I just installed some HID's and the way the road is illuminated at night is weird. I have a Volvo V70R with xenon lights and the road looks different -- it's a gradual transition between darkness and what is illuminated. With the Sienna, is there supposed to be a sharp demarcation between what is illuminated and what isn't? Seems like it's dark, then suddenly light -- in other words there is no transition. It's kind of strange feeling as your car is going over a slightly bumpy road, this horizontal line between light and dark is bouncing as well. It's kind of like having bifocals. Is this what I should expect? If so, then I really regret not waiting for the 2012 XLE. Someone earlier had said only the colors would be different for the 2012 and why did I believe them!
if I'm understanding you correctly, then yes that's how it is. A nice sharp line across the top. Aligned correctly, it will prevent you from blinding other drivers.
I'm assuming your Volvo has projector headlights that makes a sharp cutoff while your Sienna has reflective housings, which aren't built for HIDs and makes a "gradual" transition between light and dark.
Humanoid, if I may correct that... I think the OP has a reflective housing for the Volvo, hence the gradual transition between light and dark. We have projection-type housings for the Siennas and they have a very sharp cutoff. I know about gradual cause I installed HIDs in my previous vehicle, a 2001 Dodge Durango with refelctive headlight housings.
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I'm assuming your Volvo has projector headlights that makes a sharp cutoff while your Sienna has reflective housings, which aren't built for HIDs and makes a "gradual" transition between light and dark.
Actually, in the volvo I never noticed this sharp line at all. I thought the XLEs had the projector headlights with halogen?
The Volvo has oem reflective lens HIDs. They produce a smooth transition between light and dark. The Sienna on the other hand, has projector lens. Whether halogen or HIDs, they produce a very sharp cutoff to minimize glare to on coming drivers. What you're seeing is absolutely normal characteristic of projectors. Nothing is wrong with your HIDs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lysis
Actually, in the volvo I never noticed this sharp line at all. I thought the XLEs had the projector headlights with halogen?
The Volvo has oem reflective lens HIDs. They produce a smooth transition between light and dark. The Sienna on the other hand, has projector lens. Whether halogen or HIDs, they produce a very sharp cutoff to minimize glare to on coming drivers. What you're seeing is absolutely normal characteristic of projectors. Nothing is wrong with your HIDs.
That's the reason HIDs are best installed with projector lens. The lens in front of the projector body makes the focus work. This is to avoid glare to oncoming traffic.
Your Volvo's low beam has reflector type housing body where the reflector at the end of the body makes the focus work. This type of HID low beam is kind of a bit compromise, so the spreadout light is aligned a bit lower to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. If you change the bulb to regular halogen one (just for your experiment to know more), you'll see less light output on the upper part. So you need to adjust the aiming higher to compensate that.
That's the reason HIDs are best installed with projector lens. The lens in front of the projector body makes the focus work. This is to avoid glare to oncoming traffic.
Your Volvo's low beam has reflector type housing body where the reflector at the end of the body makes the focus work. This type of HID low beam is kind of a bit compromise, so the spreadout light is aligned a bit lower to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. If you change the bulb to regular halogen one (just for your experiment to know more), you'll see less light output on the upper part. So you need to adjust the aiming higher to compensate that.
The V70 R also has auto leveling, so the bounce over bumps isn't quite a noticeable.
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