Headlamps not very effective

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Deleted User 1326

Post by Deleted User 1326 »

woody2shoes wrote: Thu Nov 02, 2023 9:18 pm I certainly would not recommend an SE. it is dangerous.
The value of a thorough, pre-purchase examination and test drive of a new car cannot be overstated.

Moreover, it is pretty simple to look at the model-specific list of equipment for any new car and one can easily determine which type of headlamps are supplied, just by way of one example. Those whose budget extends only to the base model in a range may well find that powerful, LED or Xenon lamps are absent. Having said that, I’m aware that quite a few models from various manufacturers actually come fitted with LEDs now, as standard.

After one’s home, the purchase of a family car is probably the most expensive commodity that most people buy so a lot of homework ought to go into the matter before committing to purchase.

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PhilHornby
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Post by PhilHornby »

woody2shoes wrote: Thu Nov 02, 2023 9:18 pm The lights on my 2023 SE are diabolical. They are the worst headlights I've had on any car since 2013.
They are just not fit for purpose in the country, as soon as someone comes the other way you can't see a thing on your side.
Are you able to quantify what the issue is :?: Are they too dim? is the beam spread insufficient? Are they aimed too low down?

Is it just Dip beam you're unimpressed with, or Main beam too?

Also, I didn't really understand the statement: "as soon as someone comes the other way you can't see a thing on your side". On the face of it, that wouldn't seem to be a problem with your lights...
N Line S Hybrid (HEV).
23 plate - built Nov '22
r0n
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Post by r0n »

woody2shoes wrote: Thu Nov 02, 2023 9:18 pm <snip>
I certainly would not recommend an SE ( also the boot lid with no auto open is heally heave and the handle is high and hurts my wrist).
I didn't want all the extras on the Premium and at the price there were better other make options.
Apart from those two points is mostly a really good car but I can't keep it with those lights, it is dangerous.
I was originally going to buy an SE in the end I bought a Premium because for some strange reason the SE was a fair bit more costly for me for insurance despite being both cheaper to buy and I think one insurance group down , this wasn't a factor with one insurance company it was actually across several insurance companies when I was getting quotes for insurance. Over the time I intended to keep the car I figured the savings I made on annual insurance premiums would more or less cover the additional purchase price of the Premium over the SE , of course not everyones insurance costs and factors will be the same, but at the end of the day if I'd bought the SE I'd have been paying quite an amount in additional premiums for , in essence, nothing extra in insurance cover.

My Premium has different lighting to the SE , I have no problems with the lights . The tailgate on the Premium is also manual and whilst it's probably not the lightest tailgate in the world I don't think its any different to previous cars I've owned with similar sized tailgates, nor is it noticeably higher than the estate cars I've owned in the past. For the price I couldn't find any better other make options , I did consider a Skoda Superb estate or a Citroen C5X but ended up going for the Hyundai.

As an aside I was surprised to find my Premium has those see around corner type headlights
2023 Tucson - Premium - Petrol - Manual
r0n
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Post by r0n »

Indalo wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2023 9:34 am The value of a thorough, pre-purchase examination and test drive of a new car cannot be overstated.

Moreover, it is pretty simple to look at the model-specific list of equipment for any new car and one can easily determine which type of headlamps are supplied, just by way of one example. Those whose budget extends only to the base model in a range may well find that powerful, LED or Xenon lamps are absent. Having said that, I’m aware that quite a few models from various manufacturers actually come fitted with LEDs now, as standard.

After one’s home, the purchase of a family car is probably the most expensive commodity that most people buy so a lot of homework ought to go into the matter before committing to purchase.
To be fair you cannot though test drive a car in every situation and who here has test driven a car at night to check out the headlamps ?
2023 Tucson - Premium - Petrol - Manual
XADE
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Post by XADE »

r0n wrote: Sat Nov 04, 2023 7:14 pm
Indalo wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2023 9:34 am The value of a thorough, pre-purchase examination and test drive of a new car cannot be overstated.

