Weak c6 headlights
11-23-2008, 05:25 AM
#41
Drifting
I would agree with the OP that the high beams on the C6 are worthless ... I have adjusted them, used higher wattage bulbs, etc. and they simply do not throw any useful light on the road. I too would be interested in anything to improve them, but given the size and shape of the housing/reflector, I doubt this is possible.
The low-beams, on the other hand, are simply the best I have seen, including any number of M-B and BMWs that I have driven here and in Europe. If the OP thinks his low-beams are bad, he should check their aim (from the factory, mine were aimed too high, so I lowered them to an appropriate cut-off ... ). They have a nice sharp vertical cut-off, just like a good headlight should have (and pass the Euro-spec test unchanged, which is a first for Corvette).
I would be interested to hear from anybody that has done HID high-beams and if they got any improvement out of the mod.
The low-beams, on the other hand, are simply the best I have seen, including any number of M-B and BMWs that I have driven here and in Europe. If the OP thinks his low-beams are bad, he should check their aim (from the factory, mine were aimed too high, so I lowered them to an appropriate cut-off ... ). They have a nice sharp vertical cut-off, just like a good headlight should have (and pass the Euro-spec test unchanged, which is a first for Corvette).
I would be interested to hear from anybody that has done HID high-beams and if they got any improvement out of the mod.
11-23-2008, 07:13 AM
#42
Instructor
They are better than any other car I've ever driven!!!
11-23-2008, 08:05 AM
#43
Race Director
The 350Z had the best lighting system I have ever experienced. Except for My 65 GTO with Lucas Flame Throwers! My wife has commented on the LS3 poor lighting system too! With my work hours and car not a DD I am not out at night much so not a problem at this time.
11-23-2008, 08:32 AM
#44
Le Mans Master
For what it's worth....
Just about all the roads I drive here are unlit, rural two lane blacktops. Most are very twisty and surrounded by dense forest....and lots of deer and moose waiting to jump out at you. All I have are reflectors on the sides of most roads to mark the typically narrow shoulders..
The lights on the C6 are good, but they are certainly not exceptional. As others have already pointed out, the low beams do a fine job and are actually better than most other cars. The high beams, however, probably rate somewhere above average but do not compare favorably with the best Xenon light systems out there.
Compared to my recent 2006 Audi A4, and my new 2009 Audi A4, the C6 lights are just not as good. They're okay and I never feel that they are inadequate, but they would be an awful lot better if the high beams also used Xenons...which they don't. Very good when compared to standard, non-Xenon systems, but only average at best when compared to good Xenon equipped cars. My Audi lights up at least another 50 feet of road in front of the car, and the beam is brighter.
IMHO, this is another area where GM can probably improve the car with little capital outlay. Since the C7 is a rapidly fading concept, it might behoove GM to really finesse the C6 design that will apparently be with us for a few more years. Simpler lighting controls might be another area ... get rid of that overly complex stalk and put in a simple and intuitive rotary dial like most other cars use. Better lights and better lighting controls...even GM should be able to handle that.
Just about all the roads I drive here are unlit, rural two lane blacktops. Most are very twisty and surrounded by dense forest....and lots of deer and moose waiting to jump out at you. All I have are reflectors on the sides of most roads to mark the typically narrow shoulders..
The lights on the C6 are good, but they are certainly not exceptional. As others have already pointed out, the low beams do a fine job and are actually better than most other cars. The high beams, however, probably rate somewhere above average but do not compare favorably with the best Xenon light systems out there.
Compared to my recent 2006 Audi A4, and my new 2009 Audi A4, the C6 lights are just not as good. They're okay and I never feel that they are inadequate, but they would be an awful lot better if the high beams also used Xenons...which they don't. Very good when compared to standard, non-Xenon systems, but only average at best when compared to good Xenon equipped cars. My Audi lights up at least another 50 feet of road in front of the car, and the beam is brighter.
IMHO, this is another area where GM can probably improve the car with little capital outlay. Since the C7 is a rapidly fading concept, it might behoove GM to really finesse the C6 design that will apparently be with us for a few more years. Simpler lighting controls might be another area ... get rid of that overly complex stalk and put in a simple and intuitive rotary dial like most other cars use. Better lights and better lighting controls...even GM should be able to handle that.
11-23-2008, 09:37 AM
#45
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Interesting observation. I feel the low beams work well and provide excellent peripheral illumination but the high beams are a bit 'narrow' in focus. I've wondered if the differing lights used in combination (high + low beams) tend to wash each other out a bit. Overall, I'm not dissatisfied with the C6 headlights but I feel there's room for improvement.
11-23-2008, 10:36 AM
#46
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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!
1. Make sure your HID projectors are aimed correctly. In your case, they may be aimed too low.
2. The high beam may be weak. But that's probably in comparison with your low beam.
3. DO NOT put HIDs into the fogs because the housing is not designed for HIDs. Also, at night, you don't want a flood of light right in front of you. That will hurt your night vision. The ideal lightly situation in the dark just enough light evely spread over a wide area so you can see everything and still keep your night vision.
