Curve Projector Headlights - My Views

[pete-d]

Hi there folks,

There has been a bit of debate on these forums about the merits of curve projector headlights on Fabias/Roomsters. I thought I'd add a few comments since I've just bought a car with them.

They're wierd!

But I like them!

As dipped headlights they do a great job - they show you more of the corner before you turn into it. They seem to do this better with left hand than right hand ones - probably to do with the way the RHD car headlight beams are shaped.

What's slightly wierd though is that if you put more than a certain amount of lock on the front fog light in the direction you're turning also seems to come on. It's actually handy for just illuminating the curb/white line but must look strange to any car that's in front of you...

On main beam, they don't seem to have the overal depth of light as standard headlights. They're OK but nothing special. I'm going to get the bulbs changed to Osram Nightbreakers or similar to see if that mankes a difference.

I'll probably update in a month or so, when I've used them more and tried the new bulbs.

Pete

Edited 12 September, 2009 by pete-d
typo

[Hauptmann]

I think the DE-module headlights used on the Fabia 2's and 3's are rather poor - certainly compared to my MkII Octavia. It seems a cheapskate design (using a single H7 and moving it with a solenoid). The light pattern is poor and is obviously a compromise. I've put Philips X-treme +90% bulbs in there - more light is now thrown out but the patter is still a bit diffuse and uneven.

[Decron]

I think the DE-module headlights used on the Fabia 2's and 3's are rather poor - certainly compared to my MkII Octavia. It seems a cheapskate design (using a single H7 and moving it with a solenoid). The light pattern is poor and is obviously a compromise. I've put Philips X-treme +90% bulbs in there - more light is now thrown out but the patter is still a bit diffuse and uneven.

I really couldn't disagree more. The pattern is perfect in all the ones I have come across and tested, perhaps you have a fault?

[Hauptmann]

No, no fault with mine. I've had it on the beam-setter and photometer. They have been reported to be poor in a couple of road tests and there is a thread here:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-ii/bi-halogen-headlights-fabia-11-a/137979/

The problem is that the design is done for cheapness (using a single bulb and physically moving it to obtain a high and low-beam!) - the design gives an awful lot of chromatic aberration and dispersion on low beam. The quality of the Octavia II units is far far better, with better light transmission and beam definition.

[Decron]

The problem is that the design is done for cheapness (using a single bulb and physically moving it to obtain a high and low-beam!) - the design gives an awful lot of chromatic aberration and dispersion on low beam. The quality of the Octavia II units is far far better, with better light transmission and beam definition.

I am more than aware of the internals, if you do a search in the Roomster forum on HID's, chromatic abboration and beam pattern there are a few threads including a wicked gif showing the mechanism. I just can't agree with the perception of better "beam definition" or light transmission. Mine excel at definition and general throw compared to a lot of other cars especially working through the abboration. Mine are clear, defined and cut to perfection. I'd link photos, but the hosting is down.

Mine have been on the setter too although I can't admit I have done a side by side comparison with an Octy II.

[Hauptmann]

Sorry, its just physically impossible for this design of light ('BiHalogen') to throw out as much light on dipped compared with the dual-bulb arrangement used on, say, the Octavia. On dipped beam you are physically blocking a lot of the light coming from the bulb - it never even reaches the lens. On the more usual twin-unit designs then all of the light from the bulb is used.

Moreover the Fabia units have Fresnel rings on the lens - this is to REDUCE cut-off sharpness. Why on Earth they have done this I don't know, the Octavia doesn't have them and I prefer the much sharper pattern it gives.

[EGC]

Had a Fabia 3 1.9TDI as a loan car last week. Great little car in many respects, but as Hauptman says the headlights are weak on dipped. I didn't realise they use the same bulb for dipped and high beam, which probably explains it. I thought the brakes could have been better too, they felt a bit inadequate with the 1.9 lump up front.

[Decron]

I suppose it's quite subjective.

I came from a VRS with factory xenons and track ready 312's and I have found the Roomster setup (The same as the F2) performs great (Although I have HID's fitted in the Roomy after i missed them too much

[Decron]

And the hosting is back

[iamian]

Hi there folks,

What's slightly wierd though is that if you put more than a certain amount of lock on the front fog light in the direction you're turning also seems to come on. It's actually handy for just illuminating the curb/white line but must look strange to any car that's in front of you...

Pete

How does this not infringe the law regarding fog lights?

It does say front.

236

You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.

[Law RVLR regs 25 & 27]

Edited 15 September, 2009 by iamian
clarity and layout

[pete-d]

How does this not infringe the law regarding fog lights?

It does say front.

I must admit that I am uncertain about this.

I will see what my dealer says but suspect that the vehicle would not have gained Type Approval if the operation of these lights was not legal.

Pete

[Phil-E]

A lot of new cars do this now and think it is legal if factory fitted and type approved etc.

There is only one fog light coming on anyway and only for a very short time.

I drive a Touareg with the feature and found it very useful when turning into dark roads etc.

Phil

[pete-d]

I've fitted a set of Phillips X-treme bulbs in now (90% brighter but still on 55W - still legal and good for the wiring). These are much better than the standard bulbs.

Having drvien with these lights for 2 weeks, my feeling is that curve projector headlights on a Fabia are no better and no worse than traditional headlights on other cars I have driven:

1. The dipped beam seems to project less far ahead of you (even after I've had the alignment checked). On straight(ish) roads with another vehicle coming the other way this means you need to pay more attention to to the minor direction changes they make as they come towards you. On twisty roads the shorter beam cut off is no problem as the beam is more usefully directed round the bends.

