How good are the headlights in the '02 Forester

Mr Wolf · 12-29-2001, 08:32 PM

Greetings all -

We were just at the dealer today checking out the 02 Forester S. The Canadian Sport edition is nice, but I don't feel like paying that much extra for a sunroof I don't want. I have a sunroof in my current car (98 Golf) and never use it.

Anyways, one of my many questions I hope you knowledgeable folks can help me out with is how are the headlights in the Forester? The reason I ask is because the first modification to my last 4 cars has been to yank the useless DOT flashlights out they pass off as headlights on this continent, and drop in a set of European E-codes.

Is any such thing available for the Forester? Or are the headlights fairly good (I would prefer feedback from those who are used to driving with E-codes - they'll know what I mean).

We live in "deer and elk central" western Canada and the European headlights are a godsend.

Cheers,
Keith
Calgary

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ForesterPerformance · 12-29-2001, 11:21 PM

Since the Forester uses a standard bulb (I think its the H4) there are many replacement options...

There are HID replacements (I think that is what you mean by e-codes, right?) and there are Xenon bulbs. The Xenons are really cheap in comparison, so that's what I went with in both the headlight and fog light position. It made a huge difference. Of course, my nighttime driving is mostly city driving, so I'm not real sure how they would do in the styx.

Good luck...

Mr Wolf · 12-30-2001, 12:59 AM

E-codes refer to European beam specification for low beam headlights.

The biggest difference is in the beam pattern. E-codes have a very defined cut-off (very flat, with a "kick up" on the right side). DOT lights are a fuzzy globe of light, which throws light upwards. "Brighter" doesn't do much good if the light isn't going to the right place!

The best source of info on headlights is lighting.mbz.org

For a def'n of e-code see
http://lighting.mbz.org/faq/#ecode

Still eager to get to your site at work FP!

Here's what DOT lights look like from a Miata:

Here's what E-codes look like:

ForesterPerformance · 12-30-2001, 01:08 AM

Oh.

Sorry. Can't help you with the lights or the webpage. All I can think of for the first is you might need to replace the entire headlight assembly with European models. Must be something in the reflector that aims the light the way you want it...

As for the webpage, if you are not running IE 5.0 try upgrading. Otherwise, maybe you have javascript disabled in your IE preferences... Not sure, but the page always works for me, even at work... The only other thing I thought of is, if you tried o view the page before (when it was having problems) and you have you IE preferences set to not automatically re-download pages you have been to before, you will have to hit the "refresh" button once you go to my page and get an error.

Not sure what else it might be.

Good Luck.

Mr Wolf · 12-31-2001, 09:39 AM

FP -

I finally got to look at your web page now that I'm at work (I can't figure out why I have such brutal Java problems with my Mac at home - IE5.1 was released earlier this year and is the latest and greatest...? Whereas work is an older verion of IE 5). Anyways...

On your page http://www.foresterperformance.fansp...r_TechDis8.htm
You show a picture of the headlight pattern which shows them to be the "semi homogenized" sort of DOT/ECE hybrid pattern. That's a good thing (said in my best Martha Stewart voice).

Ken S · 12-31-2001, 05:48 PM

I can't speak for the 2002 Forester, but the beam pattern on my 98 Forester is pretty good. The cutoffs are quite sharp and do a great job of illuminating the road and road signs. I'd post a photo of the beam pattern, but Photopoint seems to be down right now...

The 2001+ Foresters have slighlty different headlights but I would imagine they offer similar performance.

Since the Forester is sold in Europe, I would imagine there have E-code headlights available for them.

Ken

toerag · 01-03-2002, 04:51 AM

The lights on mine (2002 I think) are of the 'e-code' beam pattern and pretty bright. I almost never use full beam below 40mph, but then I know the roads round here like the back of my hand. I also have them set to point as low as possible with the adjuster so I don't dazzle people. I'll look in my manual to see what the bulbs are.

