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Weak c6 headlights

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Old 11-22-2008, 03:03 PM
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Strikervette
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Default Weak c6 headlights

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!
Old 11-22-2008, 03:06 PM
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calemasters
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I think the lighting is very good. Especially the low beam HIDs.
Old 11-22-2008, 03:06 PM
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wow...i dont know what to say. the vette has the best headlights of any car i have ever driven.
Old 11-22-2008, 03:11 PM
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gbgary
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Originally Posted by calemasters
I think the lighting is very good. Especially the low beam HIDs.
Originally Posted by fastskyline
wow...i dont know what to say. the vette has the best headlights of any car i have ever driven.
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Old 11-22-2008, 03:17 PM
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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)!
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Old 11-22-2008, 03:19 PM
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JTS97Z28
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Wow is this post a joke???? LOL the Corvette lights are VERY good headlights!! They finally added High Intensity Discharge projector headlamps for the C6. Infact these projectors are said to be one of the better as far as beam width and down road intensity.
Every car I have owned for several years has had factory HID projector headlamps and the Corvettes are as good if not better than any other. OEM projectors are usually either made by Hella, Valeo, or Bosch. The Corvettes are made by Valeo which are the same used in Audi for example.

I do agree Bi-Xenons would be nice in the vette however I was VERY impressed the high beam projector output. Down the road illumination is better than any car I have been in (and they are halogen to)!! So I guess I disagree with you on poor low beam and high beams!

Last edited by JTS97Z28; 11-22-2008 at 03:21 PM.
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Old 11-22-2008, 03:29 PM
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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!
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Old 11-22-2008, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Strikervette
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!"
You sir have a night time vision problem. Better see an eye doctor SOON!!! Compared to my 03 coupe the 08 that I now own has far superior headlights. Viva HID's.
Old 11-22-2008, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by calemasters
I think the lighting is very good. Especially the low beam HIDs.


Perhaps your lights are not aligned/adjusted properly.
Old 11-22-2008, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by coolcat
You sir have a night time vision problem. Better see an eye doctor SOON!!! Compared to my 03 coupe the 08 that I now own has far superior headlights. Viva HID's.


You should run (not drive) to the nearest eye doctor.
Old 11-22-2008, 03:56 PM
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My current project is to make a wiring harness that ties the battery directly into the high beams. My intention is to run some 12 gauge wire thru a remote solenoid using the stock wires to trigger them. I will then install some 100 watt bulbs.

I did this on my motorcycle some years ago, and the effect is dramatic. Running a 55/100 H4 bulb, I could luminate traffic signs during the day when I would switch to HB.

Getting current directly from the battery using larger gauge wire is the fix.
Old 11-22-2008, 04:05 PM
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Thanks, tjl5709... Seems like maybe you have experienced the same. I'd really appreciate it if you would keep me posted as to the results of your "fix". Again, thank you!

No joke guys... I have 20 / 20 vision... (have to, as i'm a pilot (without corrective lenses!)). If you have time, get down to your local merc / bmw / other eurocar dealer one evening, and drive a euro car with bi-xenons; you'd understand what i mean. Again, i'm not detracting from the vette... But there are many many many cars out there with far better lights! To me, the vette's lights just don't match the potential performance.
Old 11-22-2008, 04:41 PM
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Try that little stick thingy on the left side of the steering column. Grab the ring near the end and twist two clicks. See if that helps.
Old 11-22-2008, 04:42 PM
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i've driven several HID cars, some with auto-leveling and manual leveling. I can say the C6 has the highest cut off than any, meaning there's more light higher than the other cars. I can also spot a C6 approaching me at night almost instantly since the lights are annoyingly high and bright.
Old 11-22-2008, 05:11 PM
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ok well reguardless of how much the rest of us like the headlights, if you want to make yours brighter then thats completely up to you. it is definitly possible to convert the high beams to HID also. i know that some of the companies that sell the fog light conversion kits can also get you a kit to do your high beams. try a search here and in the for sale section for HID fogs. good luck and post up some pics if you do this mod so you can enlighten the rest of us. (sorry)
Old 11-22-2008, 05:17 PM
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I've had MB, Toyota, Lexus, GMC and Chevy with HID. Clearly the best HID of all these vehicles is the Corvette....not even close.
Old 11-22-2008, 05:18 PM
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I think because the low beams are so exceptional on the C-6, its high beams compare somewhat inferior. It could also be that your high beams are not aligned properly. A friend of mine's MB S500 has really crappy HID lights but I think his car was damaged in the front end which may have affected the headlight pattern.

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Old 11-22-2008, 05:18 PM
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My C6 is 1000% better then the C5 I had. Those were a joke. At times I was tempted to duct tape a couple of flashlights onto the hood so I could get home if is was dark outside. Best lights on a car I've owned was a 1991 Honda Civic.
Old 11-22-2008, 05:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Strikervette
I agree, the low-beams are ok... But to me the hi's are really weak...
I've thought just the opposite... my low beams are sufficient but seem to just hit a dark wall about 100 feet in front of the car; however, the high beams completely light up everything in my field of view for as far as I can see...
Old 11-22-2008, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 300mph
Try that little stick thingy on the left side of the steering column. Grab the ring near the end and twist two clicks. See if that helps.


No problems here . . .think they're just fine . ..especially on high beams!


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