2007 Mini Cooper S: Headlights Too Bright?

I find a number of cars have low-beams that look frustratingly like high-beams. Surprisingly, they're not usually HIDs, only sometimes.

I flash them, hoping they're actually high-beams and will get turned down out of my face. Sorry.

The Mini's Auto-Leveling Xenon Headlamps are... autoleveling. So they sure are pointing the right height.

Was the other driver driving a sports car? Or is she a 5' short lady who forgot to sit on a cushion?

Or maybe she's having an episode of migraine and is light sensitive. She should get off the road and take her meds.

Heehee, you guys are funny. Yeah, that lady WAS in a low-riding car so maybe that was the problem. But then wouldn't she be used to the fact that EVERYone's lights are shining in her face?

I'm surprised more people are not talking about this. The new generation of hi-intensity lights are a major annoyance. Not only are they exceedingly bright, but they have a bluish tint. By far the worst are Range Rover headlamps. Whenever one drives by me I want to toss a grenade into the cabin.

Driving a low-riding car (an Si, if you're wondering), I'm definitely used to pretty much everyone's headlights right in the face, but I can sympathize with the sharp pain these new headlights can bring about.

I've never gone so far as to actually carp at someone that their brights are on, though. Look to the right and keep moving, lady!

Try adjusting them down - they may be pointed up. Then again if this is the first time you've heard a complaint or received a flash, then the other driver was just a whiner.

FWIW, you shouldn't be looking at car's headlights. Not sure where people learned to drive...

FWIW, auto-leveling lights in some cars can be adjusted. I've not bothered to read up on the mini's xenon lights - nobody flashes me or ever has mentioned my lights being blinding.

I can't believe how ignorant people can be. People flash me when I'm driving my mom's Sienna LTD. (HIDs standard)...of course when the beams AREN'T on. There's only manual leveling on that van, though...and I keep them on the highest setting to get the most range on the highway...whatevs.

Then there are the people who walk up to you as you're getting out of your luxury car in a restaurant parking lot to remind you that the headlights are still on. Five seconds after you walk away and the fool is still standing there, they go off by themselves..."Oh, nevermind." Welcome to the 21st century. Get with the times, already.

[end rant]

I've never had anyone comment on my 6's Xenons but that's probably because it's pretty low to the ground. I love them, though, because I'm pretty much blind at night and they are BRIGHT.

One time at the grocery store I exited the car and left my lights on. Some old guy said hey bud, your lights are on and I said oh don't worry, they'll go off by themselves. The 6's auto-offs take about twenty seconds (twenty seconds too long, IMO) and after about ten seconds he turned around and said quietly under his breath, "Dumbass." I just laughed. Old people are funny. My mom's old Sienna (a 99) had auto-offs that shut off the second you opened the door, which is the best auto-off there is.

I hate HIDs. Whoever thought blindingly bright lights would be safe was an idiot. When they first came out I did headlight-flash a few cars that had them, not realizing the world had finally gone mad enough to make high-beam intensity the new standard.

I used to test headlights on cars in my previous occupation. HIDs are definitely worth your money. Nevertheless, unlike in EU, many cars sold here in the States do not come with automatic leveling devices which would shine the beams on to oncoming drivers. In EU, all HID equipped cars are enforced to be equipped with auto-leveling devices.
For those who despise the HID, wait until you see the LEDs, like the ones on the Audi R8. I saw them, and they are devilishly bright. Oh what terror to those in front of the new Audis!

Heck, a lot of LED brake lights are too bright! I'm going to hate seeing them used up front.

Regarding HIDs though... like I said above, most of the annoyingly bright headlights aren't actually HIDs in my experience. But I don't see why people like them so much. As a driver, I don't want a sharp cutoff and I don't want a bluish tint to everything I see. Blue lights make it harder to see anything else, imo. My favorites are non-HID projectors.

Speeder31: Maybe you should focus on the fact that complete strangers are willing to take the time to share a little genuine concern with you. Are they a little behind the times? Sure. But I guess they'll change their tune after encountering a few arrogant snots who lack the courtesy to say thank you as they exit their mommy-mobile.

When you pay for that vehicle you're driving, you may change your tune. With responsibility (usually) comes maturity.

One thing to remember is that some HIDs have reflector housings and others use projectors, like my 330i.

I've only got flashed once, but from what I've noticed driving several HID equipped cars is that cars with reflectors control their light less accurately and may irritate a little bit more. Cars with projectors...well if you get caught in the line of fire (especially with high Range Rovers) you will get blinded hard core.

All my vehicles have HIDs. My old 95 Civic EX sedan has aftermarket Denji projector housings and a 8000K McCulloch HID kit and the fogs are 3000K (yellow) HID. Never been flashed.

Our 2005 Odyssey has a McCulloch 5000K HID kit and Ive never been flashed. Fogs are standard halogens.

Our S2000 and Acura CL Type-S came from the factory with HIDs and Ive never been flashed in either car.

Only car Ive driven with HIDs that Ive been flashed is my stepmothers 2006 Toyota Avalon Limted. They are self leveling non projector but I always get flashed when I drive this car.

^^
Wow, 8000K, you are brave...

"But I don't see why people like them so much. As a driver, I don't want a sharp cutoff and I don't want a bluish tint to everything I see. Blue lights make it harder to see anything else, imo. My favorites are non-HID projectors."

Being the owner of bi-xenon 4-way adaptive lights, I can tell you people like them so much because they give you phenominally better visibility. The light cutoff is not really "sharp", a better description would be that it's more precisely focused. Jump in a car with reflector halogens and it's like you're driving via two cheap flashlights. And xenon light doesn't look blue at all when you're behind the wheel - the lights appear blue to oncoming traffic because halogen lights by contrast (as well as street lights, house lights, etc) are so yellowish. Factory xenons are usually very close to the color temperature of daylight, and you don't walk around all day saying to yourself "this bluish daylight really bothers me!"