2017 headlights are awful. Add driving lights? Change housings??

[Kimsey47]

I know the 86 is supposed to be a light weight sports car, but I always wished it had adaptive headlights that moved with the steering... Hell, all cars should!

[ryoma]

Originally Posted by Kodename47

AFAIK the MY13+ HIDs are self leveling, it's automatic adjustment by a sensor connected to the suspension. It's how they are here in the UK. I'd assume that the LED lights are done in a similar fashion.

I have never heard of auto-leveling headlights in the USDM versions. for my MY15, there's a scroll wheel next to the trunk release to change headlight levels. there's also a manual adjustment behind the actual headlight housing.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by ryoma

I have never heard of auto-leveling headlights in the USDM versions. for my MY15, there's a scroll wheel next to the trunk release to change headlight levels. there's also a manual adjustment behind the actual headlight housing.

Auto leveling is usually combined with HID, halogen gets the scroll wheel.

[ryoma]

Originally Posted by Vin

Auto leveling is usually combined with HID, halogen gets the scroll wheel.

must be the EUDM and JDM ones then. USDM definitely doesn't have it. you guys also got the headlight washers too... all the cool stuff are overseas lol

[TheLowlyThird]

The USDM '17's do have automatic leveling, it's a sensor connected to the left rear control arm. I didn't reinstall mine after swapping out control arms since there really wasn't a spot for it, and I didn't know what it was, and my beams got pretty freaky. I personally love the new headlights, they're a nice wide beam, too bright, and I don't have that dead spot you mentioned.

[Var]

Originally Posted by TheLowlyThird

The USDM '17's do have automatic leveling, it's a sensor connected to the left rear control arm. I didn't reinstall mine after swapping out control arms since there really wasn't a spot for it, and I didn't know what it was, and my beams got pretty freaky. I personally love the new headlights, they're a nice wide beam, too bright, and I don't have that dead spot you mentioned

Great info! Thanks

The dead spot is me being picky. Comparing it to other cars I've owned, as well as the HIDs on previous year twins. I assure you guys my lights aren't malfunctioning. Like I said above they're great for on-road use other than the low beams being aimed too high and getting high beamed all the time by oncoming traffic. I suppose an interesting project would be to see if I could manipulate that sensor, or sensor signal to make the automatic levelers do my bidding


For now, here is what I have come up with as a fix. One of these under each fog light, facing up and out

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T8UY53Q

And one of these in the grill, facing up

https://www.amazon.com/Auxbeam-7200l.../dp/B00T7GYDTC

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Var

Great info! Thanks

The dead spot is me being picky. Comparing it to other cars I've owned, as well as the HIDs on previous year twins. I assure you guys my lights aren't malfunctioning. Like I said above they're great for on-road use other than the low beams being aimed too high and getting high beamed all the time by oncoming traffic. I suppose an interesting project would be to see if I could manipulate that sensor, or sensor signal to make the automatic levelers do my bidding


For now, here is what I have come up with as a fix. One of these under each fog light, facing up and out

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T8UY53Q


And one of these in the grill, facing up

https://www.amazon.com/Auxbeam-7200l.../dp/B00T7GYDTC

You shouldn't need all those lights. Have your eyes checked if you need that much light.

[VIP BRZ]

[KnightRyderx2]

Originally Posted by Var

Great info! Thanks

The dead spot is me being picky. Comparing it to other cars I've owned, as well as the HIDs on previous year twins. I assure you guys my lights aren't malfunctioning. Like I said above they're great for on-road use other than the low beams being aimed too high and getting high beamed all the time by oncoming traffic. I suppose an interesting project would be to see if I could manipulate that sensor, or sensor signal to make the automatic levelers do my bidding


For now, here is what I have come up with as a fix. One of these under each fog light, facing up and out

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T8UY53Q

And one of these in the grill, facing up

https://www.amazon.com/Auxbeam-7200l.../dp/B00T7GYDTC

So you plan do drive around on the street with on coming traffic with these lights? Have you seen what the beam pattern these light put out?

These are made for off road or work vehicles that need a full beam pattern in front of them, lighting up everything. You will blind so many people coming the other way. And you live in Cali, the cops will be on you like a fat kid to cake. This is a very poor option.

[VIP BRZ]

In California you'd actually have to have the light covered every time you get on the highway.

24411.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be equipped with not more than eight lamps for use as headlamps while the vehicle is operated or driven off the highway. The lamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 16 inches from the ground, or more than 12 inches above the top of the passenger compartment, at any place between the front of the vehicle and a line lying on a point 40 inches to the rear of the seat occupied by the driver, shall be wired independently of all other lighting circuits, and, whenever the vehicle is operated or driven upon a highway, shall be covered or hooded with an opaque hood or cover, and turned off.

[Var]

Originally Posted by KnightRyderx2

So you plan do drive around on the street with on coming traffic with these lights? Have you seen what the beam pattern these light put out?

No of course not. And yes.

Researched beam patterns and decided to try flood first

Originally Posted by KnightRyderx2

This is a very poor option.

Do you have any better ideas?

[Var]

Originally Posted by VIP BRZ

In California you'd actually have to have the light covered every time you get on the highway.

24411.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle may be equipped with not more than eight lamps for use as headlamps while the vehicle is operated or driven off the highway. The lamps shall be mounted at a height of not less than 16 inches from the ground, or more than 12 inches above the top of the passenger compartment, at any place between the front of the vehicle and a line lying on a point 40 inches to the rear of the seat occupied by the driver, shall be wired independently of all other lighting circuits, and, whenever the vehicle is operated or driven upon a highway, shall be covered or hooded with an opaque hood or cover, and turned off.

Yup...gonna make some DIY leather covers

[Var]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

You shouldn't need all those lights. Have your eyes checked if you need that much light.

It's not about the amount of light..it's about where it's pointing. The lights just happen to be bright

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjHttdyw7EE"]Rally Lights Explained - YouTube[/ame]

If you're not interested in rally lighting, go read a different thread?

Thanks for your helpful opinion

[imnotsureaboutbrz]

I know this idea is overly technical, but it would be cool to tap into the steering angle sensor to have the right and left pointing lights to turn on and off when cornering...

FYI. my wife's 2015 Outback does that with its foglights from the factory, There's a button on the dash for SRF, steering responsive fog-lights.