Headlight Ratings - Only One Performs 'Good' in 82 Cars Beware Base BMW Buyers

fredsf30 · 03-30-2016, 12:49 PM

A good article telling us what we already know about the pathetic BMW base (non-xenon, HID or LED) headlights. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/deskto...ed-improvement

This was actually one of the reasons I sold my Base 2012 328i. I really love the N20 engine, transmission, interior and exterior. However, the headlights and steering wheels were the two main factors for getting a Luxury Line 335i.

2016 midsize cars
Best available headlight system for each model

Good

Toyota Prius v

Acceptable

Audi A3
Honda Accord 4-door
Infiniti Q50
Lexus ES
Lexus IS
Mazda 6
Nissan Maxima
Subaru Outback
(built after Nov. 2015)
Volkswagen CC
Volkswagen Jetta
Volvo S60

Marginal

Acura TLX
Audi A4
BMW 2 series
BMW 3 series
Chrysler 200
Ford Fusion
Lincoln MKZ
Subaru Legacy
Toyota Camry

Poor

Buick Verano
Cadillac ATS
Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet Malibu Limited
(fleet model)
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Nissan Altima
Volkswagen Passat

ji99lypuff · 03-30-2016, 01:05 PM

not surprised at all. Its crazy how they invest all this money into their engines and chasis and tranmissions and then put in 50 year old halogen tech into these cars. Also the halogens are worse than my 1988 ford taurus ones. The geadlights were my only gripe on my 328 as well. Step it up bmw!

mike@x-ph.com · 03-30-2016, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ji99lypuff

not surprised at all. Its crazy how they invest all this money into their engines and chasis and tranmissions and then put in 50 year old halogen tech into these cars. Also the halogens are worse than my 1988 ford taurus ones. The geadlights were my only gripe on my 328 as well. Step it up bmw!

Thats how BMW are able to advertise low prices on tv ads

Polo08816 · 03-30-2016, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Thats how BMW are able to advertise low prices on tv ads

...that's how you get into a $299/month lease...

mike@x-ph.com · 03-30-2016, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

...that's how you get into a $299/month lease...

Except they never have base cars and you end up getting a $450 / month lease

Pauleebe · 03-30-2016, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Except they never have base cars and you end up getting a $450 / month lease

And the leases note in the fine print they require about 4K down.

mike@x-ph.com · 03-30-2016, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwalls90

And the leases note in the fine print they require about 4K down.

true

I remember when BMW had that $299 lease on the 328 going .. .Went to the dealership couldnt find one for less than $499

ji99lypuff · 03-30-2016, 01:58 PM

Thats how they got me in there also

not that i regret it because i thoroughly enjoy driving my car but still a tricky ad nonetheless. Its all car companies now a days that pull that kind of crap. put some xenons standard bmw.

Mauricio Palacios. MD · 03-31-2016, 02:28 AM

Again, but it's only a copy/paste matter... Haha...

It is well known that the HID xenon system (that is not an option anymore in F30 MY 2016) is brighter and better in every way than the LED system. Again, it's all about money. LEDs are easier and cheaper to manufacture than xenons with its rare and dangerous elements, projectors, actuators, leveling and cleaning systems, ballasts (not to mention when the vehicle equipment includes "adaptive" features), etc.

The hid xenon system, in my humble opinion, would score an Acceptable to Good note in this report.

I hope BMW do something about this issue, specially when we have an institution of this kind confirming what we already knew...

Stop playing merchandising games with elements directly involved with our security.

Excellent day...

Kabrich · 03-31-2016, 02:35 AM

Two questions.

1) I have the xenons in my 2013. Have the xenons been tested for distance, as this is apparently where most headlights failed in the test.

2) I know the TSB and other agencies in the USA are way behind on Headlight Standards (and I think I remember reading that another system, maybe laser, was available there). So what type of headlights does BMW, Porsche and Mercedes use in Germany on the Autobahn- and can they be purchased after market in the USA although probably illegal?

zamboni · 03-31-2016, 03:48 AM

The one on Prius was xenon light and it's fair to compare with the halogen light.

Kabrich · 03-31-2016, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zamboni

The one on Prius was xenon light and it's fair to compare with the halogen light.

According to the report the Prius v has LED, not xenon.

The Prius v earns a good rating when equipped with LED lights and high-beam assist. To get those headlights, consumers must purchase the advanced technology package, which is only available on the highest trim level. When equipped with regular halogen lights and without high-beam assist, the Prius v earns a poor rating.

Kabrich · 03-31-2016, 04:30 AM

I feel like that old V8 Vegetable Juice Commercial - where a person hits their head and said "wow....I could have had a V8"....

Just remembered I have a Minolta fL meter and a Minolta Lumens Meter. Hardly ever use them, so I often forget i have them - despite costing thousands of dollars each.

Any LED or Halogen F30 owners in the Tampa Bay area that might want to arrange to meet somewhere dark at night for some actual measurements?

If so, Message Me.

