Posted on 02/19/2024 8:56:17 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
“LED headlights have an insurmountable problem in that the light-emitting surface is much too large to be focused by any lens.”
The larger light-emitting service could be directed into a narrower beam with a longer-focus lens or reflector. With a reflector the light emitting surface would be aimed back toward the parabolic reflector.
Remember the large searchlights used especially during WW2 to illuminate enemy planes? Very narrow, intense beam produced by an electric arc.
Larger-diameter headlights used in older cars have become un-stylish, so we have the small headlights whose beams can’t be properly constrained.
Today’s LED headlights are dangerous and I’m surprised that the designs being used are allowed.
As an aside, the filament in incandescent headlight is oriented horizontally which allows good vertical constraint of the beam.
Every street bike (and/or car intended for “spirited” driving) I ever bought got Osram (German) headlight bulbs as soon as I could find a suitable model.
I thought the “hands-free” option was meant for something else! Er, never mind...!
Yep. What else could you possibly need it for? LOL! I HATE those stupid commercials where everyone in the vehicle is clapping...to their DEATHS, LOL!
I am just shaking my head in miserable humor at all this!
One of the guys in my office drives a BMW hybrid. Recently one of his headlights got a crack in it. He was quoted by the local BMW dealership $4200 to replace it.
I told him “and that is why I do not drive a BMW”
Toyota for me.
I was driving home last week. One of these was coming at me, I thought they had their high beams on because of the two lights on each side. Which was blinding me. So, I flashed my brights at him. He then blasted me with THREE headlights on each side.
LED headlights are already a ridiculous $500 or so to replace. I wonder what exorbitant price these carry?
Google tells me....
72% of BMW’s are leased. Which makes sense to me. About the time your beemer is due to crash into a wallet draining money pit of repairs.... the lease is up. Goodbye old beemer, hello new one.
Had to turn off the lane mitigation on the wife’s Honda. It would slam on the brakes in traffic if someone came into our lane, even when said lane change wasn’t an issue. People behind us would be like “What the hell are you doing?”
Yeah, that would work, so why don't they do it? Back to regulators who don't understand what they're regulation, I suppose.
Yes, my older brother leases his BMW.
Typically gets a new one every four years.
The guy in my office bought this one. It was a lease turn in. I told him he would have been better off buying a brand new Toyota Camry.
That was a feature of the Citroën deux chevaux from 90 years ago. I remember 'em well, from living in Cambridge (MA) in my college days. Wouldn't mind having one today.
I think most Mercedes are also leased. I briefly considered buying an older Mercedes SL550. I was warned by several people that the maintenance costs are huge.
I also considered BMW 435 hard top convertibles. Same story as the Mercedes.
Now I am considering either a Infinty Q60 or a Lexus IS350C. These are both naturally aspirated V6 hard top convertibles. Both were designed to compete with the BMW 235-335-435 hard top convertibles.
Just something to drive other than my 2012 Tacoma.
IF you’re going to buy a BMW, new or used, buy the extended warranty.
I’ll never forget the story of Doug Demuro. He bought a used Range Rover. Idiot? Nope. Smart Youtuber who chronicled his experience.
He paid $3900 for the warranty. Which paid off.
In fact, DeMuro’s Range Rover has had so many issues that CarMax has paid out over $15,000 in warranty repairs, a figure significantly more than what the car is even worth.
https://www.carscoops.com/2017/04/this-range-rovers-39k-extended-warranty/
Otherwise, normal headlights are perfectly fine for moving through the dark.
Lots of people buy LED bulbs without realizing that the bulb length is different from the original length and this changes where the light is thrown.
With LEDs, you’d think you could put a light bar on the lower edge of the bumper.
I can still drive at night,but meeting a car with such headlights is certainly hazardous. It’s hard to tell whether or not they are driving on high beams, so I usually just flash my headlights. I do have a choice of two different ways home at night, so will usually pick the one with the least traffic.
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