Adaptive xenon headlights

[jackbadger]

I’ve just spent the last 4 days driving a car with ‘adaptive’ bi-xenon
headlights. When I first read about these I couldn’t help thinking it was
a bit of a gimmick – they turn according to steering angle and speed.
Although very similar in concept to the original Citroen DS system of 40
years ago, they differ slightly in that there’s no mechanical connection,
they automatically adjust for height, and are speed dependant.
Having never driven a DS (something I must do before I die!), I can’t tell
you how effective they were then (I heard they were deemed to be illegal in
Australia so were de-activated here, true?), but these new ones are nothing
short of incredible! I never had the chance to get the car out onto a dark
highway but just around where I live involves a narrow & winding climb up
a plateau, and their ability to litterally see around bends without
blinding oncoming drivers even had my totally non-car wife commenting from
the passenger seat!
Damn shame they cost $3000 though (on a BMW X3 anyway).

[Phil]

They weren't illegal here. They may have been disconnected in other
countries but they did and still do work with the steering here.

[Mot Adv-NSW]

Not quite the same, but take a look here, ADR compliant and more suited to
4X4's perhaps:
http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=2139

More info on lighting at the Daniel Stern (one word) website.

J.

--
Buy a hazard warning triangle for your vehicle for use at crash scenes (to
prevent secondary) and breakdowns, store it in the boot. I suggest Hella
Part Number 2901, or BMW Spare Part Number 7160 1095 457. Race & Rally of
Greenacre in Sydney have an ECE triangle for $23 with slightly reduced wind
stability, a worthwhile budget option! All are superior to Australian
Standard 3790 and 3790B type.

[Toby Ponsenby]

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:26:29 +1000, Mot Adv-NSW wrote:

> Not quite the same, but take a look here, ADR compliant and more suited to
> 4X4's perhaps:
> http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=2139
>
> More info on lighting at the Daniel Stern (one word) website.
>
> J.

No a bad piece of kit. Maybe.
As always, I have a great deal of difficulty in even thinking about
any of these uber-expensive lighting solutions based solely on
presstitutes re-hashes of media releases - or worse, company publicity
'as seen on web-sites'.

To the best of my knowledge, NOT ONE of the manufacturers of these
devices has or has ever had a demo car with someone employed to
demonstrate lights at night.

"They can't be serious!" Right?


--
Toby.
quidquid latine dictum
sit, altum viditur

[girl-sat]

$3000 something is seriously wrong.
they totally blind oncoming traffic for a few seconds going over rises
other than that,they are very pleasent to pass.
Possibly a good addition to old Volvo's or 4x4's that do allot of snow
driving,low speed yeah...high speed I have my doubts about lights with
their on mind,less things with their own mind the better when going
fast,we know of the troubles with mechanical LSD diffs and the
electronic versons like in the WRX,these can make or brake the car in a
couner,when not expecting their reaction to condition's...more things
to think about,
I can just imagine lights looking in the wrong direction for unkown
reasons.