HID headlamps

[sproutdreamer]

Being an older driver I suffer from glare from oncoming headlamps more than when I was younger and HID lamps make this problem worse.

I am wondering whether to get a newer Avensis solely for the better headlamp lighting. HID lamps are said to be 2-3 time the light output of

even the better bulbs such as Osram nightbreakers. As I drive around many other car headlights are noticeably brighter than mine

So the question is how much better are the HID headlights for night driving? Do the newer Avensis model have directional headlights i.e. lights that follow the steering?

[Heidfirst]

Hi, hopefully I can help as I have literally just yesterday changed from a 2012 Avensis T Spirit with AFS Bi-Xenons to a 2017 Business Edition with fixed halogens.

 Didn't drive much last night but I would say that these halogens are adequate but not as good as the Bi-xenons which are also whiter. They are, however, better imo than the lights fitted on your T25 (I had a 57 plate). One thing that I hadn't realised is that in the 2015 facelift they also changed the halogen bulb fitting to HIR2 which very much limits your upgrade bulb options compared to H4 etc..

Assuming that you are looking at the latest spec.:

Business Edition Plus & Excel grades now have LED headlights rather than HID/Bi-Xenon.

Business Edition Plus & Excel grades now have cornering lights (front fogs are dual purpose).

Excel grade has AFS headlights where the headlight beam follows the steering.

 

[sproutdreamer]

Thanks Heid

I am even more confused by some of the terminology such as HIR2, H4,  and how do LED light compare to HID? You also refer to cornering light and where the headlight beam follows the steering-are thedy not the same. Do I assume the brightest lights are the HID/BiXenon? Please bear with my ignorance I do appreciate your time!

[FROSTYBALLS]

Rough guide:

Common halogen bulb fitments - H1, H3, H4, H7, H11, HB3, HB4.

Halogen Infra Red bulbs which are single filament bulbs and approx 80% brighter than standard halogen - HIR2

Adaptive Front Lighting - redirects low beam head lighting to provide better illumination of corners when steering

Steering front headlights - can be either swivelling lights or additional headlight bulbs fitted at a different angle to low beams which are activated by movement of the steering/steering wheel (eg our i20 has the latter).

Road legal halogen bulb upgrades are available giving up to 130% more light - eg Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited, Philips X-treme Vision, etc.

HIR2 upgrade bulbs provide approx 20% more light - eg Osram Cool Blue Intense (currently about £33 each).

 

[alan333]

The standard halogen lights on my T25 Avensises weren't very good, nor were the ones in our Auris.  Better bulbs made a bit of improvement, not much tho.  The standard halogen lights on my T27 Avensises were better but still not as good as halogens in a previously owned Citroen C4 or Ford Focus.  The LED's on a recent Mazda 6 were exceptionally bright but didn't shine that far ahead.  The xenons in my current Mazda CX-5 are the best to date - bright and a good range ahead.  Both the Mazds have/had the lights which turn with the steering - they're good on twisty B-roads but not so noticeable on straighter roads, and virtually no difference on motorways.

[Heidfirst]

2 hours ago, sproutdreamer said:

I am even more confused by some of the terminology such as HIR2, H4,  and how do LED light compare to HID? You also refer to cornering light and where the headlight beam follows the steering-are thedy not the same. Do I assume the brightest lights are the HID/BiXenon? Please bear with my ignorance I do appreciate your time!

HIR2, H4 etc. are the pattern of how the bulb fits into the socket (or whatever). HIR2 are relatively recent & there are very few choices of upgrade bulbs compared to older fitment designs like H4 e.g. no Philips Xtreme or Osram Nightbreakers.

My understanding is that LED headlights are meant to be better than HID/Bi-Xenon but I haven't seen for myself so can't quantify.

Cornering lights (as far as I understand, as again I have never used or seen in use) are where the front fogs are dual purposed & at night, if enabled, e.g. if you turn left, the left hand fog only will switch on to illuminate the road edge  until you straighten up when it will then extinguish.

AFS (at least as far as Bi-xenon & I presume LED) actually swivels the main headlight beams & on my Avensis was irrespective of low or high beam if switched on (you can opt to disable it).

So, at least as far as the Avensis is concerned, cornering lights & AFS are different.

[Konrad C]

Great subject. I follow Tesla Bjorn and he just tested an E-Golf and demonstrated the adaptive lights.
 

In his previous video, the adaptive lights do a fancy self checking systems similar to search lights on start up. 

Sorry for Bjorns language!!

Edited September 28, 2017 by Konrad C
Additional words

[sproutdreamer]

Thanks guys that is some really good info. I want to spend as little as possible to get an Avensis with adaptive headlights (good video)  and HID headlights so the question is what is the oldest model and spec Avensis where I can get these features?  I really appreciate all the the advice.

[Heidfirst]

I think that you are likely to only find AFS on T Spirit/Excel grade Avensis (it possibly was an option on e.g. T4 but if so, I imagine would have been 1 rarely taken up). My 2012  T Spirit had AFS so at least by then.

You may struggle, however, to find a 1.8 T Spirit/Excel (at one point Toyota GB stopped offering a petrol Avensis Excel alhough it was later reintroduced as the winds of change against diesel started to rise) if it is a petrol that you want.

(& yes, on start up the AFS beams rise up & then fall as they find level)

.

[sproutdreamer]

Thanks Heid - I think you are right that petrol auto 1.8's are very thin on the ground in fact I could not find one high spec one for sale 12-15. I thinkk I may have to go deisel, which was not my prefered choice.

[Heidfirst]

I have just gone diesel > petrol.

Reasons why:

no longer doing the mileage to make the fuel economy pay for the higher upfront cost (& of course the wind of change against diesel for the not so distant future)

I am not convinced that the BMW diesel (15>) was an improvement. If you are looking at 12-15 see below.

If you are buying s/h the potential issues of DPF, DMF, injectors etc.& their replacement cost especially at higher mileages. I have said before that in my opinion the only way to run a modern common-rail turbo-diesel with DPF etc. is under warranty. The 1.8 is a lot simpler & as I am currently planning on keeping this car for longer than it's warranty I am banking on it needing much less work. I had an extended warranty for my T Spirit (I did take my own advice ) but I hope that I can get away without one for the new car when it hits 5. 

It should be possible to find a 1.8 CVT but finding a 1.8 CVT with HIDs could well be problematic.