Moreover, it is pretty simple to look at the model-specific list of equipment for any new car and one can easily determine which type of headlamps are supplied, just by way of one example. Those whose budget extends only to the base model in a range may well find that powerful, LED or Xenon lamps are absent. Having said that, I’m aware that quite a few models from various manufacturers actually come fitted with LEDs now, as standard.

After one’s home, the purchase of a family car is probably the most expensive commodity that most people buy so a lot of homework ought to go into the matter before committing to purchase.
To be fair you cannot though test drive a car in every situation and who here has test driven a car at night to check out the headlamps ?
Completely agree. I couldn't even find a black Tucson Ultimate within 50 miles, and same issue trying to find any model of the Ioniq 5 I originally wanted (glad I didn't bother).

I do find the LED headlights completely fine though.
2022 Ultimate - Phantom Black
Deleted User 1326

Post by Deleted User 1326 »

r0n wrote: Sat Nov 04, 2023 7:14 pm To be fair you cannot though test drive a car in every situation and who here has test driven a car at night to check out the headlamps ?
While I agree entirely with the first part of your comment, checking the type of headlamps fitted to particular models within the range doesn’t require a drive during night-time; that would come under the homework aspect, part of which is to research the model-specific equipment on the manufacturer’s website. I think most drivers are aware these days that Halogen Projector headlamps are something of an anachronism in our 21st century times of super-bright LED and Xenon lamps.

I had only a very short list of prerequisites when I weighed up the Tucson range against alternative brands of estate cars and SUVs. LED headlamps was one ‘must have’ for me.
daibill
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Post by daibill »

Perhaps you could fit the rope light that I saw a current model Tucson wearing as I drove to work this morning! Had to look twice but someone has put a light like an ID4 running at the bottom of the bonnet between the DRL's...
2022 1.6 Manual Premium Engine Red
Red ones are faster! ;)
TimPage
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Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2023 6:20 pm

Post by TimPage »

I have a 71 plate SE Connect which comes with the worst headlamps of any car i have driven in the past 20 years.
I was wanting to get a premium with LED headlamps but hardly any for sale at the time i got mine.
I love driving the car during the day but it is downright scary driving it at night.

The bulbs look to be HB3 9005 60w Halogens and I have just bought some Osram Daybreakers which i will fit this weekend in the hope that they improve things.

The main issue is that the lights dont put enough bright light onto the road so that you cannot clearly see anything. Dip is bad enough but main beam does not really seem to increase visibility at all. My previous Tucson was a 65 plate SE Connect and that put a LOT more light on the road.
The headlamps on the new cars are too low down to be effective.
Take a close look at every other maker of cars on the UK roads and they all have their lights in the nomal place where they work best.

I personally consider the SE Connect to be dangerous to drive at night.

Has anyone considered the option of fitting a numberplate LED light bar to their cars?
These install directly above or below the number plate and are very discreet.

I am serously considering getting one after Christmas which would improve main beam no end.

Cheers
Tim
Deleted User 1326

Post by Deleted User 1326 »

TimPage wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2023 6:47 pm I have a 71 plate SE Connect which comes with the worst headlamps of any car i have driven in the past 20 years.
Welcome to the forum, ’TimPage’.

While the headlamps on my Ultimate Hybrid aren’t the best by any means, they certainly outshine😀 the Halogen lamps on lesser models. Many of us wouldn’t entertain old 20th century candle-power in this 3rd decade of the 21st century so we purchase a car based on factors that are important to us..

Fortunately, we are helped by the manufacturers publishing list-by-list specification tables so that we can make an informed decision on which model to splash the cash.
Greezy56
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Post by Greezy56 »

On the power of the LED lights being too low down. I can run full beam in lit areas and dark areas and not one oncoming drive has flashed me. I position the beam to lowest setting. The LED lights aren't that good but you can get some extra lums by running full and dipping the beam to as low as she goes.
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