2005 Outback headlights

[Tcassette]

There seem to be a fair number of complaints about the illumination quality
of the headlights on 2005 Outbacks (search on
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintsearch.cfm).
Complaints include a sharp cutoff between lighted and dark areas, a lack of
range, and a lack of adjustability. Can any of you owners confirm these
deficiencies?

 

[Dino]

Neither my wife or I has ever noticed this (headlight problem), so doesn't
bother us.

We get some minor surging going downhill with the cruise control on. I
understand it's more of a problem with the manual transmission, which is
what we have. I find it mildly annoying and is probably my worst complaint
about the car. I don't consider it a serious issue, although wonder how
they could have screwed that up.

 

[Owlyn]

The headlights on the '04 (previous model) are nothing to write home about,
either. We need to keep the fog lights on most of the time to provide enough
illumination. I adjusted the fog lights up just enough so they just barely
reach to the end of the low beams. They still work well in the fog. Don't
know if this will work on the '05s.

 

[Pete Grey]

Too funny.

I'd say the exact oppposite about the headlights on my '05.
The light is great, the cutoff is crisp and distinct. Isn't that the whole
point of projector lenses anways?

-pete

 

[casper]

Headlight brightness is not good on our 99 OB. We have tried re-aiming,
and replacing the bulbs with short-life brighter ones, with no
appreciable difference. At highway speed on dark roads, the lights just
don't illuminate far enough ahead to make the speed feel safe. Our
Toyota 4R, Volvo 740, and old Dodge vans are all vastly superior in
this regard. It's a definite weakness. If you find a good solution,
please share it.

Philip Guest

 

[BobN]

Headlight brightness is not good on our 99 OB. We have tried re-aiming,
and replacing the bulbs with short-life brighter ones, with no
appreciable difference. At highway speed on dark roads, the lights just
don't illuminate far enough ahead to make the speed feel safe. Our
Toyota 4R, Volvo 740, and old Dodge vans are all vastly superior in
this regard. It's a definite weakness. If you find a good solution,
please share it.

On my 98 OBW I installed a set of Hella FF50 driving lights on either side
of the license plate, powered directly from the battery and with their relay
controlled by the high-beam switch (tied into the high-beam lead on one
headlight). They are on only when the high beams are on. With the stock
55W bulbs they are a dramatic improvement over the headlights alone. With
100W bulbs, carefully aimed, they make driving at reasonable speed safe on
the darkest roads.

 

[jMon54]

I'd love to see a picture of how they look.

 

[BobN]

I'd love to see a picture of how they look.

Sorry, I don't have a digicam. The lights are pretty small. They are
attached to the lower face of the air dam opening in which the license plate
sits. It was an easy installation - one bolt through the plastic for each.
One other thing - you need the clear acrylic stone shields because it's a
vulnerable spot for stones on the highway. I didn't have one with my first
set and both lenses were cracked within a few weeks. A good source is
Susquehanna Motor Sports at www.rallylights.com . Their site has good
illustrations of all the Hella lights.

 

[caballero]

you hve fog lights, may be can help to get more lux, but only the original
light it's not good... y hve a legacy 95 and lot of frends hve legacy and
it's the same problem...

do you know some group for legacy in web or other?

 

[bigjim]

The headlights on the '04 (previous model) are nothing to write home about,
either<<

They are geat with sylvania silverstars. I cannot believe how much
better they are. Go to suvlighting.com

 

[casper]

Thanks for the suggestion.