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Sun 28 Jan 2018 19:16

Any - car headlights - scot22

Where is the best place to get unbiased information about the quality of a car's headlights ?

I have read critcism of the length and width of illumination with some car headlights but wondered how much is purely subjective.

Am I correct in assuming that there must be minimum standards required to ensure that they do at least a satisfactory job ? Seems to me somewhere were regulation is needed.

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Sun 28 Jan 2018 20:59

Any - car headlights - Ian_SW

I think there is a minimum standard, but it's down at the level you'd get from a 1980s Sierra so any modern car would easily exceed it.

I don't think I've driven a modern car with truly bad headlights in the last 15 years or so. The Hyundai i40 is supposed to be really bad, but I didn't really find them that bad when I've had them as hire cars a couple of times, though the shape did seem to attract dirt on the lenses more than average.

The main difference I notice is lenses getting dirty which seems to affect the "projector" type headlights far more than the old reflector type. My Octavia has headlight washers which I thought were a bit of a gimmick when I bought the car 5 years ago, but I'd go out of my way to select a car with headlight washers when I come to replace it after seeing what difference they make. When I drive other cars now, I end up cleaning the headlights every time I stop on longer journeys in winter.

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Sun 28 Jan 2018 21:02

Any - car headlights - badbusdriver

Not really sure where you could find out that sort of info about a new car, but i find it hard to imagine these days you could find a new car with very poor headlights. On a used car, it is quite possible that the bulbs in the headlights are not going to be original, so even if you could find a relevant database including older cars, it may not be of any use. You do, on occasion, get aftermarket bulb reviews. If that is what you are after, then check out this test from autexpress magazine;

www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/76760/best...t

Have to say though, i have driven plenty of cars, vans and buses over the years, and the only instance where i found a vehicles headlights really really poor was a neoplan skyliner bus. Most of the drivers, including myself, used the front foglights as well, especially when on unlit roads, because of how poor the headlights were (and yes, i know that legally this was and is a no no!).

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Sun 28 Jan 2018 21:22

Any - car headlights - gordonbennet

I prefer the beam patterns of older vehicles where the pattern was fairly flat across the top.

The more recent designs where the pattern kicks up sharply to the left can mean you have to keep the beams fairly low, so almost nothing light wise in front of you but enough light cast up the bank to the left to nearly set it alight.

My last German lorry was particularly bad for this, no snipers could hide in trees to the left so silly was the upkick, also my current Landcruiser and i have had to fit Osram brighter bulbs to make night driving safe, something i didn't have to do with the previous model Landcruisers i owned with more or less flat patterns.

I also dislike modern sharply cut off beams, where the might inside the beam is brighter than old designs, but so sharp is the cut off that anything outside the pattern might as well be in an impenetrable black fog, older designs might have been duller but with a bit of light scatter you weren't blinded to what was outside the beam by your own light.

I think this is something you have to experience and decide on for yourself, some people like the new xenon lights with the brightest beams ever, but that only exacerbates the light to shadow problem imo.

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Sun 28 Jan 2018 21:31

Any - car headlights - RT

I prefer the beam patterns of older vehicles where the pattern was fairly flat across the top.

The more recent designs where the pattern kicks up sharply to the left can mean you have to keep the beams fairly low, so almost nothing light wise in front of you but enough light cast up the bank to the left to nearly set it alight.

My last German lorry was particularly bad for this, no snipers could hide in trees to the left so silly was the upkick, also my current Landcruiser and i have had to fit Osram brighter bulbs to make night driving safe, something i didn't have to do with the previous model Landcruisers i owned with more or less flat patterns.

I also dislike modern sharply cut off beams, where the might inside the beam is brighter than old designs, but so sharp is the cut off that anything outside the pattern might as well be in an impenetrable black fog, older designs might have been duller but with a bit of light scatter you weren't blinded to what was outside the beam by your own light.

I think this is something you have to experience and decide on for yourself, some people like the new xenon lights with the brightest beams ever, but that only exacerbates the light to shadow problem imo.

