MolaKule
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BMW and Laser Headlights - Holy Batman!
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Talk about cutting through the darkness...
OVERKILL
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As Nick said in another thread, nobody can accuse BMW of not being innovative.....
Very cool technology! Oh no, oh dear... I can already see eBay aftermarket 'laser' headlight kits
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Very cool technology! Oh no, oh dear... I can already see eBay aftermarket 'laser' headlight kits
And unlike HIDs, low-quality aftermarket laser headlights might actually blind oncoming traffic.
Very cool technology! Oh no, oh dear... I can already see eBay aftermarket 'laser' headlight kits
And unlike HIDs, low-quality aftermarket laser headlights might actually blind oncoming traffic.
Originally Posted By: NateDN10
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Very cool technology! Oh no, oh dear... I can already see eBay aftermarket 'laser' headlight kits
And unlike HIDs, low-quality aftermarket laser headlights might actually blind oncoming traffic.
+1
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Very cool technology! Oh no, oh dear... I can already see eBay aftermarket 'laser' headlight kits
And unlike HIDs, low-quality aftermarket laser headlights might actually blind oncoming traffic.
+1
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
As Nick said in another thread, nobody can accuse BMW of not being innovative.....
Maybe they are bored? I think they are going to save about 30 watts with LASER headlights compared to LED's... I guess the Audi LED fad is just about over so BMW is ready for the next lighting fad?
As Nick said in another thread, nobody can accuse BMW of not being innovative.....
Maybe they are bored? I think they are going to save about 30 watts with LASER headlights compared to LED's... I guess the Audi LED fad is just about over so BMW is ready for the next lighting fad?
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
As Nick said in another thread, nobody can accuse BMW of not being innovative.....
Maybe they are bored? I think they are going to save about 30 watts with LASER headlights compared to LED's... I guess the Audi LED fad is just about over so BMW is ready for the next lighting fad?
EXACTLY!
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
As Nick said in another thread, nobody can accuse BMW of not being innovative.....
Maybe they are bored? I think they are going to save about 30 watts with LASER headlights compared to LED's... I guess the Audi LED fad is just about over so BMW is ready for the next lighting fad?
EXACTLY!
Something for thieves to rob from cars, causing damage, and adding to already high insurance costs. Why bother? I remember all the Maximas with the fancy Zeon [sp?] headlights when they first came out, getting ripped off, and the problems it caused those people.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Something for thieves to rob from cars, causing damage, and adding to already high insurance costs. Why bother? I remember all the Maximas with the fancy Zeon [sp?] headlights when they first came out, getting ripped off, and the problems it caused those people.
So, because there's a chance some thugs are going to try and steal a head light or two from a BMW, you say "why bother"??
What, since thieves might want to steal new/cool technology, we should stop innovation?
BMW's new lights look very promising. Improving night time visibility even by a small amount is welcomed by me!
http://wot.motortrend.com/bmw-shows-us-h...ork-126103.html
Something for thieves to rob from cars, causing damage, and adding to already high insurance costs. Why bother? I remember all the Maximas with the fancy Zeon [sp?] headlights when they first came out, getting ripped off, and the problems it caused those people.
So, because there's a chance some thugs are going to try and steal a head light or two from a BMW, you say "why bother"??
What, since thieves might want to steal new/cool technology, we should stop innovation?