I have the HID Xenons in my 2013, so that isn't a problem - though not coded for VLD - despite having all the necessary equipment. They have not been adjusted "UP" as some have also suggested.

However, a simple measurement a x feet out of all 3 types would be very interesting and telling.

EDIT: While I am at it, might as well ask if any Coders in the Tampa Bay Area who could code in VLD and some other goodies?

RoundelM3 · 03-31-2016, 08:07 AM

This "report" is such a load of crap. Where's the data on all the other BMW models? I've never had any issues with any BMW's lights being "marginal", particularly with the high-beams on. Remember, this is the same outfit that thinks we should all have "monitors" in our cars and are pushing for self-driving cars so that the insurance companies can make bigger profits by "eliminating accidents". So much for their credibility.

Billfitz · 03-31-2016, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabrich

According to the report the Prius v has LED, not xenon.

The Prius v earns a good rating when equipped with LED lights and high-beam assist. To get those headlights, consumers must purchase the advanced technology package, which is only available on the highest trim level. When equipped with regular halogen lights and without high-beam assist, the Prius v earns a poor rating.

You mean that Toyota doesn't include their best lighting package at the base vehicle price? Oh, the horror, the horror...

shivaswrath · 03-31-2016, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredsf30

A good article telling us what we already know about the pathetic BMW base (non-xenon, HID or LED) headlights. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/deskto...ed-improvement

This was actually one of the reasons I sold my Base 2012 328i. I really love the N20 engine, transmission, interior and exterior. However, the headlights and steering wheels were the two main factors for getting a Luxury Line 335i.

2016 midsize cars
Best available headlight system for each model

Good

Toyota Prius v

Acceptable

Audi A3
Honda Accord 4-door
Infiniti Q50
Lexus ES
Lexus IS
Mazda 6
Nissan Maxima
Subaru Outback
(built after Nov. 2015)
Volkswagen CC
Volkswagen Jetta
Volvo S60

Marginal

Acura TLX
Audi A4
BMW 2 series
BMW 3 series
Chrysler 200
Ford Fusion
Lincoln MKZ
Subaru Legacy
Toyota Camry

Poor

Buick Verano
Cadillac ATS
Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet Malibu Limited
(fleet model)
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Nissan Altima
Volkswagen Passat

these were all LEDs or HIDs?

fredsf30 · 03-31-2016, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

these were all LEDs or HIDs?

My guess is they were all base model lighting. The BMW base model halogens are just unacceptable for any car BMW or not.

BM57 · 03-31-2016, 10:35 AM

DOT headlights were always worse than the E-Code and that's why people always converted them; one example is E30 owners went from sealed beam to ellipsoid/ellipsoidal. Mercedes that were sold in the US in the 80s with their cheap plastic DOT headlights were much weaker than the Euro lights and would yellow and fade. They would get to be so bad that driving with your headlights on or off was almost the same and genuinely unsafe, just ask any W124, W126, W201 owners.

Anyone familiar with the Q45 Gatling gun headlights (made in Germany) from the third generation Infiniti Q45 (F50)? Many people have used them for conversions in the past:

Here's one person's conversion:
http://novajeepers.net/index.php?topic=10106.0

Here's another on a 1993 Jaguar XJ220:

And yet another TWR Jaguar XJ220 S :

