Re: Blindingly Bright Lights

[Jason Cammisa <jcammisa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 10:56 PM 2/1/99 , Michiel van Wessem wrote:
>Hey guys,
>
>It's not to be a smart@ss or anything, but don't you wonder if maybe you
>would blind other people if you put in lights that are brighter then
allowed? 

That's a good question... and one that deserves an answer.

The difference is really how the light is aimed, not how bright it is. As a
disclaimer: I'm on the BMW List for recreation-- I think you guys have a
great amount of intelligent conversation (at times, ahem), and I have
enjoyed just about every minute I've spend behind a steering wheel of
Bavarian Descent.

With that said, I drive a VW Scirocco 16v...  and I have European lights,
which use H4 bulbs for the outer (lo/hi beams), and H3 bulbs for the inner
(hi beam only) lights.  I bought the setup because I was going to get
killed with the horrid light output of the factory sealed beams.

I have 90/100w H4s, and 100w H3s.  In European stock form, the car came
with 55/60w H4s and 50w H3s.  
	
So, while I'm pumping out 180w low beams, I've never once been flashed,
and, having driven in front of my car at night in a friend's E30 (also a
low-to-the-ground-car) I was actually less blinded than I was from other cars.

The reason, being, of course, the E-pattern light cutoff.  The light,
regardless of wattage, is cut off at about bumper-height.  The result is
solid, pure white illumination of the road in front of me, without blinding
oncoming cars.

The high-beams, of course, are a different story.  With 400w coming from
the lights, I exercise all caution when using them-- if there's even a
shadow of doubt that someone might be coming around a curve ahead, I switch
to low-beams... which, by the way, are more than powerful enough for
cruising on contry roads in the dark at anything up to 70mph anyways.

And, in regard to the PIAA Superwhite thread:  I tried out a set of
"Hyperwhite" 55/60s, which were claimed (in writing) to be brighter than
standard 80/100s, and probably brighter than my 90/100s.  In reality, they
were no whiter than my clear bulbs, and were dimmer than the 55/60s I have
as spares.  I couldn't see 15 feet in front of the car.  

So, if you feel you need to, you can upgrade to higher-wattage bulbs
without disturbing anyone, but you need to make sure your lights have the
E-Spec cutoff, and your wiring can handle it.  (You'll probably need to
relay your lights).  

	My $0.02
		Jason






- ----------
jason@domain.elided
1987 Scirocco 16v
57,000 original miles.
http://members.aol.com/rocco16v  

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