I don't know that I've read about this yet, although it's not exactly a new development.

For those who have had their headlights replaced for the film, have you noticed the new cutoff pattern? Where before the cutoff was perfectly horizontal, it is now in more of a U-shaped curve with the bottom of the U in the center of the beam. This is most noticeable when parked right up next to a wall.

Before you start complaining about it, I was told by my service advisor today (who is always willing to learn more and be corrected) that he had a guy in who had had just ONE headlight assembly replaced. He came back a week later complaining that one is U-shaped and the other is flat, but apparently when they fixed whatever problem was causing the film, they changed the cutoff pattern as well. This U-cutoff is normal and typical of the new lenses.

 

does this apply to just HID headlights or also includes the halogen headlights

btw what dealer did you go to to take care of the film issue? Rosenthal Arlington said I had no such issue on my car

 

as far as I know (please correct me) the film problem only was on HIDs
only HIDs have that sharp cutoff anyway
I did it at Rosenthal Tysons, talk to Marty (silver team)

 

I have had my bulbs in and out many times (HID). I can tell you first hand that if they are not installed just the right way that you will have a different cut off line. There is a retaining clip the holds the bulbs in place and if they're not sitting right, you will get a weird beam. I would try going from the fender well and adjusting the socket. You'll have to remove the plastic inside the fender as well as a big white plastic cap to get to the bulb.

 

The cutoff on mine is more of a staggered shape, with the left side obviously lower than the right side, switching sharply right in the middle, if that makes any sense. It's never been horizonal all the way across. There's no dip, but a very obvious difference between sides. Did they somehow mess that up and make it rounder?

 

no the stagger is always there, and should be. I'm talking about the cutoff on either side of the stagger, it used to look like this (ignore the .'s):

........................ _____________
____________/

now its closer to this


________....................... __________------------
................---------______/

 

Oooohhhhh....okay, I see. Sorry, I'm a bit slow today. That's odd. I haven't had my lights replaced, but at least I won't freak out when/if I do have to get new ones.

 

As far as I know, the pattern (it's called a "Z" pattern) is defined and mandated by law. I don't think Mazda could go ahead and redefine the pattern unless the DOT regulations changed. The reason the cutoff should be lower on the left than on the right is to prevent blinding oncoming traffic.

 

The Z is still there, its just curvy

 

I had my HID lights replaced because of film (Jeff Haas, Houston)(no hassle). The pattern resembled this (and the diagram in the following post) with both the old and new lenses.

 

I had mine replaced a week or so ago and notice a definite difference. Unfortunately it is worse than before but similar to the above-posted diagram.

 

mine is just like yours. i used to think something was wrong cause i wasnt able to change it by adjustment. i say i used to think something was wrong till i rode in a lexus 330 and it had almost the same pattern.

 

Base model.. sharp cutoff. It's just like the 2001+ Miata. I'm pretty sure mine is adjusted a little high from the factory.

 

I've seen that pattern on both 05's I own/owned. Figure it was normal.

 

Great Neck Mazda near me wouldn't replace it. I might have to complain again, or go to Wayne where I bought my car.

 

Is it my imagination

Although the HID are significantly brighter than halogen, due to the abrubt cutoff, they do not appear to light up as far down the road?

 

They do light further down the road as long as you are not going down a hill, which then it lights up the bottom of the hill (extreme).

The tests that have been done show that the HIDs illuminate further down the road.

Bad thing is that if a bird is flying at your windshield you may not see it before it hits.

 

are you talking about the 2 upside down U's that come off each HID, the 'golden arches' ?

 

I have the standard headlights (non HID) and I had them replaced due to the film on the headlights. Now my drivers headlight is considerably brighter/higher than the passenger. I spoke to my service manager about this and he said that only the HID headlights were adjustable in height and that the standard projector lights cannot be adjusted in the height. My lights when close to a wall look like this:

------------------______________

driver side passenger side

I would like to correct this if possible.

 

Hmm. Very interesting. I was wondering if the HIDs were built to have the step in the beam. Does anyone else notice an 'eyebrow' pattern in the beams when you have the foglights on? It's really only noticeable if you've pulled right in front of a wall or garage door. They light up like the HIDs, but only seem to be there with the fogs on.