Headlight illumination
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: NY
Headlight illumination
I drove down a totally dark country road and couldn't see a thing within a couple of feet on either side of my '09 GS 350 with the low beams. Side visibility was only slightly better with the high beams.
The side illumination seems much worse than with any other car I've owned. Is this normal, or is there something wrong?
Thanks for your help.
The side illumination seems much worse than with any other car I've owned. Is this normal, or is there something wrong?
Thanks for your help.
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,154
Likes: 14
From: Toronto
Only thing I can think for you to try next time is to turn AFS off - maybe they are getting adjusted by AFS to peer more to the center of the road when driving straight and in the off position will go more to a neutral state.
Apart from that, there is a bubble level on the headlight adjusters (I believe it's in the manual somewhere), you can check to see if your headlights are aimed badly this way.
Apart from that, there is a bubble level on the headlight adjusters (I believe it's in the manual somewhere), you can check to see if your headlights are aimed badly this way.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 22,608
Likes: 105
From: Waiting for next track day
I had the same problem with my GS350 when I first got it. That was the first thing I noticed. Lexus/Toyota tend to leave the headlight pointed down and in to avoid blinding people in oncoming traffic. I say my safety is more important to me than their comfort. I took mine to the service area at the dealership and had them adjusted higher and out a bit. The first adjustment was overkill then the 2nd adjustment got it perfect. Now my headlights are perfect. Don't worry there is a solution. \
PS dont let the dealership tell you that they cant adjust them from factory specs. Thats BS. There are directions on how to do it yourself but screw that let a Lexus tech do it
PS dont let the dealership tell you that they cant adjust them from factory specs. Thats BS. There are directions on how to do it yourself but screw that let a Lexus tech do it
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 226
Likes: 2
From: CA
I decided to take the path of least resistance. When I took my car in for my 5k oil change, I told the service manager that the low beams setting was so low that it not only negated the idea by Lexus of providing a superior HID lighting system for safer driving, but that I considered it a safety hazard for me the Lexus driver. I asked him what was more important, my ability to see far enough ahead to avoid running into something or the possible inconvenience my beams would impose on other drivers. I also said if Lexus was so concerned about other drivers then why did they bother to install HID low beams in the first place. He thought about it for a second or two and then said he would have the service people readjust the beams. Now I can see were I'm going at speeds exceeding 30 MPH. The difference in beam projection down the road is like night and day compared to the original setup. Now I feel a lot safer driving at night and have good illumination at freeway speeds. Also, noticed an increase in peripheral (side) illumination especially on the passenger (curb) side.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: NY
Thanks folks,
The solution sounds simple enough - now to get the dealer to see that it really is a safety issue. What were they thinking at Lexus when they did this? I haven't heard similar complaints with any other brand.
The solution sounds simple enough - now to get the dealer to see that it really is a safety issue. What were they thinking at Lexus when they did this? I haven't heard similar complaints with any other brand.
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I had the same problem with my GS350 when I first got it. That was the first thing I noticed. Lexus/Toyota tend to leave the headlight pointed down and in to avoid blinding people in oncoming traffic. I say my safety is more important to me than their comfort. I took mine to the service area at the dealership and had them adjusted higher and out a bit. The first adjustment was overkill then the 2nd adjustment got it perfect. Now my headlights are perfect. Don't worry there is a solution. \
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,804
Likes: 139
From: MA
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