Arty101

Does the 2013 ES with HIDs have auto self leveling? With most other HIDs, I've noticed that the lights actually do sort of a self check and goes up and down when you turn them on. Also on hills, the lights will adjust according to the approach and grade. Mines do neither. Is this what others are experiencing? I heard earlier Acura TL with HIDs didn't either because they didn't have self leveling on their lights and wondering if the new ES is similar.

Art

SW17LS

The ES does indeed have self leveling.

uicandrew

But they do not have the swiveling that used to be in the2012 models, unfortunately.

KennyLexus

My '11 had the self-leveling and swivel HID...I will miss them. They really worked as advertised.

Arty101

I know they say the HIDs are self leveling, but I don't see it. On start-up, there's no up/down check. Stopped on the crest of a hill, the lights don't lower, nor raise at the bottom of a hill. Humm Is it just me, or am I missing something?

lemon397

i tested and found the same. 2013 ES does not have them but the HID LEDs look awesome.

Dave Mac

I checked mine as well and don't see it lilke I do on my son's GS or previous Lexus. And I didn't really even find anything that said they are self-leveling on all the ES's with HID's.

Dave Mac.

DASMan

According to the Lexus website where it describes the individual options it states:

These headlamps provide illumination up to three times that of conventional halogen headlamps while reducing power consumption by roughly 30 percent. They also feature auto-leveling that automatically adjusts the angle of the headlamps to help reduce glare to oncoming drivers.

Maybe it warrants a call into Lexus to see what's up

Arty101

Yep, that's what the self leveling is suppose to do. I don't see the ES adjusting and don't expect Lexus to say anything different other than that's how it works.

Churmsk

I will be interested to see the response. I too have not noticed any self levelling on start up and am constantly being flashed by other drivers on country roads because they believe that my high beams are on. I`m wondering if they are aimed too high or if the LED lights confuse them.

uicandrew

Ah country roads. Do you have the UL? I love the ambient lighting in the UL esp with country roads where there's no street lamp.

I haven't gotten flashed by other drivers. Do you have the automatic high beam feature? If you're in a place with hilly country roads, the dips may throw the auto high beams off.

Dave Mac

Yes, country roads can be interesting but I have found (not as much in recent years) that a lot of drivers flash you just because they see the brighter lights not because they are being bothered by them - kind of a learning curve thing.

Dave Mac

KennyLexus

I think you're right, Dave Mac. I got flashed often on the highway when I had my '11 ES350. My HiDs were so bright that I didn't have to use my high beams on dark highways. I'm driving my other car with regular highlights and the difference is night and day...pardon the pun

ElliotB

I don't think I notice any difference in brightness from the 11 ES350 to the ES300h. Both illuminate the road pretty much the same (with HIDs). I find both illuminated the road slightly farther on the right than on the left which is a good idea. I suspect Lexus adjusted the lights to illuminate a bit more on the left and right sides to make up for the lack of movement in the '13s.

Arty101

How does the UL package with HIDs and ambient lights differ from the regular HIDs? I thought ambient lighting affected only the interior.