Aftering being in other card equipped with HID's. I also have to agree..

road light up is pretty terrible for HID system. I retro fitted single Lexus D4S system on my ZX10 and it had better lighting then two of the s2k's.

My M35 HID's were again much better. and they were D2S.

When I first got my 02 S2k moving from halogen's it was night and day difference, but going from other HID's. it's just OK.

I think it's got to do with height of the head lamps.. being so close to the ground the angle of relection is not as good a some other cars

 

Saki, Bi-xenon is used in TL's. it works as both low beam and high beam,
I'm sure you know but projector has mechanical shield which folds to provide light like a high beam.

S2 should have come with TL type of projector IMO.

 

if you can afford it, you can try to do a 55W swap. I have a 55W DDM ballasts that I've been meaning to install, but it's just too damn cold around here.

BTW.. standard 35W HID's produce around 3000-3400 lumens, 55W suppose to produce 5000+ lumens.. you do shorten life of the bulbs though significantly.

but D2S's bulbs can now be had for cheap.

http://www.ddmtuning.com/hidkihidbuhi.html

I've ordered the kit from them. but not bulbs..

 

The oddy doesn't have HID....just really good halogens. To agree with everyone else, it's the cutoff line that is messing with you. You might want to look into some axillary lighting to supplement.

 

I wish my Porsche had my S2k's lights.

 

Maybe it's the older s2k's because mine are bright as I have ever seen. Our Lexus GS350's are just as bright as the s2k. I'm very impressed with them.

 

[QUOTE=s2000cr,Dec 5 2008, 02:27 PM] Maybe it's the older s2k's because mine are bright as I have ever seen.

 

first time hearing complaints about s2k's lightning. the s2k's HIDs are amazing IMHO, and i couldn't ask for more. while reflectors do light up more of the road because there is light everywhere, i like the projector style with the light concentrated on the area you should b paying attention to in the first place.

btw - HIDs are not actually "brighter" than standard lights. the consumer less energy while producing more light. to say brighter would be a comparison over two different bulbs (such as 50w vs 75w). its just HIDs often seems brighter due to producing more light than normal.

for those that find the S2k lights less than pleasing, how would you rather have them behave? i remember the first time i drove the s2k at night... the lights hurt my eyes it was so "bright"

 

I rarely ever use my high beams.. the HIDs are very sufficient..

 

matt,

I agree with you about the cut off and understand where you r coming from about the seat position is relative with the ride height of the car. however, i disagree with you some what because: lowered cars maybe lowered with say, 1.5" in the front and 1" in the rear. an overall lowered stance can cause the cutoff to be closer in front of the car than when they were stock. so, lowered s2k's can make it seem like the HIDs arent working all that well...
that said, i'm very very impressed about the HID's that were implemented back in '99! it's been 10 years folks and often considered the benchmark.
to those that thinks the s2000 HID's are crap either has somethin wrong w/ the lights/bulb or are on