11-23-2008, 11:12 AM
#47
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The best HID lights imho were in my BMW with bi-xenon with adaptive lights.
I agree the C6 lights are not as good as some of the other MFG but they sure arn't horrible.
I agree the C6 lights are not as good as some of the other MFG but they sure arn't horrible.
11-23-2008, 11:54 AM
#48
Le Mans Master
He's holding up the C6 headlights up to a higher standard than the C5. Is an improvement to the C6 so unimaginable?
I agree with some others about the side illumination. In the twisties, it's really lacking. I use the fogs just to throw some light into the corners. It would be nice to re-rig the system to allow the high-beams and fogs on at the same time.
11-23-2008, 12:21 PM
#49
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
while I agree with all that you posted, I thought about this one since my friend bought a TSX. Having ridden in her prior car, a Malibu, and then to the TSX, both of us were surprised at how good the lights were at night. She does some backroads but mostly low-beam driving. Those really are some of the best low-beam lights I've seen at night. But for low-beams, I do think the Corvette is close.
11-23-2008, 03:33 PM
#50
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The best are actually found in the Acura and Honda S2000. I believe those have the sharpest cutoff on the market. They're highly sought after for nearly all retrofitting.
11-23-2008, 08:12 PM
#51
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i really don't understand this i've had a lot of cars over the past 20 years or so probably 15 or so from vettes to a viper an aston matin , jag,ets and the vettes lights are the best by far
11-23-2008, 08:23 PM
#53
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I agree, the low-beams are ok... But to me the hi's are really weak... This car really needs bi-xenons. Anyone know of an available retrofit kit? Anyone know how one could maybe take the light assy's (just the xenon part, without reflector) from another make of car, and retrofit so that it wouldn't be noticeable?
(try out any european car with bi-xenons... Even a golf gti has better lights than the vette! (and, i love my vette except for the lights)!
(try out any european car with bi-xenons... Even a golf gti has better lights than the vette! (and, i love my vette except for the lights)!
11-23-2008, 08:47 PM
#54
Burning Brakes
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I had an '05 c6, and now have an '08 c6. My complaint with both these cars is the extremely poor lighting.... In fact, if there were any one thing i would ask chevy to do to the corvette, it would be "fix the lights!"
is there anything one can do, or is there some "retrofit" kit to upgrade the headlights? Compared with my merc slk, (bi-xenons) and my merc ml (also bi-xenon) i would rate the intensity ofthe c6 lights at less than 50% of these cars. My 2004 porsche c4s had even better lights!
(for the record, the thrill of driving the c6 is at lease twice as great as any of the other cars mentioned... Love the vette (in the daytime)).
Ok, here in the usa we are forced to drive slowly... But consider driving one of these on the autobahn at night, doing 150mph plus, with 70mph lights... It'd be suicide!
is there anything one can do, or is there some "retrofit" kit to upgrade the headlights? Compared with my merc slk, (bi-xenons) and my merc ml (also bi-xenon) i would rate the intensity ofthe c6 lights at less than 50% of these cars. My 2004 porsche c4s had even better lights!
(for the record, the thrill of driving the c6 is at lease twice as great as any of the other cars mentioned... Love the vette (in the daytime)).
Ok, here in the usa we are forced to drive slowly... But consider driving one of these on the autobahn at night, doing 150mph plus, with 70mph lights... It'd be suicide!
11-23-2008, 09:05 PM
#55
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My '05 C6 has the best lights of any car I've ever owned. I can't imagine them being any better without oncoming traffic constantly thinking I have my brights turned on...
11-23-2008, 09:13 PM
#56
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You should have driven a C5 first
11-23-2008, 09:17 PM
#57
Melting Slicks
Just came back from a 65 mile drive at night...I like my 09 coupe's headlights a lot.
However, my CTS headlights were really exceptional, but the higher seating position makes them seem like they have more throw.........
Maybe an alignment on your vette lights would help. Your perception could also be a function of low seating position.
However, my CTS headlights were really exceptional, but the higher seating position makes them seem like they have more throw.........
Maybe an alignment on your vette lights would help. Your perception could also be a function of low seating position.
11-23-2008, 09:46 PM
#58
Heel & Toe
Thread Starter
Just went out in both my cars at night to compare. I sit just as low in my SLK as I do in my Vette... The SLK Bi-Xenons are absolutely superb (dim and Bright)! the Vette's are only great on dim... brights are awful compared to the SLK.
11-23-2008, 10:48 PM
#59
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I suggest a 4300k HID fog light conversion kit and hyper yellow or 2500k temp high beams. I did it on my C6 and what an improvement. I don't have a problem with my low beams but the high beam didn't do the job well ... I noticed a big difference with the hid fog lights and yellow high beams.. good luck!!...
11-24-2008, 03:12 AM
#60
