Strange low beam headlights behavoir (sw-bug?)

EVhonza

New member
Aug 27, 2024
3
2
3
Did you notice that Tesla's 3/Y headlights, when used for low beams, can operate in two different beam modes? In addition to low beams, of course, we also have high beams and adaptive high beams, but I don’t want to discuss those this time.

Low beams, also known as dipped headlights, are designed for use when there is oncoming traffic. In the Tesla I drove, however, I noticed something unusual about how they work. While with standard automotive lights, the low beam is mostly shaped into a wide "V," with one side horizontal and the other, which lights up the roadside, sloping upward. Tesla’s beam surprised me. When I turned on the lights in the garage, I noticed a "big step up" in the beam. The flat part is the same, but instead of a sloping angle, there’s a step and higher flat beam. The Tesla's headlights in their factory setting illuminated the road brilliantly. So what's wrong?

Okay, but when you’re driving through a gentle curve and an oncoming car enters the sharp "step up" zone and quickly dazzle oncoming drivers, even on a flat road. The driver leaves the glare zone as soon as they are close to your vehicle. However, they may still suffer from the effects of being dazzled, impairing their vision. This puts you in danger. If you adjust the lights to match the standard alignment line (using an analog beamsetter—a device for calibrating headlights to the typical wide "V" pattern), oncoming drivers won’t be dazzled, but your previously excellent headlights will now point downward, reducing your visibility at night.

But wait, your Tesla can light also much differently! When you turn on autopilot (on roads with lane markings), the adaptive high beams activate. If you then switch to low beams (manually, while staying in autopilot mode), suddenly the headlights shine “without the step,” i.e., horizontally from right to left. You can clearly see this on the surface of the car in front of you as if your autopilot stop (e.g., in a traffic jam). So Tesla could be able by software update ged rid of the unwanted "step up" beam.

This raises the question: why my new car (by default & by certification approved setting) dazzling drivers? And is something perhaps wrong somewhere…? Do you observe the same thing? Let me know here, thanks.

btw: ... Updates don’t help, the service says everything is fine, but hasn’t resolved anything. Oncoming cars were annoyed and flashed their lights at me quite frequently (even I drive alone in an empty car). Of course, I consider some workarounds. There was for me NONE well working. As soon as the Tesla goes frequently trough small narrow roads (on the countryside), there is no proper street space nor street markings for to be able enable AP. So, I decide myself to adjust the headlights down, with respect to oncoming drivers (and supress own vision). Once an oncoming driver is dazzled, the risk of an accident increases, including danger to yourself. What do you think about it? I want to know your experiences!
 
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ALIEN SUPERSTAR

Active member
Oct 17, 2023
121
77
28
California
It took me a minute to read this, but I got it! Personally, I’ve never had any issues with the visibility of the Model 3/Y headlights. I live in California, where Teslas are everywhere every 5-10 seconds, you see one and I’ve never been blinded or “dazzled” by their lights at night. I’m not sure if this is truly an issue or just the way the headlights are designed. That said, I wouldn’t recommend lowering your headlights. Worrying about oncoming drivers being upset for a few seconds isn’t worth putting yourself in danger. If you can’t see clearly, you’re at a much higher risk of causing an accident, which is far worse than momentarily annoying someone.

When I have been dazzled by someone’s headlights, I just move on—it’s not a big deal. If someone crashes because of it, that’s more on them being a bad driver than anything you did wrong. Your headlights are designed for optimal safety, so compromising your own visibility doesn’t make sense.