Hid Lights

Jon Evans · August 31, 2004

Hi,

My LS400 is the first car I've owned with genuine HID lights (as opposed to HID-effect bulbs). When driving it the other night I was flashed about 30-odd times on a 2 hour journey.

Is it normal that HIDs get this response from other motorists? Or could mine be out of alignment? They don't look that bad to me, and they do do the down/up calibration thing when you turn them on.

I'm subscribed to alldatadiy.com for the LS and I've printed out the adjustment instructions, but I had a look earlier this evening and I couldn't even see the cog I was supposed to be turning.

aido · August 31, 2004

I think a few people here have had them adjusted by the dealer so they aren't pointing so high - guess that will be the case here if you can't find any way to manually adjust ?

Hopefully that should apply to all models?

Zee had his adjusted (in an IS200) as he was having the same problem a while back.

ColinBarber · August 31, 2004

Are you sure the instructions were for HID lights? US models weren't fitted with them as standard so the alldata info is probably for the normal lights.

The self-leveling should make sure the beams are correct. When driving behind a car does the light from the headlights go above number plate height or boot height?

Jon Evans · August 31, 2004

Are you sure the instructions were for HID lights?

The page I printed out covered both types. I was expecting it to be a bit awkward, but I wasn't prepared for being unable to find the adjusting cog. :-) I will have another go tomorrow lunchtime, and hopefully take some pictures.

The self-leveling should make sure the beams are correct. When driving behind a car does the light from the headlights go above number plate height or boot height?

Not sure - I think maybe I did occasionally notice it come up to boot level on other cars.

SteveAudioX · August 31, 2004

I'm running HID's on my IS200, never been flashed from other drivers, I think yours may need adjustments.

wills · September 9, 2004

never been flashed once - and i drive in and out off london daily, could be the self levelling motor?

Jon Evans · September 9, 2004

Last week I stayed at work until it started to go dark, and aligned them against marks I made on an old desk top leaning against my office wall. Even at 3 metres distance from the wall, the lights were shining about 25cm too high. I adjusted them until the light cut-off occurred below the centre height of the lights. That will do roughly until the next service. I've not been flashed since then.