Headlights...road trip aficionados step inside

Rock-It Man · 01-26-2020, 04:40 PM

My 2010 Camaro SS is a non-RS with real selectable fog lamps. I find that the fogs are crucial for reducing driver fatigue when driving long distances at night.

Since Gen6 cars are without fogs, I'm looking for comments on the quality of Gen6 headlight coverage. I'm thinking of trading in for a Gen6 this year.

Thanks in advance for your inputs.

LT4Greg · 01-26-2020, 04:57 PM

I can tell you just by driving at night that the 2 6gens I had or have now are much better than the headlights on the 2010 SS/RS 2SS that I used to own! No technical experience just driving at night or dusk.

Silverado57 · 01-27-2020, 04:37 AM

The headlights on my 2017 are very good, but I wish adding fog lights or LED running lights was an option. I avoid driving at night but more light is always better.

Gunkk · 01-27-2020, 07:59 AM

The headlights are excellent on my car. Good reach and breadth of illumination, and excellent cutoff.

For long distance highway night driving, I will typically follow another car a 1/4 mile back and watch underneath that car for road gators.

c4racer · 01-27-2020, 10:03 AM

seems headlamps have come a long way in the last 10 years or so. I agree - the light son my 2018 colorado and 2016 Camaro are quite good. Maybe not quite as good as my Porsche, but not too far off.

Rock-It Man · 01-27-2020, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LT4Greg

I can tell you just by driving at night that the 2 6gens I had or have now are much better than the headlights on the 2010 SS/RS 2SS that I used to own! No technical experience just driving at night or dusk.

In 2010, the RS cars have DRLs in the fog lamp position. These shut off when the headlights go on, so there are no real fog lights. On non-RS cars like mine, the DRLs are just the main headlights at a lower power, and the fog lights really are fog lights that can be turned on when the headlights are already on. They help with illuminating wet roads, debris, and potholes.

Later Gen5 cars (I don't recall what is the breakpoint year) do have fogs, RS or not.

Rock-It Man · 01-29-2020, 06:16 AM

Doing some research on 2020 models.

The SS has HID headlamps, but RS cars are all LED. I wonder why LED headlamps are not offered in the SS.

arpad_m · 01-29-2020, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock-It Man

Doing some research on 2020 models.

The SS has HID headlamps, but RS cars are all LED. I wonder why LED headlamps are not offered in the SS.

I think the SS is all LED as well, see the 2019 playbook at http://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/...amaro_2019.pdf (there is no reason GM would've changed it back to HID for 2020).

Rock-It Man · 01-29-2020, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpad_m

I think the SS is all LED as well, see the 2019 playbook at http://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/...amaro_2019.pdf (there is no reason GM would've changed it back to HID for 2020).

That would be good news!

HIDs are very expensive but not permanent.

*radz28* · 01-29-2020, 05:23 PM

Even though it's listed as LED, ZL1/E headlamps are NOT LED. Just FYI.

I can't make a comparison to your 5th Gen but I have thoughts from other cars.

I've either added or modified almost all my cars headlights since my first. Typically - I try to find the brightest bulb I can and angle them lower than stock. In low cars, getting a good spread and good depth is difficult, and that's why I try to go brighter. I'm not too big a fan of HIDs on non-HID lamps, but it's expensive to do it the right way. LED bulbs are now out there and I'm having great luck with cheap ones. After clocking the blade-style LEDs, I'm getting at least very close, if not OEM-type cut-off. If I can't get a good bulb replacement, I have added lights.

On both 4th Gens that I've had, I replaced the OEM fog lights with a HID-style and an LED-style driving light set. They were both PIAAs and while expensive, had GREAT illumination and light patterns. These usually gave me the type of coverage and light I wanted.

Regarding the 6th Gen, I can say that it's not quite the brightness and fullness of other modifications I've made on other cars, but, it might be good enough. Even if I could find a lamp to add (which I kinda' doubt I will), I think these are pretty darn good. There is a good pattern, crisp cut-off, and good intensity. I might, later, try an LED-conversion just to see, but for now, OEM is pretty dang good. I drove 8-hours home, immediately after leaving the dealership in the dark and didn't have many problems. I will say that I was STUPID lucky TWICE, as I happened to JUST MISS 2-tire carcasses but that was more on account of traffic than anything.

