Why is America stuck with bad headlights? • Hacker News Board

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#141

Post by partiallypro » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:38 AM UTC

wil421 wrote: post #140

partiallypro wrote: post #138

I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. The replacement cost on that headlight is probably astronomical, where I can replace a bulb for $40. I don't even know if the Boxster which is around ~$60K comes with these headlights. A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH.

The ones on this website say they are £3,800 each for a 2019+ 911 Turbo (992). https://www.design911.com/Porsche/Porsche-992--911--2019--/9...

Yeah, I was looking at used prices, but I can't tell if your link is for the pair, or just for one.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#142

Post by extrapickles » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:41 AM UTC

decafninja wrote: post #27

serf wrote: post #14

groups like Audi/Porsche/BMW have trouble bringing their fancy LED setups to America due to laws pertaining to high / low beams -- meanwhile every Jack and Jill on the road has glaringly illegal aftermarket Xenon bulb setups in refractor headlight housings rather than proper projectors, blinding the hell out of everyone on the road, and the police seem to do nothing about it. I mean, hey -- i'm usually happy about au…

re: "aftermarket xenon bulb setups" Is this still a big problem? While I would have agreed with you, say, back in the 2000s when the whole "import tuner" craze was in full swing, I don't think this is popular anymore. The car mod scene seems to be close to extinct now, with whats left being a lot less crazy than those in the past.

Its becoming more of a problem as aftermarket LEDs get more popular. The xenon kits were only installed by people who wanted to be 'cool', but LEDs are getting installed by people who want to save money or effort in replacing their halogen headlamp bulbs.

What is worse about the LEDs is that they are sold as "compatible" to various vehicles, when that means they will work mechanically/electrically, but not optically (some actually try to put LEDs in the same spot as the filament). All of the units I've seen cause the car headlamp to put out light at higher angles than a halogen bulb will, causing more glare for opposing traffic.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#143

Post by drglitch » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:43 AM UTC

acd wrote: post #69

Some European cars are sold with laser head lights as an optional extra. As a driver meeting usch a vehicle I ponder if that is safe for my eyesight? After recent scandals I don’t fully trust the car industry to self regulate as they have mislead consumers before for example Dieselgate. Thus I think it’s good that there is car safety regulations but that led lights probably should be allowed. I think too many consume…

The laserlights, like ones marketed by BMW, are not shining the laser outward into the world - they use them to warm up phosphor which in turn produces “regular” light. In a sense, it’s somewhat akin to an old school incandescent bulb, but using much less energy. In US, laserlights are reduced power due to regulations

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#144

Post by jachee » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:45 AM UTC

browningstreet wrote: post #116

lvspiff wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst thing to happen to America was Autozone and Fast and Furious. Cheap aftermarket modifications to your car being sold to people with no knowledge of what they were doing but wanted it too look cool cause they saw it in the movie. Its led to years of teenagers with no training putting things on their cars that turn them into obnoxious spectacles on the road. I know I sound like an old coot but frankly I'm gla…

I guess I'm really old. Before Fast and Furious, I lived through the slammed mini truck / monster car stereo (speakers, speakers, speakers) craze of the late 80s. And before that there were many, many trends, like muscle cars, etc. It's always been like this...

Don't forget the folks in the 40's taking those old trucks and turning them into hot-rods.

The car modification scene is only slightly younger than the car.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#145

Post by bArray » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:46 AM UTC

partiallypro wrote: post #138

I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. The replacement cost on that headlight is probably astronomical, where I can replace a bulb for $40. I don't even know if the Boxster which is around ~$60K comes with these headlights. A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH.

As with all automotive parts, eventually the price will come down. Currently they are luxury, in some years they will be commodity.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#146

Post by pandaman » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:47 AM UTC

vidanay wrote: post #111

squidlogic wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes known as pixel lighting, matrix systems are based around a high-beam unit consisting of a cluster of LEDs (the Audi matrix system consists of up to 25 LEDs per high-beam unit), rather than a single high-beam bulb that you might find in a conventional headlight. This allows you to block out certain portions of the beam so you don't blind other drivers as they approach.

On this type of lighting, what is the purpose of having high and low beams? It seems like you should be able to leave it on high all the time.

You will blind yourself with your own high beams in heavy rain/snow/fog.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#147

Post by beenBoutIT » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:50 AM UTC

browningstreet wrote: post #116

lvspiff wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The worst thing to happen to America was Autozone and Fast and Furious. Cheap aftermarket modifications to your car being sold to people with no knowledge of what they were doing but wanted it too look cool cause they saw it in the movie. Its led to years of teenagers with no training putting things on their cars that turn them into obnoxious spectacles on the road. I know I sound like an old coot but frankly I'm gla…

I guess I'm really old. Before Fast and Furious, I lived through the slammed mini truck / monster car stereo (speakers, speakers, speakers) craze of the late 80s. And before that there were many, many trends, like muscle cars, etc. It's always been like this...

The Fast and Furious franchise is, not unlike the late 2pac, a reflection of the community. A percentage of America has always been modding their cars and an even larger percentage enjoys dreaming about modding cars - the films draw from that, not the other way around.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#148

Post by drglitch » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:50 AM UTC

hirundo wrote: post #65

If it can detect cars and de-illuminate, it shouldn't be too hard to detect and spot-light other things for safety, like people, animals, debris.

Mercedes has a good demo video about current state of this tech (EU only) - when you drive a car with it, it’s literally magical. Alternative tech uses a projector-like screen with 4K resolution, allowing for very precise light control.

Here is a demo: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0OJjvYPV3oc

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#149

Post by taneq » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:53 AM UTC

bArray wrote: post #145

partiallypro wrote: post #138

I get the criticism, want, and need...but comparing a $120K+ Porsche to a $20K average car isn't exactly a fair comparison, even when it comes to headlights. The replacement cost on that headlight is probably astronomical, where I can replace a bulb for $40. I don't even know if the Boxster which is around ~$60K comes with these headlights. A quick lookup and those Porsche headlights cost ~$2K EACH.

As with all automotive parts, eventually the price will come down. Currently they are luxury, in some years they will be commodity.

They're also from a luxury brand that commands a premium price above and beyond its actual cost of supply. Give it five years and an entry level Hyundai will come with equivalent headlights and they'll only cost $100 to replace.

Re: Why is America stuck with bad headlights?

#150

Post by beenBoutIT » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 2:56 AM UTC

serf wrote: post #104

notacoward wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even the came-with-the-car headlights are often dangerously bright, no need to assume they're aftermarket.

I assume they're aftermarket when they're on an early 90s economy cars, they're two different colors, and the refractor is scattering the light up past street signs -- not when they're just bright. brightness isn't the issue, precision is.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that as cars age the headlight lenses oxidize and the original bulb's light becomes insufficient to light up the road ahead of the car. Some drivers are fixing the problem by swapping in much brighter aftermarket bulbs as opposed to replacing or resurfacing the lenses. It's easy to verify this by looking at the headlights of the offending cars after they've parked.