skunkworks

This may be the wrong sub-forum, but I’m more comfortable in the Vintage Forum and thought I would ask here first:

I don’t drive my s2k very often during the extreme black of night, but I did recently. It was on a dark twisty road in the Rocky Mtn. National Park. The ride was a disturbing experience for me because of the s2k’s lighting system. Even though there is light in abundance immediately in front of you, there’s a sharp upper cutoff in visibility on the low beams that it mandated a 35 – 40 MPH maximum speed. It was all I could do to comfortably drive using my low beams. Using the high beams seemed okay until frequent approaching traffic mandated the use of the lower beam.

My s2k is a low mileage accident free vehicle and the suspension remains unaltered from factory stock. I have a Honda Pilot with a different lighting system (halogen) and an Audi S6 (HID Xenon) which both do a much better because they emit some stray lighting that helps with extended night vision.

Have you noticed the same? And if so, what have you done you done to correct it without interfering with oncoming traffic?

gary

dlq04

Yes, I always hated the sharp cut-off of the S2000 headlights. I can read street signs better with my 50-year old MG headlights.

Kyras

It's gotten so that I don't like driving in the dark for any longish distance at all, with any vehicle. If I'm on a multi lane California freeway it's okay but no where else. When did that step into codgerdom happen?

ralper

I have noticed the sharp cutoff of the headlights but I don't so much mind it. Around here there really aren't too many places to drive where it gets that dark. There's very little on coming traffic where it does so I can use my high beams.

Ryuu

I wear my old shooting yellow glasses at night... sorta get use to the cut off and look around it.. but on dark nights.. yea.. it can get defined..

around here.. it fits right under my local fog bank so.. I like the low beam height, since we don't have fog lamps...

Matt_in_VA

I often wish that the head lights on the S (both low beams and high beams, especially the latter) where as GOOD as the head lights on our 2008 Honda Fit.

Scooterboy

I dislike driving at night. I don't like the cut-off of the HID. I do like the replacement high beam bulbs I ordered from England!!

boltonblue

I love the sharp cut off. I just hate the high beams.
My MB's have a b-ixenon setup. High beams are like daylight.

Chuck S

Sharp low beam "cut off" is mandatory in some jurisdictions. My old US-spec Triumphs, Alfas, and MGs had sealed beams which didn't do this but the aftermarket non-sealed halogen units (technically not legal) typically had the cutoff. Had to be careful with the aftermarket halogen assemblies as many were shipped to the US set for driving on the left side of the road.

I wasn't impressed with the "brights" on my new-to-me '06. After a struggle with getting my fairly small hands into recesses designed for children I was able to fit "xenon" Sylvanias. The light is whiter with a bit more range. Just did it last week.

The best high beams I ever had only fit the dual headlight cars (think 1960s muscle cars). A pair of GE 13.7v 5" aircraft landing lights do wonders on back roads and to remind other drivers to dim theirs. These draw lots of amps, though.Increasingly hard to find since most small planes went to 24v systems decades ago.

-- Chuck

Ryuu

ages ago.. I had a 4x4.. I used airplane landing lights as my off road lamps.. had like 3 pair across the top.. worked great... we didn't have many selections from for fog an driving lamps back then...