My S2K has a bit of a quirk regarding its headlights. The headlights turn on even when the switch is in the OFF position.
The only time the lights turn off is when the switch is in the park light position, then only the park lights run. Otherwise, the main lights are on. When running in the OFF position, the cluster is not backlit.

Seems like a previous owner tweaked them to run all the time, at least that's my guess.
Anyone else have experience with this? I think it's safe to assume that this car never had automatic headlights.

 

Are the HID low beams on, or the halogen high beams?
S2000's in some markets/years had daytime running lights (DRLs) where the high beam
would light at roughly 50% brightness when the headlights were off.
Sometimes non-DRL ones were modified when brought into countries that required them -
these mods could be done properly, or by simply wiring the low beams to be on all the time.

 

Hmmm, this may be the case then. Only the HIDs come on, no high beams. There is no intensity/brightness difference between them in the off or on positions.

 

It sounds like your lights are working just like they should, mine is the same
Low beams or halvljus should normally always be on (at least here in Sweden).

 

You should be able to adjust the brightness of the cluster by pressing and holding the + sign on the cluster.

 

Does seem like your car was either owner altered or is wired to comply with local laws.

The USDM '06 and later cars are drive by wire (DBW) and use the high beams, the halogens, not the HIDs, at reduced power as Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). Not sure if it's possible to run HIDs at other than full voltage/brightness. I vaguely recall DRLs don't come on when the engine is started but only if the parking brake is released. Hard to tell from the driver's seat.

Dash illumination always confuses me at first on group drives where we run our headlights and in my case the dash goes blank as I use very low illumination at night. Usually one of the other drivers comes by and presses the button a time or two.

-- Chuck

 

Thanks all and yes as Flanders says, this is a mod for Swedish cars so we have DRL.

 

Chuck: If you just hold the + button the dash will jump to full brightness.

 

I just acquired a US spec 2005 that was imported into Canada in 2011. It seems to have similar characteristics as in this thread, HIDs are on all the time.

I wonder is there a way to turn them off or change them to low intensity high beam?

 

It doesn't have DRLs like the US 06+, UK model and other countries. So no.

In your car, when spinning the stick to turn on the lights, first click is the amber side lights (no lowbeam/highbeam), which will turn on rears as well. Then second click is low-beam HID (d2s bulb). High beam (h1 bulb) is stick pushed forward. That's the only time the high beam is used.