Looking for a Model 3 LED headlight review (high beam & low beams)

[ratsbew]

I'm looking for someone to go over the qualities of the LED headlight system of the Model 3. How bright is it and how far does it project? Is it true that there is no auto-high beams?

 

[C141medic]

Heard the same thing-no auto high beams. Hope that’s not the case. Would think a software update would take care of that

 

[onautopilot]

The headlights are completely awesome. They’re super bright. They are leagues better than my 16 Model S (I believe they may have changed suppliers since then though on the S). The fog lamps add quite a bit of dispersed light as well. There is a nifty feature to adjust the beam up and down through the scroll wheel. They’re the best headlights of any car I have owned. Prior to the 3 the Honda S2000 (HID beams) was the best. The S2000 has famously great headlights.

 

[run-the-joules]

The headlights are completely awesome. They’re super bright. They are leagues better than my 16 Model S (I believe they may have changed suppliers since then though on the S). The fog lamps add quite a bit of dispersed light as well. There is a nifty feature to adjust the beam up and down through the scroll wheel. They’re the best headlights of any car I have owned. Prior to the 3 the Honda S2000 (HID beams) was the best. The S2000 has famously great headlights.

This is interesting to me. My current car has phenomenal headlights and I'm curious how the 3 will stack up. I took a facelifted S home for 3 days on an extended test drive and was gobsmacked at how crappy the headlights were. Indistinct beam pattern and unremarkable brightness. So if I won't be downgrading on headlights, that'll be awesome.

 

[ebmcs03]

This is interesting to me. My current car has phenomenal headlights and I'm curious how the 3 will stack up. I took a facelifted S home for 3 days on an extended test drive and was gobsmacked at how crappy the headlights were. Indistinct beam pattern and unremarkable brightness. So if I won't be downgrading on headlights, that'll be awesome.

I like to know what “current” car has phenomenal head lights haha.

 

[run-the-joules]

I like to know what “current” car has phenomenal head lights haha.

Current to me, not a current model. 13 year old Cadillac with HIDs.

 

[Leland]

High beams, residential street. A few street lamps in the area.

Low beams, residential street. A few street lamps in the area.

Low beams, freeway off ramp with a lot of other light sources.

No auto high beams......yet.

 

[run-the-joules]

View attachment 270506
High beams, residential street. A few street lamps in the area.


View attachment 270505
Low beams, residential street. A few street lamps in the area.


View attachment 270504 Low beams, freeway off ramp with a lot of other light sources.

No auto high beams......yet.

 

[Ulmo]

The headlights are completely awesome. They’re super bright. They are leagues better than my 16 Model S (I believe they may have changed suppliers since then though on the S). The fog lamps add quite a bit of dispersed light as well. There is a nifty feature to adjust the beam up and down through the scroll wheel. They’re the best headlights of any car I have owned. Prior to the 3 the Honda S2000 (HID beams) was the best. The S2000 has famously great headlights.

That sounds too good to be true. What likelyhood are those premium headlamps that will be replaced with cheaper ones in 6 months?

I like to know what “current” car has phenomenal head lights haha.

Absolutely nothing I've driven in the last year, out of dozens of different model cars. Highs and lows suck now. I'm having trouble driving in mountains these days, because they don't even show around corners: just tunnel vision, and you have no idea what's on the road or where it goes except by memory and driving into the dark by guess.

Something changed. @run-the-joules's current car's headlamps came from an era when good headlamps were still made. I've had many cars with good headlamps and a few with bad headlamps, and I think the headlamps have been getting worse not only because my eyesight is worse but because the headlamps themselves are worse.

Back when headlamps were $5, round, and had a toggle button on the floor far left by the firewall for high beams, everything regarding headlamps worked absolutely great. I wish we could go back to that standard.

If the Tesla Model 3 is the only currently made car on the road with good headlamps, that will be a good selling point.

 

[run-the-joules]

Something changed. @run-the-joules's current car's headlamps came from an era when good headlamps were still made. I've had many cars with good headlamps and a few with bad headlamps, and I think the headlamps have been getting worse not only because my eyesight is worse but because the headlamps themselves are worse..

Agree. Just went out and snapped a few pics for comparison. Had to drive around a little to find somewhere without streetlights… sorry to the folks whose homes I just lit up!


Low beams:

High beams:

 

[dragoljub]

The headlights are amazing much much better than our 17 S90D

 

[run-the-joules]

Agree. Just went out and snapped a few pics for comparison. Had to drive around a little to find somewhere without streetlights… sorry to the folks whose homes I just lit up!


Low beams:

High beams:

…and now, the Model 3:

Low:

High:

 

[MP3Mike]

…and now, the Model 3:

Have you adjusted the headlights up or down on your Model 3?

 

[run-the-joules]

Have you adjusted the headlights up or down on your Model 3?

Nope. No intention of touching that without a good reason TBH.

 

[DFibRL8R]

I have always liked the headlights on my Classic Model S. Early on, got a lot of flashes from other drivers thinking my high beams were on but that has decreased lately since there are more HID lights out there.

So far I like the Model 3's lights better.

 

[Wknapp0924]

Just picked up the Model 3. I was following my wife home tonight and the 3s lights illumated all four lanes. And when I went in from her the low beams looked like high beams. Amazing headlights. Best I have ever seen.

 

[hoang51]

The headlights are completely awesome. They’re super bright. They are leagues better than my 16 Model S (I believe they may have changed suppliers since then though on the S). The fog lamps add quite a bit of dispersed light as well. There is a nifty feature to adjust the beam up and down through the scroll wheel. They’re the best headlights of any car I have owned. Prior to the 3 the Honda S2000 (HID beams) was the best. The S2000 has famously great headlights.

Cutoff and lights' width pics comparing the Model 3 and the S2000 or it's all fluff. Lol. I agree with you with the S2000 having famous and most sought after HID projectors, and combined with, say Osram Xenarc CBI bulbs or something similar.

 

[Fezzik]

Agree. Just went out and snapped a few pics for comparison. Had to drive around a little to find somewhere without streetlights… sorry to the folks whose homes I just lit up!


Low beams:

High beams:

Are you using a HUD? if so which type?

 

[run-the-joules]

Are you using a HUD? if so which type?

Those pics were from my Cadillac that the 3 replaced, to give a reference for what I consider good lights.

 

[Moderatefan]

Is it true that there is no auto-high beams?

Auto high beams are coming:

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