My wife has a 2008 xB and is always complaining about the low beam light pattern. When I drive it, I have to agree with her.

The top edge of the low beam light pattern has a hard edge. It doesn't fade from light to dark, the light area just stops. Almost as if there is a hooding over the top edge of the lights.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a solution? Different bulbs maybe?

 

That's how they're made, they're halogen projector low beams with a defined cut-off, that's how all projectors are. You are both used to halogen reflective housings which use a reflevtive housing to direct the light. Projector low beams project the light so it is more defined.

 

There is, it's called a cut-off shield, and is designed to allow brighter low beams without blinding oncoming traffic.

FWIW there are "squirrel finders" inside the projectors that allow a certain amount of light to be kicked up higher than the cut-off so that you can read things like elevated street sign names, and see squirrels running in the trees.

 

Thanks for the responses. Is there anyway to move that "line" up a bit?

 

Yeah, there's an adjusting bolt behind the headlight housing that allows you to aim the light beam vertically. Take care not to adjust too high so you don't blind other drivers.

 

Yep, I just found that bolt. It's the one that has the slotted washer on it, correct?

 

This thread will show you exactly which bolt it is:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=112371

Ideally, you do not want the top of the cut-off light to be more than 32" above the ground when shining on a wall from 25' away. You could try a little bit higher, but if other drivers start flashing their high-beams at you, then you will know it's too high and you need to lower them a bit.

If you want more light out of the low beams, you might consider an HID conversion kit. Check out my before & after pics about 1/3 the way down page 2 of this thread:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...=161060&page=2

 

There is nothing you can really do to "fix" the issue. This is normal with almost all projectors. You can raise the beam up but you will annoy on comming traffic (as will with hids too).

I went from stock h11s, to hids, to h9 low beams with h9 fogs. The cutoff will still be there no matter what.

 

 

^^ That is the most screwed up looking cut-off I have ever seen.

 

Yeah, what happened?

 

It almost looks like someone removed something from the housing....

 

@caliban: You might want to try tightening those bulbs a little bit clockwise.

 

You and your wife may not like it, but the xB2 projectors are the brightest low beams I've ever experienced, and I like it !

 

x2

@OP: The standard halogens are quite impressive for light output. I mostly went with aftermarket HIDs so as to achieve an aesthetic light-blue look and also have even more light. The cutoff of these projectors prevents us from blinding people on the road. The squirrel finders are useful to me because I can see highway signs easier in the dark, which makes for finding roads easier and reading the text on signs a breeze.