The cars I've had were the other way round - older models had a nearside "kick-up" going up above horizontal whereas modern cars have a Z-bean with flat tops which never goes above horizontal (assuming correctly aimed)

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Sun 28 Jan 2018 21:35

Any - car headlights - scot22

Thank you for these very helpful and informative posts. Pity reviews don't include a nightdrive. Difficult with standard test drive.

Coincidentally it's an i 30 that had appealed until I read some Hyundai forum negative comments about the headlights.

Think perhaps I need a Rolls !

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 07:39

Any - car headlights - badbusdriver

Thank you for these very helpful and informative posts. Pity reviews don't include a nightdrive. Difficult with standard test drive.

Coincidentally it's an i 30 that had appealed until I read some Hyundai forum negative comments about the headlights.

Think perhaps I need a Rolls !

We had an i30 from 2014-2017 and I can say in all honesty that I never had any issues with the headlights. I live in North East Scotland and outwith towns or villages there are virtually no lit roads. Obviously it's up to you, but coming from personal experience, I really don't feel your concerns are justified.

I hear what you say about the (new?) Rolls and it's laser headlights, was reading about them recently and they sound pretty awesome!.

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 11:01

Any - car headlights - scot22

Much appreciated bbd. I've got a good picture now.

Having owned an i 30 would you buy another one ? Anything you found particularly good or bad ?

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 12:03

Any - car headlights - badbusdriver

Well 1st off, it was a motability car for my wife. So it wasn't a case of us liking the look of the i30, it was more about searching the then current price lists for suitable cars which had little or no advanced deposit. I had been trying to gently nudge my wife towards trying an auto as i felt that due to her leg problems, she would find it easier and more pleasant to drive. But because of what i had read about single and dual clutch automated manuals, i was looking for a traditional torque converter auto (which the i30 had, though i believe the new 'auto' i30's now also use a dual clutch gearbox).

Having said that it was a very pleasant, undemanding and easy to drive car. Nothing to set the pulse racing, or make you turn back for a quick look at the car before going inside!. We test drove the i30 and a seat leon on the same day, and while we both preferred the look of the leon, it seemed a little more noisy and 'tinny', like there wasn't enough sound insulation underneath the car. This, along with the i30's more cushy ride on tyres which were unfashionably high profile, made us choose the i30.

The only design irritation from my point of view was that the centre armrest was way too low in relation to where i had the seat height set. Not really a major problem i think you will agree!. But having come from a vauxhall meriva and with the van i used for my work having perfectly positioned armrest, it irked me more than it perhaps should have!. The seats were very comfy, there was enough space for our family needs, decent sized boot etc.

The only other thing i didn't like, not that it was a flaw or fault, was the height of the seats. You see we had gone through 4 cars with raised seating positions, so i was well used to them by then. Going back to a 'normal' seat height, was a bit of a struggle at times, especially for my Dad with his knackered knee's. He could get into the car fine, but getting out, especially if on to a kerb, caused him problems!.

Having now spent about 9 months with it's replacement, a current style honda jazz, one thing stands out in the i30's favour, and it is something which may well appeal to you. The ability to dim all the dashboard illumination to the bear minimum, including actually blacking out the radio completely (it comes back on automatically if you do anything related to the radio). I have the dashboard lights on the jazz set as low as they will go, but it is still irritatingly bright to my eyes when driving in the dark on unlit country roads. Given that you are asking about headlight performance i am assuming you spend a lot of time driving at nights(?), so this may well be very useful.

Edited by badbusdriver on 29/01/2018 at 12:05

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 12:30

Any - car headlights - scot22

BBD very many thanks for giving such a detailed and helpful response. It was everything I had hoped to know.

I avoid night driving as much as possible. So if it is necessary I want to be sure the headlights are of a decent standard.

Thanks again for taking the time to help.

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Mon 29 Jan 2018 12:34

Any - car headlights - badbusdriver

No probs, happy to help :)

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