Weak c6 headlights
#21
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Northern, VA
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
you may or may not be looking in the right place, here. maybe it would be good to talk to corvette racing teams that actually race at night, light mfrs. to see what they offer, or other night racing teams that may have some ideas. obviously, the info isn't here.
I can't tell you if the highs are better or worse than any I've had before because I don't use them much at all.
I can't tell you if the highs are better or worse than any I've had before because I don't use them much at all.
#23
Burning Brakes
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It may actually be the color of light that you are sensitive to. I find my C6 has the best headlights on any car I've driven. I also have a Benz and although the light is a different color, it does not make the road appear to be better illuminated, at least to me. You might also check with your dealer to make sure your lights are properly aligned as mentioned above.
#24
Pro
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St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Corvette needs active headlights
No actually the OP is right. The lights do need improvement. They work great on city streets and highways even, but on unlit backroads with tight curves, hills and intersections in the middle of nowhere with stop signs, I find myself often fighting to see where I'm going. Active headlights like BMWs would help in this regard.
The HIDs don't project much out to the sides, so in tight, slow curves and aforementioned intersections, you can't see to either side. I've found that the high beams are very concentrated like pencil beams and point very straight down the road. Great on straights, but if that's not where you're eventually heading, there isn't that much light getting around.
The Halogen US spec (not Euro spec) headlights on my old M3 were better in this regard. I never had trouble in those rural situations. However, the C6 headlights are superior in the city streets, which is most of my nighttime driving anyway.
Still I wish the high beams would scatter out more to the sides or that a driving light retrofit for the fog lights was available.
The HIDs don't project much out to the sides, so in tight, slow curves and aforementioned intersections, you can't see to either side. I've found that the high beams are very concentrated like pencil beams and point very straight down the road. Great on straights, but if that's not where you're eventually heading, there isn't that much light getting around.
The Halogen US spec (not Euro spec) headlights on my old M3 were better in this regard. I never had trouble in those rural situations. However, the C6 headlights are superior in the city streets, which is most of my nighttime driving anyway.
Still I wish the high beams would scatter out more to the sides or that a driving light retrofit for the fog lights was available.
#25
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
Yes, i agree with you tlk... For night riving round town, of course there's no problem. But, on a dark night on a country road ( i live in alabama, with a lot of rural roads), the bright lights are really weak... There's very little lighting definition to the sides of the road... Both the left and right sides.
Drive a modern merc, for instance (must be "bi-xenon spec), and there is a bright "arc" of light ahead and to the sides. They are, quite simply, amazing!
Drive a modern merc, for instance (must be "bi-xenon spec), and there is a bright "arc" of light ahead and to the sides. They are, quite simply, amazing!
#27
Although not up to the quality of the bi-xenon technology, you might want to consider trying the PIAA H9 XTREME WHITE PLUS # 70955 replacements for your high-beams. They are a direct swap, same power draw but produce a far better high beam spread....whiter and further down the road. To my eyes they made a tremendous difference..about $90.00 for a pair.
I found them here...
http://www.powersportsuperstore.com/...Search=piaa+h9
I found them here...
http://www.powersportsuperstore.com/...Search=piaa+h9
Last edited by Motorhead-47; 11-22-2008 at 06:55 PM.
#29
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
Thanks for the info...i'll try this solution.
Its obvious a lot more people think the lights aren't up to scratch... There's a thread going to replace the foglights with hid's to double the lighting power of the car...
Again, thanks for the tip on the replacement globes!
Its obvious a lot more people think the lights aren't up to scratch... There's a thread going to replace the foglights with hid's to double the lighting power of the car...
Again, thanks for the tip on the replacement globes!
#30
Team Owner
The reason that the high beams don't look so great is because of the excellence of the low beam patterns and color. The high beams are only meant to put a couple of long distance spots out there in the middle of the pattern. The lows stay on with the highs and provide the light for the sides of the road. Both sets of lights are very well controlled and don't just throw alot of light out everywhere; they put the light out in a perfect pattern.
The high beams are capable of illuminating road signs on a flat road at a distance of one mile...can't ask for more than that.
The high beams are capable of illuminating road signs on a flat road at a distance of one mile...can't ask for more than that.