12-29-2001, 08:32 PM	#1
Mr Wolf Scooby Newbie Member#: 13719 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada	How good are the headlights in the '02 Forester Greetings all - We were just at the dealer today checking out the 02 Forester S. The Canadian Sport edition is nice, but I don't feel like paying that much extra for a sunroof I don't want. I have a sunroof in my current car (98 Golf) and never use it. Anyways, one of my many questions I hope you knowledgeable folks can help me out with is how are the headlights in the Forester? The reason I ask is because the first modification to my last 4 cars has been to yank the useless DOT flashlights out they pass off as headlights on this continent, and drop in a set of European E-codes. Is any such thing available for the Forester? Or are the headlights fairly good (I would prefer feedback from those who are used to driving with E-codes - they'll know what I mean). We live in "deer and elk central" western Canada and the European headlights are a godsend. Cheers, Keith Calgary * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

12-30-2001, 01:08 AM	#4
ForesterPerformance Scooby Specialist Member#: 5424 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: South East Location: not where you are... Vehicle: BRP STi Version 3 Type RA V-Ltd RHD	Oh. Sorry. Can't help you with the lights or the webpage. All I can think of for the first is you might need to replace the entire headlight assembly with European models. Must be something in the reflector that aims the light the way you want it... As for the webpage, if you are not running IE 5.0 try upgrading. Otherwise, maybe you have javascript disabled in your IE preferences... Not sure, but the page always works for me, even at work... The only other thing I thought of is, if you tried o view the page before (when it was having problems) and you have you IE preferences set to not automatically re-download pages you have been to before, you will have to hit the "refresh" button once you go to my page and get an error. Not sure what else it might be. Good Luck. Last edited by ForesterPerformance; 12-30-2001 at 08:49 AM.

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12-29-2001, 11:21 PM	#2
ForesterPerformance Scooby Specialist Member#: 5424 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: South East Location: not where you are... Vehicle: BRP STi Version 3 Type RA V-Ltd RHD	Since the Forester uses a standard bulb (I think its the H4) there are many replacement options... There are HID replacements (I think that is what you mean by e-codes, right?) and there are Xenon bulbs. The Xenons are really cheap in comparison, so that's what I went with in both the headlight and fog light position. It made a huge difference. Of course, my nighttime driving is mostly city driving, so I'm not real sure how they would do in the styx. Good luck...

12-30-2001, 12:59 AM	#3
Mr Wolf Scooby Newbie Member#: 13719 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada	E-codes refer to European beam specification for low beam headlights. The biggest difference is in the beam pattern. E-codes have a very defined cut-off (very flat, with a "kick up" on the right side). DOT lights are a fuzzy globe of light, which throws light upwards. "Brighter" doesn't do much good if the light isn't going to the right place! The best source of info on headlights is lighting.mbz.org For a def'n of e-code see http://lighting.mbz.org/faq/#ecode Still eager to get to your site at work FP! Here's what DOT lights look like from a Miata: Here's what E-codes look like:

12-31-2001, 09:39 AM	#5
Mr Wolf Scooby Newbie Member#: 13719 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada	FP - I finally got to look at your web page now that I'm at work (I can't figure out why I have such brutal Java problems with my Mac at home - IE5.1 was released earlier this year and is the latest and greatest...? Whereas work is an older verion of IE 5). Anyways... On your page http://www.foresterperformance.fansp...r_TechDis8.htm You show a picture of the headlight pattern which shows them to be the "semi homogenized" sort of DOT/ECE hybrid pattern. That's a good thing (said in my best Martha Stewart voice).

12-31-2001, 05:48 PM	#6
Ken S Scooby Newbie Member#: 1895 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Bay Area, CA Vehicle: 05 Leg GT Ltd. W Silver	I can't speak for the 2002 Forester, but the beam pattern on my 98 Forester is pretty good. The cutoffs are quite sharp and do a great job of illuminating the road and road signs. I'd post a photo of the beam pattern, but Photopoint seems to be down right now... The 2001+ Foresters have slighlty different headlights but I would imagine they offer similar performance. Since the Forester is sold in Europe, I would imagine there have E-code headlights available for them. Ken

01-03-2002, 04:51 AM	#7
toerag Scooby Newbie Member#: 8167 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Guernsey, British Channel Islands Vehicle: 2001 ForesterS-Turbo Premium Silver	The lights on mine (2002 I think) are of the 'e-code' beam pattern and pretty bright. I almost never use full beam below 40mph, but then I know the roads round here like the back of my hand. I also have them set to point as low as possible with the adjuster so I don't dazzle people. I'll look in my manual to see what the bulbs are.