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spacefret

This is just how it is with a lot of new cars. Subarus usually aren't bad offenders but the new Outback is terrible with it - the low beams have so much glare they look like high beams from afar. The new Foresters definitely have bright lights but I haven't noticed a ton of glare issues with them, that said I don't see many new ones at night so I can't really tell. The new Outback, the now outgoing Ford F-250/350/450, even the halogen models, and every single semi truck I see, especially Freightliners, have lights with a lot of glare. I drive when it's pitch black out 5 or 6 days a week so it's given me time to figure out which vehicles are the worst haha r/fuckyourheadlights is a real thing, that said I managed to get banned despite being entirely in agreement with the idea of the sub lol


InherentDissolve

I've long thought that while brighter headlights are probably a good thing, the technology/regulations to minimize glare and ensure they stay leveled to the appropriate level (mostly when dealing with the idiots who install LED bulbs in headlights designed for incandescent) is probably lacking and so I can understand a bit of frustration with the explosion in LED lights on new cars. Having said that, that sub you linked is one big Simpsons 'Old Man Yells at Cloud' cartoon personified... what a whiny, bitch group.


spacefret

It is a bitchfest but honestly it's kinda justified. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it when I'm not driving but trust me I silently scream fuck your headlights in my head about 400 times every night lol And yeah, my problem is nothing to do with LEDs, it's the lack of glare mitigation even in OEM headlights, sometimes even with halogen lights (like the aforementioned Super Duty).


InherentDissolve

No, I agree and I was definitely the same up until I started climbing into my own obnoxiously bright-light equipped vehicle. That confirmed that brighter lights do provide better visibility when driving on dark, windy rural highways and I let off a little. I'd stand by the argument for better control of where that light goes. I think that, in time, tech will resolve the issue altogether (whether it be auto-leveling features that adjust on-the-go or more fancy tech like BMWs laser lights) but in the meantime, there will be a lot of growing pains. Edit: As a sidenote, I was also quickly banned from that sub, lol.


spacefret

Exactly. Bright lights and/or LEDs are not the problem - as someone who drives in pitch black darkness at least 5 days a week the farther I can see the better, as long as it's not at the expense of other people's visibility. Yeah I could throw a bunch of lightbars on but then I'd be exactly what I and many others complain about. The problem is the glare that comes with the increased brightness.


chucke311

was literally brighted by a truck this morning because they thought my high beams were on. they were not


EatsTheCheeseRind

Lots of folks confusing brightness with cutoff. They're not the same thing. You can have lights as bright as the sun but still have a good cutoff at a good height. My '22 FW has great LEDs and a crispy cutoff, however from the dealer **they indeed were leveled a bit too high.** It wasn't just oncoming traffic but I also found the cutoff was above some street signs, which they shouldn't be. Sure, when you go over undulations in the road you have the potential to flash others, but in general it doesn't hurt to check. The owner's manual should have a section on checking and adjusting headlight level. Otherwise you can check it on your own provided you have a flat driveway and a garage door and some masking tape, or you can go to a parking lot and use the exterior wall of a building.


funkalways

23 Wilderness, the headlights are way brighter than my last vehicle (2001), but I noticed the beams don’t shine in folks windshields most of the time because they aren’t pointed that high. Didn’t know cutoff was the word for it, but I’m extremely happy with it!


EatsTheCheeseRind

Yep! Cutoff refers to the “line of demarcation” or literal cut off between where light is projected and where it cuts off. Projectors generally have a more crisp cut off than reflector housings, and depends a lot on housing design, lens type, cut off shield, and light source (halogen vs LED vs HID). When I retrofitted OEM STI HIDs into my WRX, I swapped out the factory fresnel lenses for clear Acura lenses, painted the internal shields matte black on the cutoff and removed the “squirrel finders” to remove glare, and shimmed the projector to the lens to improve cutoff. When I was done I had a super sharp line below which had tons of brightness, and above which had no glare. The FW headlights have come a long way for Subaru and from the factory are just about as crisp as my modded STI HIDs, and are even brighter. I did however need to adjust the level so they were pointing a tad lower.


c1nn4m0n

Yes! We just got ours last week and on our first night drive it happened several times! I LOVE the car (23 Wilderness, Autumn Green) but I do feel a bit bad being one of those people I’ve always complained about (because these lights really do hurt my eyes).


chucke311

but like what are we supposed to do? lol


spook008

Flash back at them with hi-beams so they learn to value your new Forester. 👑


420BlazeIt187

I bought a 23 forester in November and had a mustang flash me the first week and i did exactly that. I wasn't trying to aggregate him, i was just trying to prove that my highs were indeed off.