BMW's new lights look very promising. Improving night time visibility even by a small amount is welcomed by me!
http://wot.motortrend.com/bmw-shows-us-h...ork-126103.html
Where are the people solving actual problems, instead of dreaming up cool-sounding solutions to non-problems. The word 'laser', as long as it's been around, still for some reason sounds uber-technologik. Don't diodes already generate the photons for "lasers"? Why focus the diode-light and then rescatter it? Isn't it technically still LED generated light?
okay so I actually read the article this time: basically theyre using short wavelength (near UV) LEDs to generate light and then passing it through an external phosphor assembly. What theyve done is dismantle the LED (which usually has a phosphor layer directly over the diode) and made it a component system. Theoretically more efficient light generation ensues, without the problem that integrated phosphor layers have, primarily reflecting light back into the diode thus reducing wasted energy in the form of heat- that heat energy is the only thing theyre saving. The light still comes from the exact same sources as LEDs; the diode itself (shorter wavelengths) which excite the the phosphors (the longer wavelengths). \
The phosphor being separated from the diode will lower its temperature and extend its useful life over current high power LED's.
now imagine how much one light will cost you, after you wife hits mailbox in the winter
Here is a recent and interesting article about the BMW laser lights, which I understand will show up in Europe in the 2014 BMW i8, a plug-in hybrid sports car.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/advanced-cars/bmw-laser-headlights-slice-through-the-dark
"…………….The reign of the LED headlight may be ending even before it gets properly under way, says Shuji Nakamura. He should know: Nakamura invented both the blue laser and the blue LED, which made possible the whole world of powerful white solid-state lights. And his Silicon Valley start-up, Soraa, is developing laser systems to complement its LED lighting technologies.
“The laser, we believe, is the next generation of lighting, even for general applications” such as homes, businesses, and a variety of displays, Nakamura says………………………."
http://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/advanced-cars/bmw-laser-headlights-slice-through-the-dark
"…………….The reign of the LED headlight may be ending even before it gets properly under way, says Shuji Nakamura. He should know: Nakamura invented both the blue laser and the blue LED, which made possible the whole world of powerful white solid-state lights. And his Silicon Valley start-up, Soraa, is developing laser systems to complement its LED lighting technologies.
“The laser, we believe, is the next generation of lighting, even for general applications” such as homes, businesses, and a variety of displays, Nakamura says………………………."
Less energy required to light more area is great as far as I'm concerned. Even if its only slight it still means the electrical system doesn't need to work as hard which can save a few drops of fuel.
Now how much does it cost?
Now how much does it cost?
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Less energy required to light more area is great as far as I'm concerned. Even if its only slight it still means the electrical system doesn't need to work as hard which can save a few drops of fuel.
Now how much does it cost?
Good point, as many HID owners can tell you. Many are quite expensive to replace.
I like the new LED headlights from Acura, at least in concept. I am still sometimes put off by the extremely abrupt cut off in an HID headlight as it bobs and weaves on back roads at night.
Less energy required to light more area is great as far as I'm concerned. Even if its only slight it still means the electrical system doesn't need to work as hard which can save a few drops of fuel.
Now how much does it cost?
Good point, as many HID owners can tell you. Many are quite expensive to replace.
I like the new LED headlights from Acura, at least in concept. I am still sometimes put off by the extremely abrupt cut off in an HID headlight as it bobs and weaves on back roads at night.
My guess is that the cost will be absurd. The 2014 Corolla comes with standard LED headlamps. They retail for $737 each. Put the venerated BMW roundel on the package and $2,000 each isn't out of the question, IMO.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: 2003GPW
My guess is that the cost will be absurd. The 2014 Corolla comes with standard LED headlamps. They retail for $737 each. Put the venerated BMW roundel on the package and $2,000 each isn't out of the question, IMO.
Im rather surprised at that - trying to be flashy at the expense of ruining the economics of the car.
Toyota makes a good appliance that is fairly conservatively engineered... not exactly pushing new tech out the doors.
My guess is that the cost will be absurd. The 2014 Corolla comes with standard LED headlamps. They retail for $737 each. Put the venerated BMW roundel on the package and $2,000 each isn't out of the question, IMO.
Im rather surprised at that - trying to be flashy at the expense of ruining the economics of the car.
Toyota makes a good appliance that is fairly conservatively engineered... not exactly pushing new tech out the doors.
It seems that improvements to automobiles are becoming incremental while their cost increases exponentially.
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