In the dark

[Busterboo]

Christmas - relatives - invitations - journeys - unlit sections of A roads - dark B roads … Is it only me or is the E89 not very good in the dark?

My dipped xenons, adjusted to maximum legal height, throw a rectangle of good light from wide left to wide right. Their 'reach', however, is limited by their height off the ground, of course. So, actually, they're just not good enough.

Is this other people's experience or am I asking too much of the car?

 

[Smartbear]

Christmas - relatives - invitations - journeys - unlit sections of A roads - dark B roads … Is it only me or is the E89 not very good in the dark?

My dipped xenons, adjusted to maximum legal height, throw a rectangle of good light from wide left to wide right. Their 'reach', however, is limited by their height off the ground, of course. So, actually, they're just not good enough.

Is this other people's experience or am I asking too much of the car?

After owning a 3.0si e85 with halogen powered lights (equivalent to a couple of candles) i find my e89 fantastic in the dark with very bright light and a better spread :?
Rob

 

[buzyg]

Needs a few more carrots.

 

[flybobbie]

Because of the narrow frequency of the light and the shutter design, there is a sharp cut off of light.
Not the gradual fade out of halogens with lens on the front.
Progress.

 

[Lazza]

Headlight height isn’t much different to most other normal cars.
I blame it on the cut-off shape. The halogen headlights on my ‘01 MX5 aren’t as bright but it’s easier to drive at night because the cut-off isn’t as sharp so the “dark” area above the lit area isn’t as dark.

 

[mcbutler]

How old are your lamps, they fade over time

 

[Vonlipvig]

I find the dipped lights fine. Problem I have is everyone coming towards me with their lights adjusted as high as possible so they can see but blind oncoming traffic. Not saying that's your approach OP but it makes driving at night almost impossible for me atm

 

[flybobbie]

Also the light is so bright the eye accommodates to the area just in front of the car, the darkness ahead is seen much darker.

 

[flybobbie]

Probably blame EU, in a process to make things simpler, less red tape, regulations seem to be to just declare they meet a standard. Then anything seems to go, bit like the traffic light industry i was in. Stuff no longer tested at the BSI.

 

[flybobbie]

Headlight height isn’t much different to most other normal cars.
I blame it on the cut-off shape. The halogen headlights on my ‘01 MX5 aren’t as bright but it’s easier to drive at night because the cut-off isn’t as sharp so the “dark” area above the lit area isn’t as dark.

I have a Berlingo also and that is a lot easier to drive at night due to the spread of the halogens.
And seated higher up.

 

[Busterboo]

Because of the narrow frequency of the light and the shutter design, there is a sharp cut off of light.
Not the gradual fade out of halogens with lens on the front.
Progress.

I didn't know this.

 

[Busterboo]

How old are your lamps, they fade over time

I can't know, but it's a good point. That said, where they shine is clear enough.

 

[Busterboo]

Also the light is so bright the eye accommodates to the area just in front of the car, the darkness ahead is seen much darker.

That's certainly true. Beyond the cut-off can be black.

 

[Busterboo]

… Problem I have is everyone coming towards me with their lights adjusted as high as possible so they can see but blind oncoming traffic. Not saying that's your approach OP but it makes driving at night almost impossible for me atm

I experience the same, especially from SUVs. And we sit low in our E89s, of course.

(My lights are "adjusted to maximum legal height".)

 

[Busterboo]

The halogen headlights on my ‘01 MX5 aren’t as bright but it’s easier to drive at night because the cut-off isn’t as sharp so the “dark” area above the lit area isn’t as dark.

My 'best' headlights were big halogens on a Jaguar XJ8. They illuminated the road 'generously' - but without annoying oncoming drivers - and made night driving a pleasure.

 

[Vonlipvig]

I experience the same, especially from SUVs. And we sit low in our E89s, of course.

(My lights are "adjusted to maximum legal height".)

Oh sitting low is certainly part of it. And difference between legal and possible is why I wasn't tarring you with that same brush as you had made that distinction initially

 

[djstan]

I don't have a problem with them :scratchhead:

I drive on a mixture of city roads and rural darker-than-dark roads and never have much of an issue. My headlights are the directional ones that swivel as you steer.

 

[tintoverano]

I find the light spread short, compared to what I drove before using Xenon

some switched to this https://www.philips.com.au/c-p/85415XV2S1/xenon-x-tremevision-gen2-headlight-bulb and had better experience, I'm stil debating with myself

 

[Busterboo]

I find the light spread short, compared to what I drove before using Xenon

some switched to this https://www.philips.com.au/c-p/85415XV2S1/xenon-x-tremevision-gen2-headlight-bulb and had better experience, I'm stil debating with myself

Look excellent. How much are they?

 

[Lazza]

Headlight height isn’t much different to most other normal cars.
I blame it on the cut-off shape. The halogen headlights on my ‘01 MX5 aren’t as bright but it’s easier to drive at night because the cut-off isn’t as sharp so the “dark” area above the lit area isn’t as dark.

I have a Berlingo also and that is a lot easier to drive at night due to the spread of the halogens.
And seated higher up.

My MX5 is much lower than my Z4 but night visibility is better. I really don’t think seating position makes that much difference.