Worst factory headlight design

DavesTractor · Mar 9, 2015

Oaktree said:
And still manage to make it totally non-intuitive/needlessly complicated.

Exactly. I have a BMW with the goofy scroll button I-drive system. Yes it's cool and I pretty much have the hang of it, but sometimes I'd just like a radio with a knob for volume and a knob for tuning. And a knob to change the conditioned air from the floor to the dash, not 4 menus deep with the ability to customize for each occupant.

By comparison, we have a newer F350 and it is made for us guys with gray hair. Everything is simple and labeled and right at hand, not 4 menus deep.

3930dave · Mar 9, 2015

DavesTractor said:
Exactly. I have a BMW with the goofy scroll button I-drive system. Yes it's cool and I pretty much have the hang of it, but sometimes I'd just like a radio with a knob for volume and a knob for tuning. And a knob to change the conditioned air from the floor to the dash, not 4 menus deep with the ability to customize for each occupant.

By comparison, we have a newer F350 and it is made for us guys with gray hair. Everything is simple and labeled and right at hand, not 4 menus deep.

While poor headlights are an obvious safety issue, so is distracted driving. Plenty of press on that lately. News today was talking about a 17% higher fatality rate, due to Daylight Savings changes. It doesn't take much....

My preference is dedicated hardware controls. If I want tech, I want it all-out : full voice recognition.

Rgds, D.

timswi · Mar 9, 2015

Hummer H3 has the worst headlight design of anything I've owned. Without the running lights, you'd never be able to see at night. The high beams are useless. Bulb replacement is easy, just can't find anything that actually gives any real light. My 70 Chevelle headlights are better if you can believe that. Fortunately this thing is a grocery getter so not a huge deal.

bf109v7 · Mar 9, 2015

HHR said:
I would guess that half of today's automotive engineers wouldn't know how to change a flat tire, let alone a headlight they designed.

I am an automotive engineer. And I know to change anything on a car. But, I had to design a headlight for a leading german carmaker, and they wanted it so that the costomer can not change the bulb. When I ask why, they told me that each bulb has the light wire a little bit different and that the headlights should be adjusted after changing the bulb. I told them that this i a poor excuse for giving work to the dealers. But they sayed I can do it or they will give the job to sombody else.
Alex

HHR · Mar 10, 2015

bf109v7 said:
I am an automotive engineer. And I know to change anything on a car. But, I had to design a headlight for a leading german carmaker, and they wanted it so that the costomer can not change the bulb. When I ask why, they told me that each bulb has the light wire a little bit different and that the headlights should be adjusted after changing the bulb. I told them that this i a poor excuse for giving work to the dealers. But they sayed I can do it or they will give the job to sombody else. Alex

This is sad, but I'm not surprised.

bf109v7 · Mar 10, 2015

HHR said:
This is sad, but I'm not surprised.

Yes, but not only head lights. I started my career as a mecanic, and I alway tryed to make things so that the can be reached without breaking your fingers. Like bolts on an engine. But many times I was stoppt,they told me that this bolt will be tightend in the factory befor the engine is installed, if somebody later wants to take it out he can take out the engine first.
Alex

3930dave · Mar 10, 2015

This page has me thinking (not for the first time....), "I should get that Model T".

From Wikipedia...

Henry Ford oversaw the requirements and design of the Model T based on the realities of that world. Consequently, the Model T was (intentionally) almost as much a tractor and portable engine as it was an automobile. It has always been well regarded for its all-terrain abilities and ruggedness. It could travel a rocky, muddy farm lane, ford a shallow stream, climb a steep hill, and be parked on the other side to have one of its wheels removed and a pulley fastened to the hub for a flat belt to drive a bucksaw, thresher, silo blower, conveyor for filling corn cribs or haylofts, baler, water pump (for wells, mines, or swampy farm fields), electrical generator, and countless other applications.

Rgds, D.

bf109v7 · Mar 10, 2015

I bought an ISUZU Crosswind here, the cheapest version. Not much worse than the model T. No eletronics, direct injection diesel, can be push startet without battery. But it would not pass USA or EU safty laws. I don't understand this laws anyway. Suiside is legal, why they make laws about how save a car must be. O.K. my last job was to design safty things for cars, but it should be the decision of the buyer whether he want to have them.
Alex

3930dave · Mar 11, 2015

bf - you should post a description of your Crosswind in this thread

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/288903-compact-diesel-trucks-we-cant.html

If you post hand-calculated mileage for your truck, I'll be away from TBN for a day or 3.

(Will need to replace computer keyboard due to salt damage from tears....

:duh

.

Rgds, D.

Garandman · Mar 11, 2015

nybirdman said:
That is the one thing I don't like about my 2010 Subaru Outback;remove the tire,inner fender liner to change a bulb.

That's disappointing. On the 2006 I have, you twist off a plastic cover for the driver's side (about 10 seconds). On the passenger side you have to remove the plastic intake duct, which takes an additional, say, 20 seconds.

I use the Sylvania XtraVision as they are a little brighter, though they only seem to last 30-50,000 miles.