NHTSA Complaint #10096209 — 2004 BMW X3

BLINDED BY HIGH INTENSITY HEADLAMPS. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FIRST, LET ME THANK YOU FOR CLOSING DOWN THE DISTRIBUTION OF AFTER-MARKET HI DEVICES MADE BY AMTEX IN DAYTON, TX. THE AFTER-MARKET ONES ARE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY ARE PLACED IN HEADLIGHTS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE HI INTENSITY LAMPS. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE A CONTINUING PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY THE BLUE-WHITE LAMPS. SOME ARE SO INTENSE AS TO CAUSE PAIN - LIKE LOOKING INTO A WELDER'S ELECTRIC ARC. THESE LAMPS MAY BE OK ON THE AUTOBAHN, BUT THEY HAVE NO PLACE IN URBAN CROWDED FREEWAYS. NOT ONLY ARE THE DIRECT BEAMS DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS, BUT EVEN REFLECTED (FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND WET ROADWAYS) LIGHT CAUSES PROBLEMS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND ONE THAT IS ADMITEDLY HARD TO QUANTIFY - WHO CAN SAY HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVERS BLINDED BY THESE LIGHTS. NOTABLE OFFENDERS ARE BMW-LATE MODELS, HONDA - ESPECIALLY ACCORD & ACURA, LEXUS, AND AUDI. MANY OF THE HIGH-END, EXPENSIVE FOREIGN-MADE VEHICLES TEND TO HAVE THESE OBNOXIOUS LAMPS AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! IT'S TIME TO GET THESE DANGEROUS IRRITANTS OFF THE ROAD!*AK