I can tell, I believe, the difference between xenon filled halogen and HID xenon bulbs -- the peculiar purplish color of the HID bulbs (and the tiny reflectors) are a giveaway.

I suspect I see considerably more near UV than most folks -- for instance, I can see the "bee purple" spots on yellow flower as a shiny spot. HID bulbs put on LOTS of blue/near UV (charataristic of any high voltage discharge lamp), and I suspect this is what bothers me. They are literally painful in full sunlight, for instance.

Blue headlampst just look stupid, they don't bother me (other than wiping out my night vision).

I'd rather have "dull" lamps with less blue light -- I can see more with them once my eyes adapt. Try turning your dash lights down to the point you can just see the guages at night and see if you can tell a diference in appearant distance lighting -- I find I can see MUCH better outside the car with the interior lights very low. Green dash lighting is insane -- requires a huge increase in headlight power to see anything!

Larry:

I know what you mean about dark, winding roads -- fits the road I hit that stupid deer on recently. Driving lights work wonders there -- even fog lamps help, since you can see the giant rodent's eyes reflecting in them!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!