03-30-2016, 12:49 PM	#1
fredsf30 Private First Class 25 Rep 130 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i RWD Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (0)	Headlight Ratings - Only One Performs 'Good' in 82 Cars Beware Base BMW Buyers A good article telling us what we already know about the pathetic BMW base (non-xenon, HID or LED) headlights. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/deskto...ed-improvement This was actually one of the reasons I sold my Base 2012 328i. I really love the N20 engine, transmission, interior and exterior. However, the headlights and steering wheels were the two main factors for getting a Luxury Line 335i. 2016 midsize cars Best available headlight system for each model Good Toyota Prius v Acceptable Audi A3 Honda Accord 4-door Infiniti Q50 Lexus ES Lexus IS Mazda 6 Nissan Maxima Subaru Outback (built after Nov. 2015) Volkswagen CC Volkswagen Jetta Volvo S60 Marginal Acura TLX Audi A4 BMW 2 series BMW 3 series Chrysler 200 Ford Fusion Lincoln MKZ Subaru Legacy Toyota Camry Poor Buick Verano Cadillac ATS Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Malibu Limited (fleet model) Hyundai Sonata Kia Optima Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mercedes-Benz CLA Nissan Altima Volkswagen Passat
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03-30-2016, 01:05 PM	#2
ji99lypuff Lieutenant 100 Rep 443 Posts Drives: 2014 bmw 328xi Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	not surprised at all. Its crazy how they invest all this money into their engines and chasis and tranmissions and then put in 50 year old halogen tech into these cars. Also the halogens are worse than my 1988 ford taurus ones. The geadlights were my only gripe on my 328 as well. Step it up bmw!
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03-30-2016, 01:58 PM	#8
ji99lypuff Lieutenant 100 Rep 443 Posts Drives: 2014 bmw 328xi Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	Thats how they got me in there also not that i regret it because i thoroughly enjoy driving my car but still a tricky ad nonetheless. Its all car companies now a days that pull that kind of crap. put some xenons standard bmw.
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03-31-2016, 02:28 AM	#9
Mauricio Palacios. MD Stark und Frei 48 Rep 155 Posts Drives: BMW F32 435i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Erlangen, GERMANY iTrader: (0)	Again, but it's only a copy/paste matter... Haha... It is well known that the HID xenon system (that is not an option anymore in F30 MY 2016) is brighter and better in every way than the LED system. Again, it's all about money. LEDs are easier and cheaper to manufacture than xenons with its rare and dangerous elements, projectors, actuators, leveling and cleaning systems, ballasts (not to mention when the vehicle equipment includes "adaptive" features), etc. The hid xenon system, in my humble opinion, would score an Acceptable to Good note in this report. I hope BMW do something about this issue, specially when we have an institution of this kind confirming what we already knew... Stop playing merchandising games with elements directly involved with our security. Excellent day...
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03-31-2016, 02:35 AM	#10
Kabrich Banned 355 Rep 1,986 Posts Drives: '13 AH3 (335IH) 3F93 MSport Join Date: May 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	Two questions. 1) I have the xenons in my 2013. Have the xenons been tested for distance, as this is apparently where most headlights failed in the test. 2) I know the TSB and other agencies in the USA are way behind on Headlight Standards (and I think I remember reading that another system, maybe laser, was available there). So what type of headlights does BMW, Porsche and Mercedes use in Germany on the Autobahn- and can they be purchased after market in the USA although probably illegal?
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03-31-2016, 03:48 AM	#11
zamboni I want to drive a Zamboni 1131 Rep 5,557 Posts Drives: 13 E93 M3 18 F80 M3 16 K71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Monte Sereno, CA iTrader: (7) Garage List 16 K71 F800GT [10.00] 2018 F80 M3 [10.00] 2013 BMW E93 M3 [10.00]	The one on Prius was xenon light and it's fair to compare with the halogen light. __________________ 18 F80 Imola Red 6MT 16 K71 F800GT Montego Blue 13 E93 M3 Melbourne Red 2000 E46,2006 E90,09 E82,13 E93 328i,14 F30 335i,18 F80 M3 My next vehicle would be a Zamboni
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03-31-2016, 04:30 AM	#13
Kabrich Banned 355 Rep 1,986 Posts Drives: '13 AH3 (335IH) 3F93 MSport Join Date: May 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	I feel like that old V8 Vegetable Juice Commercial - where a person hits their head and said "wow....I could have had a V8".... Just remembered I have a Minolta fL meter and a Minolta Lumens Meter. Hardly ever use them, so I often forget i have them - despite costing thousands of dollars each. Any LED or Halogen F30 owners in the Tampa Bay area that might want to arrange to meet somewhere dark at night for some actual measurements? If so, Message Me. I have the HID Xenons in my 2013, so that isn't a problem - though not coded for VLD - despite having all the necessary equipment. They have not been adjusted "UP" as some have also suggested. However, a simple measurement a x feet out of all 3 types would be very interesting and telling. EDIT: While I am at it, might as well ask if any Coders in the Tampa Bay Area who could code in VLD and some other goodies? Last edited by Kabrich; 03-31-2016 at 04:36 AM..
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03-31-2016, 08:07 AM	#14
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	This "report" is such a load of crap. Where's the data on all the other BMW models? I've never had any issues with any BMW's lights being "marginal", particularly with the high-beams on. Remember, this is the same outfit that thinks we should all have "monitors" in our cars and are pushing for self-driving cars so that the insurance companies can make bigger profits by "eliminating accidents". So much for their credibility. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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03-31-2016, 10:35 AM	#18
BM57 Private First Class 85 Rep 188 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 320i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: British Columbia, Canada iTrader: (0)	DOT headlights were always worse than the E-Code and that's why people always converted them; one example is E30 owners went from sealed beam to ellipsoid/ellipsoidal. Mercedes that were sold in the US in the 80s with their cheap plastic DOT headlights were much weaker than the Euro lights and would yellow and fade. They would get to be so bad that driving with your headlights on or off was almost the same and genuinely unsafe, just ask any W124, W126, W201 owners. Anyone familiar with the Q45 Gatling gun headlights (made in Germany) from the third generation Infiniti Q45 (F50)? Many people have used them for conversions in the past: Here's one person's conversion: http://novajeepers.net/index.php?topic=10106.0 Here's another on a 1993 Jaguar XJ220: And yet another TWR Jaguar XJ220 S : __________________ 2012 BMW 320i Alpine White (300) Premium Package (ZAR) Lighting Package (ZAU) Navigation Package (ZAV) Rear Park Distance Control (507) Automatic (205)
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