2. The main beam projects very well on straight and twisty roads. There is a smaller pool of light immediately in front of you but it's still perfectly clear to see what you need to.

3. The cornering front fog lights take some getting used to but do make a difference. Bascially if you;re doing less than 25mph and either turn the wheel or indicate then the front fog light on the appropriate side comes on, fading out once the corner has been negotiated.

In my experience, the relatively poor dipped beam and great main beam is common to many (non-curve) projector headlights. I have driven a Renault Laguna (Xenon) and Alfa 166 (Halogen) with projector headlights that both exhibited these characteristics.

In summary, you need to look in slightly different places at slightly different times to get the most out of these lights. Now I have got used to them, I find that there are far more times that I find them really good than there are times when I wished they showed me something more clearly.

These views are based on approximately 300 miles of night driving - about 10% motorway, 30% town and 20% country A roads (with street lights) and 40% unlit A roads and B roads in the Pennines.

Pete

[TorqueXIsXCheap]

I love mine, not to mention they look the dogs dangles when there on

[PaddyVRS]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I would like some advice if possible.

 

Having recently fitted an HID kit to my Fabia (which has vastly improved the projector headlight performance) I would like to adjust the beams as the LH headlight is lower than it should be. As far as I know the standard Projectors can be adjusted with the screws on the headlamp units to raise/lower the beam. However I am not sure if this is ok to do on the cornering/curve projector headlights as I am not sure if they have level adjustment too. 

 

The owners manual says stuff about changing to European mode electronically (not using the metal tab as on other models) and also if there is a fault with the cornering units they automatically "lowered to

the emergency position, which prevents a possible dazzling of oncoming traffic."

 

Does this mean that any level adjustments have to be done through VCDS as I think some VAG models can only be done this way without messing up the headlight units. 

 

Thanks

[fabiamk2SE]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I would like some advice if possible.

Having recently fitted an HID kit to my Fabia (which has vastly improved the projector headlight performance) I would like to adjust the beams as the LH headlight is lower than it should be. As far as I know the standard Projectors can be adjusted with the screws on the headlamp units to raise/lower the beam. However I am not sure if this is ok to do on the cornering/curve projector headlights as I am not sure if they have level adjustment too.

The owners manual says stuff about changing to European mode electronically (not using the metal tab as on other models) and also if there is a fault with the cornering units they automatically "lowered to

the emergency position, which prevents a possible dazzling of oncoming traffic."

Does this mean that any level adjustments have to be done through VCDS as I think some VAG models can only be done this way without messing up the headlight units.

Thanks

I was under the impression, and i may be wrong, that the cornering lights only had the motors to move horizontally, and not vertically?

Vertically self adjusting headlights would make then self levelling, which the fabias are not?

Do you find yours calibrates itself on occasions? When it does this, does it go horizontally and vertically, or just horizontally?

[Furbytom]

^this. I'm pretty sure it's fine to raise them with the little screw.

[jonro2009]

I can see your worry here paddyvRS the manual does say the headlights lower, not return to centre

If the halogen projector headlights with cornering light function are faulty, the headlights are automatically lowered to the emergency position, which prevents a possible dazzling of oncoming traffic. Thus the illuminated length of the road is shortened. Drive carefully and visit a specialist garage as soon as possible.

I would still be of the thinking that it will be ok to turn the screw, I would maybe put a mark on the screw head and light unit to indicate original position so you can undo any changes should you need to.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[sharkrider]

How does this not infringe the law regarding fog lights?

It does say front.

because its european "type approved" . if they type approve the car for use in our country, its legal.

[fabiamk2SE]

because its european "type approved" . if they type approve the car for use in our country, its legal.

That was 5 years ago now mate.

I bet hes not arsed anymore haha.

[Ootohere]

The cars imported to Ireland are EU Type Approved.

 but they are Imports to Ireland, not the Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

 

They can be different Models and as we know have different (shorter) Warranties,

 

I read a previous thread on your Cornering Lights, 

so were they an Option that was not available from UK Skoda Dealers?

[fabiamk2SE]

The cars imported to Ireland are EU Type Approved.

but they are Imports to Ireland, not the Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

They can be different Models and as we know have different (shorter) Warranties,

I read a previous thread on your Cornering Lights,

so were they an Option that was not available from UK Skoda Dealers?

Curve projectors are an option in the UK.

£280's worth.

[Ootohere]

From what year in the UK on the vRS.?

 

You did not even get Front Fog Lights as an option. (while they said they were standard fitment)

Edited 18 November, 2014 by goneoffSKi

[fabiamk2SE]

From what year in the UK on the vRS.?

You did not even get Front Fog Lights as an option. (while they said they were standard fitment)

I dont know tbh mate. Maybe its just on other stuff as part of the pack is the cornering lights too.

Its still silver lights though so i dont see why not.

Im unable to configure a vrs on the website for obvious reasons.

I didnt realise we were talking about VRS tbh haha.

[PaddyVRS]

I have now fiddled with the adjuster screws on the headlights to level them with each other (left was significantly lower then the right) and then raise them a touch more. I will see how I go in the dark hours as I've only driven it in foggy daytime so far. If I get a few flashes I will lower back slightly but I think my they should be bang on now