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I imagine instead of making headlights easier to replace it's going to skyrocket in price and run off of closed source software. Why would this be a good additi

I imagine instead of making headlights easier to replace it's going to skyrocket in price and run off of closed source software. Why would this be a good addition for cars?

nradov 9y ago
These headlights will seldom require replacement during the life of the vehicle.
- metaphor 9y ago
  I can see these headlights going for an easy $500 via non-standard proprietary tech, let alone imagining what service labor will charge...because you know they're going to pull some bullshit like, "due to inherent system complexity, a factory certified technician is required to ensure proper service and calibration". The keyword seldom is a red herring in that if you have to replace them even once--at $500/ea material + who knows how much in labor--you would have exceeded the lifecycle maintenance cost of a traditional HID setup by roughly an order of magnitude. Furthmore, headlight housing these days are largely manufactured using polymers which are susceptible to "fogging up" over time, so replacement may not necessarily be driven by DLP failure mode. However, given DLP is essentially MEMS tech and target platforms are subjected to significant vibration and wide operating temperature gamut, I question how MTBF of these chips will be impacted vs. their traditional fixed consumer application over commercial temperature ranges. This isn't about performance. It's about suckering a market into gold plating a system to achieve IP lockdown--solving a problem that simply doesn't exist. OEMs are already refusing to sell factory service manuals to vehicle owners. This is yet another step in the wrong direction towards a completely unmaintainable vehicle.
  - planteen 9y ago
    I had the same thought - headlights are a very weak link in a minor accident such as a collision with a deer or low-speed rear ending. If the cost of replacement goes from $100 to $1000, that's a big deal!
    - asdfafwef 9y ago
      Exactly - the adaptive headlights on my 2014 grand cherokee at $1200 a pop greatly contributed to the decision to total the vehicle in a very minor collision when it was only 3 years old... (not to mention the $3000 radar sensor for adaptive cruise.)
nateguchi 9y ago
I'm currently in the annoying situation where I need to replace the "Adaptive" LED headlights on my BMW, these units cost ~£3000 which is significantly more than the alternative (bulbs)....
- nerpderp83 9y ago
  > BMW You signed up for this.

I imagine instead of making headlights easier to replace it's going to skyrocket in price and run off of closed source software. Why would this be a good addition for cars?

nradov 9y ago

These headlights will seldom require replacement during the life of the vehicle.

metaphor 9y ago
I can see these headlights going for an easy $500 via non-standard proprietary tech, let alone imagining what service labor will charge...because you know they're going to pull some bullshit like, "due to inherent system complexity, a factory certified technician is required to ensure proper service and calibration". The keyword seldom is a red herring in that if you have to replace them even once--at $500/ea material + who knows how much in labor--you would have exceeded the lifecycle maintenance cost of a traditional HID setup by roughly an order of magnitude. Furthmore, headlight housing these days are largely manufactured using polymers which are susceptible to "fogging up" over time, so replacement may not necessarily be driven by DLP failure mode. However, given DLP is essentially MEMS tech and target platforms are subjected to significant vibration and wide operating temperature gamut, I question how MTBF of these chips will be impacted vs. their traditional fixed consumer application over commercial temperature ranges. This isn't about performance. It's about suckering a market into gold plating a system to achieve IP lockdown--solving a problem that simply doesn't exist. OEMs are already refusing to sell factory service manuals to vehicle owners. This is yet another step in the wrong direction towards a completely unmaintainable vehicle.
- planteen 9y ago
  I had the same thought - headlights are a very weak link in a minor accident such as a collision with a deer or low-speed rear ending. If the cost of replacement goes from $100 to $1000, that's a big deal!
  - asdfafwef 9y ago
    Exactly - the adaptive headlights on my 2014 grand cherokee at $1200 a pop greatly contributed to the decision to total the vehicle in a very minor collision when it was only 3 years old... (not to mention the $3000 radar sensor for adaptive cruise.)

nateguchi 9y ago

I'm currently in the annoying situation where I need to replace the "Adaptive" LED headlights on my BMW, these units cost ~£3000 which is significantly more than the alternative (bulbs)....

nerpderp83 9y ago
> BMW You signed up for this.