My car has those new headlights that are incredibly bright. So bright that, I would guess, 1 out of every 10 drivers I pass by flash me, to tell me to turn off my brights. My headlights are called "High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps" and "Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)." What does that mean?
Well Lexus defines "High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps" as;
Headlamps that provide illumination three times that of conventional halogen headlamps while power consumption is reduced by roughly 30 percent. They also feature auto-leveling that automatically adjusts the angle of the headlamps to help reduce glare to oncoming drivers.
Lexus defines "Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)" as;
The Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) helps illuminate more of the road in a turn. In a left-hand turn, the left headlamp will pivot up to 15 degrees (the right-hand headlamp remains pointed straight ahead) and in a right-hand turn, the right headlamp will pivot up to 5 degrees (the left-hand headlamp remains pointed straight ahead).
(1) I love that it lights up more of the road, really good stuff.
(2) I don't like getting flashed by other drivers.
(3) The auto-leveling feature light indicator comes on too often, even thought Lexus tells me to ignore it, it still bothers me.
So next time you pass a car with bright lights, don't assume it is the drivers fault. It is just the car. Oh and when I bright you back after you bright me, I am sorry.


Comments
Barry,
Don't bright anyone!
With you car (and based on info. regarding the gang that goes around brighting you so that you can bright back..then they follow you home...), you might get hurt ;)
Posted by: Judah | October 23, 2006 11:12 AM
Yea, I heard stuff about that.
But more info on HID at http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060610/news_lz1dd10click.html
Posted by: Barry Schwartz | October 23, 2006 11:15 AM
Barry - I have the same problem with my X5 - especially since it is up higher and right in line with other driver's eyes...
Oh well...
Posted by: skore | October 23, 2006 12:27 PM
my car has hid's too.. and it's annoying when people flash me too. :( hang in there :) //g
Posted by: gage | October 23, 2006 7:10 PM
I dont have headlights...
Posted by: Adam | October 24, 2006 3:02 PM
Aim you lights down a little to save oncoming traffic the blinding light. It's simple to do.
Posted by: Dave | June 11, 2007 2:52 PM
Um, simple? So how do I do that?
Posted by: Barry Schwartz | June 11, 2007 3:33 PM
I'm old-school, but it used to be done with some screws on the headlight-mounting-bracket-housing assembly-thingie - and it's accessed from under the hood - probably can't get to it without pulling the engine first ;)
Posted by: dlperry | June 29, 2007 6:27 AM
Aim your headlights down a little bit. Its not the cars fault, its yours.
Posted by: jen | August 13, 2007 1:02 AM