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Question about the Prime Headlight Brightness

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by top40, Dec 6, 2016.

  1. top40

    top40 Junior Member

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    Does anyone find the Prius Prime front headlight brightness a bit much? Seems like it's really, really bright which I'm sure anyone driving ahead of me won't be too pleased about.

    And by the way, yes, I made sure that my brights weren't on.

    Let me know your thoughts. Wish there was something I could do about it.

    top40
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    make sure they are aimed properly, toyota doesn't do a good job of that at the factory.
     
  3. heiwa

    heiwa Active Member

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    I love the brightness. I am impressed by its sharp and horizontal upper edge of the illuminated zone. Because of it, I do not think a driver in front of me would notice the brightness. Ever if it may bother some, I would take this over my LEAF's head lights with which I see my own car's shadow when a car is behind me at night.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  4. yoyoman

    yoyoman Active Member

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    No issue at all at Bay Area in a bumper to bumper traffic. I even tried the auto head light beam up option on my way home. The high beam is vey bright and I think it's definitely dangerous to other driver. So I turned it off for good. Low beam is more than enough and is perfect for normal night time driving.


    iPhone ?
     
  5. civicdriver06

    civicdriver06 Active Member

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    Shouldn't be dangerous to other drivers if no other drivers are ahead of you,which should be the only situation to turn them on .
    What about distance of the high beam ?
    How far can you see ?
    High beams in gen 3. are great,even though they are only halogen,I am hoping for similar performance.
     
  6. Tideland2005

    Tideland2005 Member

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    pattern...... it's all about the pattern.

    And, you can tell what the (low beam) pattern looks like and if the up/down, left/right
    adjustment is set correctly by the white wall reflection parked perpendicular,
    25' away, on level ground.
     
  7. yoyoman

    yoyoman Active Member

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    The high beam is like a gigantic flash light beam up to the air.. its extremely bright.


    iPhone ?
     
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  8. top40

    top40 Junior Member

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    Yeah. The second headlight option feels like it's more than enough. The final option is pretty damn bright.
     
  9. GT4Prius

    GT4Prius Active Member

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    Sharp cut off is fine when driving straight and level.

    But on bumpy, hilly and curving roads like in rural UK the bright zone frequently shines in the eyes of approaching motorists. Not good at all!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  10. ttait

    ttait Active Member

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    Wish we could get the active headlights.
     
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  11. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Sorry to glut the thread, but this is the -FIRST TIME- I have ever read someone wanting dimmer headlamps! ;)
     
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  12. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    It's not just priui . The worst offender I've seen so far was a loaded Denali. Look up proximity sensor.
    If you see them coming at you, after they pass you, look in the rearview, if they have LED's on the tail they
    usually also have proximity sensors. Than you can count for yourselves how many of them actually work.
    A lot of drivers are also leaving their high beams on.
    I made my complaints known, now I'm working on looking away techniques.
    good luck
     
  13. jmarkd7

    jmarkd7 Member

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    I really dislike LED headlights, due to the instant cutoff from light to dark. As poster above mentioned, it's bad on hills. Have them on the prime was well as our 2014 Sienna XLE. Have thought about replacing them with halogen bulbs in the van. Don't even know if it's possible.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    That has less to do with the source of light than it does the optics.
     
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  15. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    Exactly. (1) Keep the original type of bulb. The lens and reflector are made for it. It is illegal, unsafe, and inconsiderate to change the bulb type and often create a glare problem for other drivers.
    (2) The problems, if any, are due to aim or design. I agree, sometimes the sharp cut-off does not work out well. That part of the problem is design.
    (3) I wish the Prime did a better job of illuminating the sides where I want to see the turn into a dark side road or driveway.
     
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  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Some European cars still have cornering lights (lights that turn on when the steering wheel is turned left or right and point diagonally to illuminate the corner).

    I haven't seen an American car with cornering lights since the early 2000s.
     
  17. civicdriver06

    civicdriver06 Active Member

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    On top of beeing able to drive with full high beam because upcoming vehicles and the ones ahead are automatically cut out of the beam the European "Prime" will have cornering lights because the adaptive headlight system also moves the beam in the direction you're steering .
    The system also adjusts the beam in 3 different levels to the speed you're going.
    Going faster means the beam will reach further ahead while in urban driving the headlights will especially illuminate the sidewalks so pedestrians can be more easily seen .
    It remains to be seen how well these new headlights will work !
    Toyota always seems to be a step behind their competitors when it comes to technology like this !
     
    #17 civicdriver06, Dec 13, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2016
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  18. GT4Prius

    GT4Prius Active Member

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    By "automatically cut out of the beam" do you mean that the lights auto switch to dipped or low beam? That's my understanding of what they do.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  19. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    No, he's talking about so-called "matrix LED" headlights. Look it up. It's quite active.
     
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  20. Prius Maximus

    Prius Maximus Senior Member

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    Yeah, those matrix LEDs look impressive. Wish USDOT would get off their butts and approve them