2012 Explorer Low-Beams

[Rcb51chevy]

I just purchased a new 2012 Ford Explorer XLS. The low beam headlights are far, far too low (orientation, not brightness). They point drastically too low, especially when turning and braking. Also, there is a definite line at the top of the lights. We took it to the dealership and they said 'it's fine' and within factory standards. But it is far from ok and dangerous at night. Any solutions/fixes?

 

[bluelion]

yes, adjust them higher.... i took mine to the dealer and told them the same thing and although they adjusted them higher, it was still too low....i ended up aiming them higher myself and they're still not blinding oncoming traffic....there are several threads on here about the same thing and how to aim them. if you look in your manual, it will show you how to aim them properly, just don't know if it's high enough.....when i aimed mine, i eyeballed it.

 

[blwnsmoke]

That line at the top is normal. You see it hid's and projector style halogens.

 

[peterk9]

That line at the top is normal. You see it hid's and projector style halogens.

I have the HID's and I'm still getting used to that sharp cut-off. When driving down a road with trees on both sides it is almost as though I'm driving through a tunnel!

 

[hosedagain]

I have the HID's and I'm still getting used to that sharp cut-off. When driving down a road with trees on both sides it is almost as though I'm driving through a tunnel!

I had a Mazda 3 that had projector headlights and just hated them, On a very dark remote uneven road that would cause the car to bounce up and down and lights on low beam that sharp drop off is bouncing up and down starts to get annoying, that sharp line up and down and up and down. Also the lights wouldn't even illuminate the road signs. Needed hi beams but at times couldn't because of on coming traffic. I could even drive with hi beams on and would very rarely get flashed from on coming traffic. I was disappointed to see the Explorer and Edge have that style of lights, is it for style? looks up dated? prettier? I swore I would not buy a car with projectors, including my wife. I thought the Explorer being higher off the ground illumination would not be an issue, but that sharp cut off is still annoying...on well lite roads the projectors would not be an issue.
Not an Explorer owner (maybe?) just an 2010 Edge owner (no projectors)

 

[blwnsmoke]

Ford should have incorporated the self leveling. My audi a4 and lexus is300 both had them. Anytimt you hit a bump, the lighta adjust instantly so the light stays at the same level. Ecery time you started the cars, they would raise up and back down to the appropriate height. A GREAT feature.

 

[peterk9]

I had the halogen projector type headlights on my preivious '09 Highlander and I swapped them out with Phillips X-treme Power Bulbs. I was very happy with them and would say that they were very close to the HID's I have in my Limited. I changed/upgraded the headlight bulbs and sealed beams in all my previous vehicles.

 

[calb]

Ford should have incorporated the self leveling. My audi a4 and lexus is300 both had them. Anytimt you hit a bump, the lighta adjust instantly so the light stays at the same level. Ecery time you started the cars, they would raise up and back down to the appropriate height. A GREAT feature.

I thought the HIDs in the Limited version were self-leveling?

Says they are here, but maybe a different version in that market?

http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2011/07/21/ford-explorer-2011-2012-showroom-dubai-uae-gcc/

 

[peterk9]

I thought the HIDs in the Limited version were self-leveling?

Says they are here, but maybe a different version in that market?

http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2011/07/21/ford-explorer-2011-2012-showroom-dubai-uae-gcc/

Nothing in the 2011 manual on the HID's being self leveling.

 

[calb]

Nothing in the 2011 manual on the HID's being self leveling.

I checked too - maybe a late addition to the 2012s? (wishful thinking! )

 

[Car 54]

Sure would be nice when towing to have some self-leveling lights. I lost count of people flashing their lights at me last weekend.

 

[harlenm]

I thought the HIDs in the Limited version were self-leveling?

Says they are here, but maybe a different version in that market?

http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2011/07/21/ford-explorer-2011-2012-showroom-dubai-uae-gcc/

No, they aren't self leveling, at least in the US. If the car is sold overseas, those might have it cause it's required in some countries, but not in the US.