#31
The reason that the high beams don't look so great is because of the excellence of the low beam patterns and color. The high beams are only meant to put a couple of long distance spots out there in the middle of the pattern. The lows stay on with the highs and provide the light for the sides of the road. Both sets of lights are very well controlled and don't just throw alot of light out everywhere; they put the light out in a perfect pattern.
The high beams are capable of illuminating road signs on a flat road at a distance of one mile...can't ask for more than that.
The high beams are capable of illuminating road signs on a flat road at a distance of one mile...can't ask for more than that.
#34
Team Owner
I replaced my hi-beams with HIDs, makes a significant difference along with the HID fogs.
#35
Drifting
don't all the cars you listed sit higher than a Vette? maybe the higher view/field of vision is making you think you see better. just a thought
btw i like my 08 lights much improved over 03
btw i like my 08 lights much improved over 03
#37
Melting Slicks
I have always been into nice lighting and retrofits and stuff. Here are a few problems I have noted that people do. First off it is NOT a good idea to put HID's in the fog lights. Those lenses are designed for a certain halogen bulb NOT HID output. You will be putting out a dangerous amount of glare to oncoming drivers.
As to the person that says you get flashed a lot in your C6 with the lows on then there is a problem. Your lights for whatever reason are aimed too high. You should never get flashed with HID projectors as they have a very sharp cutoff that if aimed properly will always be below the oncoming drives eyes. I would check the aim of your headlights. It is very critical that a HID projector is aimed correctly.
As far as you guys mentioning the side output not being that great you may be right. That is completely due to the type of projector used in the C6. Usually its either or. If you have a projector that provides a very wide beam then it will usually suffer in down the road lighting. Or one that focuses a lot of light down the road will have less output on the sides. On the HID forums (yes there are HID forums LOL). One of the best projectors of all time in all regards is the Honda S2000. Very close to that are E-code clear lens Acura TSX projectors which I retrofitted into my Honda Accord. They are unbelievable!
As to the person that says you get flashed a lot in your C6 with the lows on then there is a problem. Your lights for whatever reason are aimed too high. You should never get flashed with HID projectors as they have a very sharp cutoff that if aimed properly will always be below the oncoming drives eyes. I would check the aim of your headlights. It is very critical that a HID projector is aimed correctly.
As far as you guys mentioning the side output not being that great you may be right. That is completely due to the type of projector used in the C6. Usually its either or. If you have a projector that provides a very wide beam then it will usually suffer in down the road lighting. Or one that focuses a lot of light down the road will have less output on the sides. On the HID forums (yes there are HID forums LOL). One of the best projectors of all time in all regards is the Honda S2000. Very close to that are E-code clear lens Acura TSX projectors which I retrofitted into my Honda Accord. They are unbelievable!
#38
Hi.
Actually, no, it isn't a joke, but a serious enquiry if anyone knows how to make them better... I guess i've just been spoiled by the excellent lights on the other cars i have ... This posting isn't meant to "knock" the vette... I really like my vette... More than any of the other cars! It's fun to drive, cheap to run and service, has lots of interior space, ample power... ) it's just this one point that really disappoints me... Sorry guys!
Actually, no, it isn't a joke, but a serious enquiry if anyone knows how to make them better... I guess i've just been spoiled by the excellent lights on the other cars i have ... This posting isn't meant to "knock" the vette... I really like my vette... More than any of the other cars! It's fun to drive, cheap to run and service, has lots of interior space, ample power... ) it's just this one point that really disappoints me... Sorry guys!
I do however think its kind of ironic that your avatar is of a C6 headlight
try a kit from ebay
#39
Race Director
you may or may not be looking in the right place, here. maybe it would be good to talk to corvette racing teams that actually race at night, light mfrs. to see what they offer, or other night racing teams that may have some ideas. obviously, the info isn't here.
I can't tell you if the highs are better or worse than any I've had before because I don't use them much at all.
I can't tell you if the highs are better or worse than any I've had before because I don't use them much at all.
#40
Racer
All I can say is that I think the C6 lights are fantastic, and the high beams when needed are also top notch. It would be nice if they turned left/right on turns, but it's not needed. I find if I put on my fog lights it gives me some extra light to the sides when needed. Sounds like your lights need adjusting, but for this to happen for two C6 vettes is improbable... seems you just don't like them compared to other cars and I guess you should consider trying to replace them with different bulbs like someone earlier suggested.
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