You might be okay with the OEM lights.

01-26-2020, 04:40 PM	#1
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,031 View My Garage	Headlights...road trip aficionados step inside My 2010 Camaro SS is a non-RS with real selectable fog lamps. I find that the fogs are crucial for reducing driver fatigue when driving long distances at night. Since Gen6 cars are without fogs, I'm looking for comments on the quality of Gen6 headlight coverage. I'm thinking of trading in for a Gen6 this year. Thanks in advance for your inputs.

01-26-2020, 04:57 PM	#2
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	I can tell you just by driving at night that the 2 6gens I had or have now are much better than the headlights on the 2010 SS/RS 2SS that I used to own! No technical experience just driving at night or dusk. __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

01-27-2020, 04:37 AM	#3
Silverado57 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 522	The headlights on my 2017 are very good, but I wish adding fog lights or LED running lights was an option. I avoid driving at night but more light is always better. __________________ Kevin Luceo Non Uro

01-29-2020, 05:23 PM	#10
radz28 Petro-sexual Drives: Ultra-Grin Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Crazy Coast Posts: 15,198 View My Garage	Even though it's listed as LED, ZL1/E headlamps are NOT LED. Just FYI. I can't make a comparison to your 5th Gen but I have thoughts from other cars. I've either added or modified almost all my cars headlights since my first. Typically - I try to find the brightest bulb I can and angle them lower than stock. In low cars, getting a good spread and good depth is difficult, and that's why I try to go brighter. I'm not too big a fan of HIDs on non-HID lamps, but it's expensive to do it the right way. LED bulbs are now out there and I'm having great luck with cheap ones. After clocking the blade-style LEDs, I'm getting at least very close, if not OEM-type cut-off. If I can't get a good bulb replacement, I have added lights. On both 4th Gens that I've had, I replaced the OEM fog lights with a HID-style and an LED-style driving light set. They were both PIAAs and while expensive, had GREAT illumination and light patterns. These usually gave me the type of coverage and light I wanted. Regarding the 6th Gen, I can say that it's not quite the brightness and fullness of other modifications I've made on other cars, but, it might be good enough. Even if I could find a lamp to add (which I kinda' doubt I will), I think these are pretty darn good. There is a good pattern, crisp cut-off, and good intensity. I might, later, try an LED-conversion just to see, but for now, OEM is pretty dang good. I drove 8-hours home, immediately after leaving the dealership in the dark and didn't have many problems. I will say that I was STUPID lucky TWICE, as I happened to JUST MISS 2-tire carcasses but that was more on account of traffic than anything. You might be okay with the OEM lights. __________________ '20 ZL1 Black "Fury" A10, PDR, Exposed CF Extractor Magnuson Magnum DI TVS2650R // RFBG // Soler 103 // TooHighPSI Port Injection // THPSI Billet Lid // FF // Katech Drop-In // PLM Heat Exchanger // ZLE Cradle bushings // BMR Chassis-Suspension Stuff // aFe Bars // Diode Dynamics LEDs // ACS Composites Guards // CF Dash // Aeroforce // tint // other stuffs

01-27-2020, 07:59 AM	#4
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,975 View My Garage	The headlights are excellent on my car. Good reach and breadth of illumination, and excellent cutoff. For long distance highway night driving, I will typically follow another car a 1/4 mile back and watch underneath that car for road gators.

01-27-2020, 10:03 AM	#5
c4racer Drives: 2016 SS Convertible Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: California Posts: 1,108	seems headlamps have come a long way in the last 10 years or so. I agree - the light son my 2018 colorado and 2016 Camaro are quite good. Maybe not quite as good as my Porsche, but not too far off.

01-29-2020, 06:16 AM	#7
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,031 View My Garage	Doing some research on 2020 models. The SS has HID headlamps, but RS cars are all LED. I wonder why LED headlamps are not offered in the SS.

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