When driving at night, using low beam, the sharp cutoff at the top of the low beam really limits visability ahead. I am wondering if anyone has changed these back to regular headlights and how that would be done.

Thanks,

Neal

 

Have you already tried pointing them a little higher?

 

Go to your dealer, dont screw around trying to adjust then yourself. I had mine adjusted higher, and it made a world of difference. Now when I drive the wife`s Benz with regular lights, I really see the difference.

 

nmtomcat, the factory HID hardly has a sharp cut off line. How long have you had your car ? Maybe the bulb and ballast itself need to be replace but I would still get them adjusted by the dealer according to factory specs before switching out bulb and ballast.
Over time even factory bulbs get warmer to a higher temp and ballast doesn't produce the right amount of power to juice the bulbs either.

 

Thanks. The cutoff line on these is so sharp that I can see virtually nothing past them. This is a 2009 that I've only had since Feb.

 

This is precisely one of the adjustments one needs to make when moving over from halogen to HID. With halogens, there's a gradual fading away of the illumination range. Not so w/ HIDs, it's a sharp cut off! So, while the intensity before the cut off is fantastic, it takes some time getting used to there being an 'end' as opposed to fade out.

Now, having said that, the OEM Lexus alignment of headlights just plain old sux out of the box - did so with all 3 of our Lex (RX, GS and GX). Toyota says it errs on the side of caution... for other drivers it appears...

When checked, our GS was almost at the bottom limits! Wasn't much better on the GX (pitiful halogens I upgraded to HIDs) or RX. So, dig into the owners manual and adjust them upward. When aligned correctly, you'll still have a cutoff but it won't be nearly as dramatic or create that scary feeling when behind the wheel at night. You can also ask your service dept to adjust but usually they'll only put them w/in factory spec unless you bark otherwise.

Good luck

 

My dealer adjusted them as high on the scale as allowed. I only wanted them bumped up, but my sa said I`ll be able to see real well now. And he was right. they must have settled down some what, because at first I was getting the high beams from other drivers. And I thought uh oh, I`m going to have to go back, but lately, no one had flashed. Man at first I could see the other drivers whole family in their car!

 

Have you tried turning on your daytime running lights in conjunction with your HID's? Might help a bit...

 

I made an appointment with the Lexus dealer to have them adjust the headlights. Hopefully, that will help.

 

I can remember how many people thought I had the high beams on with the 300. Those two lights were so close together.

 

I don't know about NM but that's illegal in CA.

The best advice here is to aim them higher. Who cares if you're blinding other drivers? BMW HID's are aimed high from factory and blind the crap out of everyone. Not to mention, those "bro" lifted trucks with HID's and HID fog's driving around.

 

How much is it usually to have the dealer adjust them?

 

The Lexus dealer checked them today, and said they were at center spec. They adjusted them to max spec. I am going to drive it tonight and see how much difference it makes. They didn't charge me anything.

Just got home. The adjustment of the headlights made all the difference in the world!!!

 

told ya!

 

Glad that all work out for you