Quote:
Originally Posted by CanadianGatorBacon
Admin Update: directly below is BMWUSA's official response to the IIHS report:
Original post:
"Many of the poorest-scoring vehicles were luxury cars. Case in point: The headlights on the BMW 3-Series [with halogen lights] received the lowest marks of any car tested. Researchers said a driver with a BMW equipped with those headlines would have to be going 35 miles per hour or slower to stop in time to avoid an obstacle in the travel lane."
" A better-performing headlight system available on the 3-Series [i.e., LED lights], for example, earned a "marginal" score."
"Cars earning a "marginal" rating include: the Acura TLX, Ford Fusion, Audi A4, Lincoln MKZ, BMW 2-series, BMW 3-Series, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry and Chrysler 200."
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/03/30/h...afety-car-led/
"Headlights are evaluated on the track after dark at the IIHS Vehicle Research Center. A special device measures the light from both low beams and high beams as the vehicle is driven on five different approaches: traveling straight, a sharp left curve, a sharp right curve, a gradual left curve and a gradual right curve.
Glare for oncoming vehicles also is measured from low beams in each scenario to make sure it isn't excessive.
Headlights are tested as received from the dealer. Although the vertical aim of headlights can be adjusted on most vehicles, IIHS doesn't change headlight aim because few vehicle owners ever do and some manufacturers advise consumers not to.
After a vehicle is tested on the track, IIHS engineers compare its visibility and glare measurements to those of a hypothetical ideal headlight system and use a scheme of demerits to determine the rating. Results for low beams are weighted more heavily than high beams because they are used more often. The readings on the straightaway are weighted more heavily than those on the curves because more crashes occur on straight sections of road.
Vehicles equipped with high-beam assist, which automatically switches between high beams and low beams depending on the presence of other vehicles, may earn back some points taken off for less-than-ideal low beam visibility. This credit is given only for approaches on which the glare threshold isn't exceeded and on which the high beams provide additional visibility compared with the low beams.
A vehicle with excessive glare on any of the approaches can't earn a rating above marginal."
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/deskto...ed-improvement
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/rat...ght-evaluation
Prius V LED vs BMW 3er halogen:
Attachment 1392541
Attachment 1392542
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So basically if you want to see better, pay more. Nice, BMW...Nice. Safety should be FIRST. Equip all cars with the best lighting system, period. Use your price points line on stereos, wheel upgrades, etc...not on a safety item. I have no issue with my lights..but they the xenons...