Jim Cathey wrote: >>Okay, I've been trying to hold back but, what is it about "improved" >>lighting? I have absolutely no problem with the standard headlights in >>my 240D and I pretty much can't imagine why I'd need more light. I >>almost never use the highbeams now... > > > If you never get to go where it's very dark, the differences in lighting > are much less apparent. Most people live and drive where there is lots > of traffic, or streetlights.
I went to college in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It gets really dark out up there, and they don't repaint the road markings very often. After a while reflective road paint doesn't reflect anymore. Stock headlights started to seem really inadequate for driving at more than 45 mph, even on high beam. The dark just seemed to swallow up the beams. The only car I rode in that really seemed to put enough light on the road had two 8" Hella rally lights on the bumper supplementing the high beams. (The owner had rigged them, via relays, to go out when he switched to low beam for the occasional oncoming car.) Now I live in the Seattle area. The freeways are well lit. Good headlights aren't as important. Sometimes I drive away and don't realize my headlights are off until someone flashes me!
