

For the record, I have driver other cars with HID headlights without issue.  I can see how the lights in this Dodge might have seemed great on a test drive since they were very bright, but in actual traffic they were sorely inadequate.
DavidAlfa:
Already thought before entering "German for sure, Merc or BMW".
Wasn't wrong! :-DD
A friend has a 2006 BMW and even the battery must be coded in the ecu (Well, just a "Reset battery" option, but must be done using a diagnostic cable), the damn thing notices the change in the battery capacity!
TheWelly888:
I hate changing headlight bulbs in the cold dark and wet, fiddling with sharp pieces of stamped steel. My next car will have LED headlights!
Monkeh:

--- Quote from: tom66 on February 18, 2022, 02:00:01 pm ---
--- Quote from: G7PSK on February 18, 2022, 12:44:27 pm ---All the MOT stations I have been to have always adjusted the head lights if required rather than fail the vehicle they have also replaced bulbs for me as well, these often fail when they bump the vehicle ont the brake testers.

--- End quote ---

This is actually prohibited under the terms of the MOT - you're not allowed to remove anything once under test.

--- End quote ---

Indeed, but most will deal with it smoothly - mine polished the headlights on my old car mid-test after failing them, so they could immediately retest. It took 30 seconds or so to get them to a passing standard on a 15 year old car.


--- Quote from: DavidAlfa on February 18, 2022, 04:20:10 pm ---Already thought before entering "German for sure, Merc or BMW".
Wasn't wrong! :-DD
A friend has a 2006 BMW and even the battery must be coded in the ecu (Well, just a "Reset battery" option, but must be done using a diagnostic cable), the damn thing notices the change in the battery capacity!

--- End quote ---

That's because the damn thing doesn't float the battery but charges it only occasionally to save you a dribble of fuel (and get you to replace your battery more regularly.. at one of their dealers, preferably).
coppice:

--- Quote from: TheWelly888 on February 18, 2022, 05:00:46 pm ---I hate changing headlight bulbs in the cold dark and wet, fiddling with sharp pieces of stamped steel. My next car will have LED headlights!

--- End quote ---
What makes them real fun to change is when you have a model that requires replacement of the bulbs though the mud encrusted wheel arch.
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