I do a lot of Twisty Turny Back road driving at night, and have had trouble seeing a safe distance ahead of me, without using the high beams. Especially when going up or down hill, and even more so when on a curve going up or down hill! On a straight road the beams look too low as well. It was delivered new with the low beam adjustment so low that it appeared that there was a dark area from the top of the windshield to about three quarters below, and the remaining quarter lit a short distance ahead of the immediate road in front. Other's who drove my "S" also commented that they couldn't see far enough ahead, and it seemed unsafe. The dealer said that the adjustment was correct according to Honda specs and that this was a characteristic of the car in order to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. When the dealer Slightly raised the low beams so that I had proper visibility, drivers (of course) started flashing me because they thought I was using my high beams. What's Ironic is this. I read the thread on "being flashed", and a majority of you said you were flashed without any adjustment. For the two years I've driven the car, I was never flashed. Until now. I have since had numerous dangerous close calls with drivers jamming an there brakes or slowing to a crawl, once even stopping to get and Scream at me to turn my F@#$IN brights off. And I assure you I don't tailgate, not even close. Now sometimes I even dread driving my "S" at night. THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT!!!

 

On very twisty roads, there is not much you can do except use your high beams. What else will you use them for? I would adjust the low beams back to factory specs.

 

I agree, the low beams look too low and are IMHO almost useless for a HID light.. I'd like it if I could adjust them up slightly, but not enough to blind other drivers...

 

lanbrown
Our other vehicles are a Town and Country LIX, and a Cadillac Fleetwood. And on all the same back roads I drive the "S" both the other vehicle Low beams are more than sufficient. I've gone so far as to line both cars up side by side (before the adjustment ) and clearly saw the "S" low beam was lower by at least 2 inches. I use my High beams when driving conditions call for them, not to over compensate for abnormally LOW, low beams. Even on straight always where low beams on other two vehicles were sufficient, they weren't on my "S"

 

HID is a more focused light then that of conventional bulbs. It is more uniform with less fading at the edges.

 

dundonr
Thanks for the response.
Honda has a wall alignment guide, and would only raise them an inch above specs, Which helped, so that shouldn't be a problem. I am beginning to realize more and more each day, that drivers(some not all) without xenon headlights, just flat out hate them! The few times I've had a Problem were on bumpy roads. When the "S" bounces it gives these overly aggressive drivers the impression that they are being "High Beamed"

 

Lanbrown
I agree with you, but they were still too low. They are still over an inch below the spill of both my other vehicles (after the adjustment) with "conventional bulbs".

 

I see what you are saying; I am just stating the light pattern is different. So it is easier to blind other cars since they will get more light compared to conventional lights.

 

I have owned 3 vehicles with hid's and out of the three the s2000 definitely has the best side coverage and great distance coverage. When I'm on the freeway, I notice that I am lighting up signs way down the freeway. I also light up the sides of the road for everyone around me My BMW also has HID. Overall coverage is nearly the same but the cutoff is not as sharp as the s2000's. However, the lighted area from the BMW is much brighter. That is, the BMW puts more intense light on the lighted area. Like some of you, I get flashed all the time in both of my rides.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lanbrown
[B]I see what you are saying; I am just stating the light pattern is different.