I'm an older guy who wants brighter headlights. Several posts spoke about very expensive fixes, replacing the whole assembly at great $$$.
Can some one tell if there are brighter bulbs (brighter than me!) which would make a significant improvement in my night-time safety? (I have a 2016 LX)
Thanks for the help.

 

I'm using Phillips 130%. The cheapest place that I got them from is ebay. I'd suggest you get 2 sets.

 

You have to watch out, plastic headlight buckets melt easier than you might think.
The stock headlights are almost 250 each.. so 200 for projector inserts for both sides is relatively OK..

You can buy bulbs with enhanced high beams from osram, so they are much brighter on hi, or low depending on the bulb. Make sure they are the german made Osrams..
They are behind the counter in bigger auto parts stores.. Plain little white box.

 

Ya know, I'm an older guy too and thought my headlights were a bit dim as well but after a bit I realized it was the aim more than the brightness so I moved them higher a bit and it's been great ever since, just sayin'.

 

I noticed that when I picked up my '15 LX last year, they didn't seem all that bright ....slight adjustment last fall cured that ....for now...

 

But does raising the aim of the lights put them into an oncoming driver's eyes? I want to see the road, not broken windshield glass.

 

In my experience, NO. See below.


Factory headlight aim for most cars seems to be set for a car carrying a full rated load. Carrying passengers and extra cargo weight lowers the car in back.

So, if you typically drive alone or with one passenger in front, you can safely raise the aim of your headlamps without blinding oncoming traffic.


The method I use, is to aim them higher against a garage door. Then, as you back away, the cut-off line should drop, or go lower, the farther you are from the door.



An additional check is to note the light pattern as you drive along a 'Jersey Barrier'. The light should go lower as it gets farther ahead of the car.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_barrier

You will be surprised how much farther you can see once the headlight aim is optimized!

 

try aiming the head lights a little higher too. i noticed on my wife's GK that it's pointed too low out of the box..and
been meaning to adjust but too lazy.

 

How complicated is it to re-aim headlights? Is it also safe? Thanks.

 

Easy Peasy.

Quick SEARCH:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...light-aim.html

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...-its-must.html

If you cannot find the adjuster, post back... daughter will be visiting with her Fit for Fathers Day and I'll take a picture.

 

The adjustment bolt is easy to find. Seriously, with my car the headlights illuminate a focused area and the top of that area is defined by a distinct horizontal line. That line just didn't seem to be very far out there to me, so one day I decided to adjust both headlights to gain some depth. The result has been great. But just a few weeks ago on a very dark night I noticed the brights didn't seem as bright as normal, esp. directly in front of the car. When I tested it after the adjustment it seemed fine, so I wonder if something has gone amiss.

And yeah, a few weeks or so after adjusting I got a chance to check to see if I was blinding the oncoming guy and no, it wasn't bad at all, a lot better in fact than those aftermarket HID kits, I hate to see those things coming.

 

Have you considered an HID projector retrofit?

 

I believe the O.P.'s operative word was "affordable".

 

I find it's easier to change the fog lamps if I put the car on ramps so I can get my head under the car and see what I'm doing.

 

i noted in my blog, but the little adjustment i did on the factory headlight (1/2 turn on the dial upward) to aim the headlight made a big difference.

the aim dial is located at the top of the headlamp assembly. you can use a big phillips head screw driver from the top or a 10mm socket from the back. i used the latter. took no more than 5sec per side... oh and free

 

True, I just couldn't resist throwing it out there... it's a night and day difference that I wish everyone could have in their cars.

 

Not sure what you consider older, I'm 69. I was pleasantly surprised at how bright my lights are. Of course my other vehicle is a 2000 Ford Ranger so anything is a huge improvement.

 

Saludos amigo. ¡Añada 15 años a su edad! Me gustaron las fábricas de taquila en Jalisco pero nort el crimen y la violencia justo fuera de las zonas turísticas. Esos problemas me convencieron de dejar de visitar México. Los mejores deseos.

 

the only spanish i know is donde es bano?

 

I found the adjustment screw for the headlight. There is a large circular thing with slots around the circumference, that looks like you turn it by putting a slotted screw screwdriver in a slot, and then pry in one direction or the other. Also, there is a hex-head at the center of the circle. Can I adjust the headlights by turning that hex head, or is that a lock screw, used to loosen the outer circle so that you can turn it, and used to tighten the outer circle after you are finished turning it? Nothing in the owner manual.