 

[harlenm]

I have the HID's and I'm still getting used to that sharp cut-off. When driving down a road with trees on both sides it is almost as though I'm driving through a tunnel!

The cutoff on the Explorer HID's is not sharp at all. It's actually a very blended cutoff. I'll post this pic which I posted on another thread, and you can see how the cutoff compares to an Acura RDX cutoff. Also, they aren't that good of an HID at all compared to other cars.

 

[1995E]

I thought the HIDs in the Limited version were self-leveling?

Says they are here, but maybe a different version in that market?

http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2011/07/21/ford-explorer-2011-2012-showroom-dubai-uae-gcc/

I think in order for the car to be sold in Europe, they require self-leveling HIDs.

 

[hosedagain]

The cutoff on the Explorer HID's is not shard at all. It's actually a very blended cutoff. I'll post this pic which I posted on another thread, and you can see how the cutoff compares to an Acura RDX cutoff. Also, they aren't that good of an HID at all compared to other cars.

was the picture taken straight on in front of the door? it appears your Explorer is angled to the door, I can see one of your front headlights at the bottom left of the picture. Also the right part of the door the light is very narrow, darker at the bottom compared to the left side of the door.

 

[harlenm]

was the picture taken straight on in front of the door? it appears your Explorer is angled to the door, I can see one of your front headlights at the bottom left of the picture. Also the right part of the door the light is very narrow, darker at the bottom compared to the left side of the door.

The picture was taken standing between the two cars. My driveway is wider than my garage door, and the two cars are too wide so my car is slightly off to the left of the door.

Yes, the Acura's projector has a distinct cutoff on the top and bottom of the beam, which the Ford projector doesn't have.

 

[charliez]

Hmmm I'm glad I didn't order the HID's. I would've missed the self leveling feature from my X5. In any case my eyes can see just fine with the standard bulbs.

Are there any replacement bulbs for non-HID that are brighter than the standard bulbs?

 

[peterk9]

Hmmm I'm glad I didn't order the HID's. I would've missed the self leveling feature from my X5. In any case my eyes can see just fine with the standard bulbs.

Are there any replacement bulbs for non-HID that are brighter than the standard bulbs?

I think you will find many replacements that are advertised as being brighter. My '09 Highlander had projector lamps and I replaced the OEM bulbs with Phillips X-treme Power Bulbs. There was quite a difference. When I got the Explorer with the HID lamps I was disppointed with ther performance compared to the Phillips bulbs. I am getting used to the HID's now but still think the halogens gave a more concentrated light pattern whereas the HID's just seem to disperse the light more on high beam with a slight improvement in distace. The only thing you have to be careful of is not to touch the glass portion of the bulb. It will create a hotspot. I used latex gloves when I changed them.

 

[hosedagain]

The picture was taken standing between the two cars. My driveway is wider than my garage door, and the two cars are too wide so my car is slightly off to the left of the door.

Yes, the Acura's projector has a distinct cutoff on the top and bottom of the beam, which the Ford projector doesn't have.

ops didn't realize your photo was of two different cars, the Explorer still has the upper cut off which there is no way getting around it, typical for projector headlights

 

[harlenm]

I think you will find many replacements that are advertised as being brighter. My '09 Highlander had projector lamps and I replaced the OEM bulbs with Phillips X-treme Power Bulbs. There was quite a difference. When I got the Explorer with the HID lamps I was disppointed with ther performance compared to the Phillips bulbs. I am getting used to the HID's now but still think the halogens gave a more concentrated light pattern whereas the HID's just seem to disperse the light more on high beam with a slight improvement in distace. The only thing you have to be careful of is not to touch the glass portion of the bulb. It will create a hotspot. I used latex gloves when I changed them.

The oem HID's high beam is terrific. By far the best high beam I've ever used. It almost seems like the projector was designed around the high beams.

It's a bi-xenon, and the low beam performance of bi-xenon's is never as good as a dedicated low beam HID setup.

I still may buy a set of damaged headlights off of ebay in the future to take apart and see if I can retrofit a new projector into it.