I don't have any experience driving other cars with HID lights, so I don't have any thing to compare to except the old fashion ones. The S2000 lights have a really sharp cut-off stair step pattern that I frankly don't like. They do a wonderful job of lighting up the side of the road - which, here in MI with serious deer dangers, means a lot. And clearly they do project out further than the old type. I think they are crappy for reading street signs because of the sharp cut-off. The HID lights combined with the S2000 stiff suspension can really upset people you are over taking (ie, they think you are a cop flashing) or people coming at you (ie, they think you are flashing the high beams at them). All that aside, I love the car but I do most of my driving in the daytime.

 

First of, I love the headlight of my S. It can brighten up 5 lanes road, and 3 SUV lenght in the front easily.

The design of the light is that the driver side aim lower than the right side, this helps the car that coming from other direction(and you!), espacially in 2 lanes road. Other advantage of this design is that it doesn't reflect the rain drop in front of the car back to the driver's eyes while driving in the rain or, worst case, in the heavy rain at night! Have you ever notice the rain drops when you try to see the road in the rain?, verry dangerous!, let alone the foggy morning(and that's why fog lights are located at very bottom).

I don't worry much about the signs. If I don't know where I'm going, I should drive slower to figure out the way. Or, if I'm doing the spirit drive, I shouldn't care much about speed sign anyway .

All in all, I prefer the light that has a wider and further pattern than the narrower and higher pattern. More useful ...., of cause, in my opinion.

 

This happens with the S2000 also. When accelerating hard and another car is coming towards me, I usually get flashed with their high beams due to the headlights shining higher on the S.

Later
Drew

 

Really depends on the road surface, if it's smooth the lights are awesome for width and distance. Once the road gets bumpy, the rocking cutoff is a bit annoying because the contrast between the lit and unlit road is so distinct. You either get use to it or hate it.

 

I really love my hid's! I think they are more than adequate. I don't know why people have a problem using their high beams? That's what they are there for, use them if you need them. I even put hyper white xenon bulbs in my high beams and now they really light up the night!

 

You can always add a set of driving lights to compensate for the sharp cut off.

 

S2000 headlights do about as good a job as possible IMO.

 

I agree. They are the best ones I've ever seen and I've even heard people say that reviews have rated them better than any other setup out there regardless of price. The cutoff seems perfect to me. I drive every night in mine and have yet to need the high beams, even on poorly lit back roads.

 

the reason why the you get that sharp cut off is because our low beams are a projector style head lamp. pretty much all cars that have projectors headlights have the exact same cut off. i.e. audi A4 A6, Bmw X5, 3 series, 350z ect.

now if you want that kind of fading out towards the top type if beam you need to get the reflector type headlights. i.e. lexus IS, GS, ES

it's kind of difficult to explain why they preform differently but it's mostly just how the headlights are designed.

projectors have a very WIDE beam pattern but the only drawback is that pesky cutoff point.

with reflector headlights, you don't get that cut off but you get that fading towards the top that everyone is use to. the only draw back is that the beam pattern isn't as wide.

but to each has it's own and i personaly love my the HID's on my car.

sorry if it sounds confusing, i'll try to find a link about it when i have a chance.

 

Wow, and here I thought I liked the way they are and quite enjoy driving it at night.