european headlights

[Roger M. Woodbury]

I am flabbergasted to read that some people can complain about european
headlamps in ANY car.  I think that there are some basic misunderstandings
about how the Europeans use their lights.  Basically, the European driver
uses his lights in a directly opposite manner than most Americans.  The
reason is that most Americans spend most of their time in urban or city
traffic of some sort, and benefit from the abundance of ambient
light...street lights, shopping centers and so on.  For those drivers the
DOT lights are mostly appropriate and sufficient.

However, for those who drive int he deep dark of rural road, THAT is most
like the common use and philosophy of the European lights.

In Europe, the MAIN beam, is what we call "High Beam" here.  Traffic isn't
as dense when this is used, but when other cars are approaching, or in city
conditions, then what the US driver calls "LOW BEAM" is used..in Europe,
this is most commonly, the "DIPPED BEAM".

The European lamps in my 200 Quattro Wagon were a revelation.  The low beams
were adjusted so that when following another car, the cutoff was just below
the car's rear window.  On Main, or HIGH Beam, the H-4/H3 combination put
out enough light to illuminate a football field, which was precisely what
was needed.  But I NEVER would use or "show" the lights to an on coming car
unless I REALLY wanted to demonstrate that the driver really should have his
"dipped" beams on.

The headlights in my V8 Quattro are marginally ok, and in the 100CS Avant,
they are ok as well....I am not sure that it is worth the money to buy the
European lights for them, but for the 200, the DOT lights were dangerous.

Roger