interesting article - apparently now IIHS is looking at headlight performance, not just brightness.

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/2016/Th...399f56cd1e033f

 

The new Volvo S80 is supposed to have really impressive headlights. S2000's were great. The HID's in my Lotus are not so great. I have them raised to the legal limit and they just don't go that far down the road.

 

Thanks.

I post this little excerpt to the 3 Series board for a good laugh:

But halogen headlights in the BMW 3 series, the worst-rated ones, were able to illuminate only 128 feet ahead. At that distance, the vehicle couldn't be traveling at more than 35 mph and still have time to stop, according to the study.

 

That sounds about right for halogen. Our Volvo's halogen (low beam) is nothing like HID's.

 

I just threw a set of OPT7 LEDs in my Exige. 14000 lumens on hi/low combo (3500 each). Throws way more light than the OEM bi xenons on the Z4M and brings the look into this century.

 

nice stable, seems like you've got some fun cars to choose from. Is the LED kit as simple as plug and play? Im familiar with HID kits but not so much LEDs. How much did it cost?

 

Hopefully this well help persuade the NHTSA to revise the laws to all the next gen laser headlights from Audi and BMW into the US

 

Pretty much. Theyre sold in various OEM sizes - the 07+ Elise/Exige use H7s. They have huge heat sinks and fans so I cut a hole in the back of the dust covers so they can breathe.

 

Interesting topic to me because just this morning I was thinking that overall across the auto industry that headlights have become a gimmick to sell more units, and so many of them are laughable to look at.

 

With safety requirements and aerodynamics restraints all any modern designer has left is grill and headlight design freedom. Everything really looks the same.. I saw this white sedan today and had (still have) no idea what it is. As a car enthusiast that's sad.