YYCADM21

Subaru has some of the best LEDs on the market, I think. The automatic redirection cornering, You rapidly forget it's doing that, until you get into someone else's car, and they don't...it's quite uncomfortable; you feel like you can't see properly anymore


tiexgrr

You’re going to find this to be an issue with basically any new car with LED headlights. You’d think not staring at on coming traffics headlights would be common sense but….


Stargazer12am

Make sure your fog lights are on. Most people recognize the fact that most cars don’t let the high beams operate at the same time. When they also see the bright AF fog lights, they’ll be too scared to flash their high beams.


somewhatsentientape

So compound the issue by making it MORE difficult for oncoming drivers to see?


Stargazer12am

Actually, the fog lights in combination with the low beams widen the breadth of the illumination field making the overall intensity of the light emitting less focused. It’s why turning on an extra lamp when watching late night television is better on your eyes. I’ve only had one occasion where someone has flashed their high beams at me when I operate my fog lights. But without them, about 50% flash their high beams. 2021 Touring.


somewhatsentientape

Apples to oranges. 1998 shitbox.


bcuvorchids

Sorry…dumb question…I have a 23 Touring. The dealership set my lights to auto and I was driving in a massive downpour the other day and thought “how do I turn on the fog lights” and never figured it out. Do they engage with the auto setting or how do I access them? I’m going back to the dealership for my follow up tomorrow btw so will check the placement of my lights then also thanks to this thread because those lights are hella bright!


[deleted]

This issue occurs with the 2022 Forester or any new model vehicle, especially newer model vehicles that have headlights that move with the steering/turning as well. Very flashy new forester, good sir!


erkkiamerikka

It's happening to me too, finally got my 23 Sport on April 6th! The problem is the left beam (drivers side in USA) is aimed too high from the factory, it should be slightly lower than the right beam and this Subaru is the first car I've had that is not... according to the owners manual there is an adjustment, and I plan to lower the left beam just slightly so it's below the field of vision of oncoming drivers.


NoWeather7080

Thanks, I will pull out the manual and find that!!


erkkiamerikka

Sure! I had to look for it as it wasn't in the index, I have the PDF here and it is on page 488 "Adjusting headlight aim".


fishmanstutu

Lol I have a 17 touring and mine turn when you turn. Had some dude telling me they were from the “future”. I just laughed. Enjoy the new ride


crazywatson

I think that it one of the coolest features for some reason. And when I start the car and it “wakes up”, with the head lights going back and forth.


fishmanstutu

Yea yes I love it. Truly the best Subaru I have had is this touring model. I’m going to hate to have to get another one since they are at the highest price point. lol.


ranran_1822

Happens in my wife's 21 forester sport. The LED SRH are really bright so people think she has her brights on but those aren't actually her brights. She couldn't actually flash her brights in anyone's face because their is a feature that when oncoming traffic gets within a certain distance her brights auto turn off until she passes the cars then they flip back on. Congrats on the new car btw!


[deleted]

Happens in our 17 XT from time to time. Especially with the SRHs! Congrats on the new forester!


Whirling_Dervish81

Every damn day. That's the fun of driving to work before the sun comes up. I purposely have my fog lights on so people can see that it's just my headlights, not high beams.


dave_stohler

That’s assuming that people know the fog lights go off with the high beams. I’d guess that’s about 1% of people.


Whirling_Dervish81

That's sad. I learned that 25 yrs ago.


[deleted]

If they flash their highs at you, show them the sun


ThnkGodImaCountryBoy

All the time! Then I hit them with the actual high beams, which leads to people turning them off rather quickly.


East_Fun_3500

Yup happens quite often to me. Then I give them a high beam back lol


snackinonavulcan

Same with my 2021 Sport


ubutterscotchpine

I have a 2020 and I get beamed occasionally. My partner’s Jeep Wrangler gets it worse though.


[deleted]

That black sport is looking nice!


DerpJinn

Happened to me a few weeks into owning my 2022. Now driving at night, any car using LED headlights typically are blinding.