Year, make and model would help.

Seagrass

 

2013 2.5i Premium

 

Also, when my side/parking light switch is on, the “parking lights” seem to be shining in the same position as the high beams

Looking at the photos, I think the side/parking light photo might actually be showing the DRLs which, depending on model year, could be using the high beams at lowered brightness. The DRLs usually are on whenever the engine is running and the parking brake is off. (Again, car info would help.)

For some years now, the low beam headlights have been designed to have a sharp cutoff, with bright lower down and dark above.

In this example, the bright light (diagonal lines) at 10 feet cuts off at height "D", which is the height of the headlight center.

 

Looking at the photos, I think the side/parking light photo might actually be showing the DRLs which, depending on model year, could be using the high beams at lowered brightness. The DRLs usually are on whenever the engine is running and the parking brake is off. (Again, car info would help.)

For some years now, the low beam headlights have been designed to have a sharp cutoff, with bright lower down and dark above.

In this example, the bright light (diagonal lines) at 10 feet cuts off at height "D", which is the height of the headlight center.
View attachment 562985

 

What had changed to prompt you to adjust the headlights?

 

The low beam cutoff was dangerously low when I got the car. Probably less than 20 feet in front of me and pitch black elsewhere. Never seen a cutoff this prominent and lows this dim, yet this is also the first time I’ve had a projector lens.

 

2013 2.5i premium. Thanks for the DLR info. I guess I’ve never had a cut off this prominent before. I understand the importance of it for other drivers sake, but I truly feel it’s unsafe, dim, and still not far enough out. Yet the more I adjust them, the more the high beams shine to the sky. Is there a way to adjust the low beams separately?

 

Is there a way to adjust the low beams separately?

No.

Access to the low beam bulbs in that generation is somewhat of a challenge. The bulb can be installed improperly, and given the awkward access, there have been cases here where that has happened. The position and orientation of the bulb is crucial for a proper light pattern. There are tabs on the bulb that have to be aligned with corresponding shapes in the headlight assembly. If the previous owner replaced the bulbs at some time, it's possible both were incorrectly installed.

 

Check, just in case, whether the headlights are aftermarket. Aftermarket headlights can be difficult to adjust within specifications.

 

Yes, the cutoff on these headlights is very abrupt.
Raising them a bit helps but the tradeoff is the light is less focused. Turning on the foglights helps a lot to fill in the close-in dark spot.

I suggest trying some fresh bulbs. For some reason the OB consumes halogen bulbs, especially if the driver prefers the Auto function. Many have opted to go with LED retrofits but just fresh halogens will be brighter.

 

Yes, the cutoff on these headlights is very abrupt.
Raising them a bit helps but the tradeoff is the light is less focused. Turning on the foglights helps a lot to fill in the close-in dark spot.

I suggest trying some fresh bulbs. For some reason the OB consumes halogen bulbs, especially if the driver prefers the Auto function. Many have opted to go with LED retrofits but just fresh halogens will be brighter.

Buy Hella bulbs, Troy. I drive the same car as you and went through many low beam bulbs until my mechanic switched to Hellas. That was at least six years ago and they still work.

 

I had a Gen4 and after trying many different things including several types of bulbs I ended up replacing the light assemblies.

The difference was literally “night and day”.

In the end I concluded the projector lens in the headlight assembly was so dirty that the light output was being diffused and this caused low light output.

You can disassemble the lights and clean the projector lens but this is a complex process that requires heating the sealant to enable disassembly and resealing on assembly. I was not confident of the outcome so I chose to replace the light assemblies and I am very glad that I did.

Seagrass

 

Got some fresh whiter halogens and centered each side together toward my line sight and it helped quite a bit. Just gonna have to get used to projectors instead of reflectors. Will still convert to LED’s soon. Thanks for the help!

 

Actually, for a car this old, the cutoffs seem almost like a JDM light would give as it rises slightly to the left, rather that the right. There is even a slight hot spot in high beams that also appears to rise to the left. It is also possible that the prior owner put in HID or LED conversions. Check also for an approval mark or code on the lenses or housings saying DOT or SAE. Here is a link to headlight code explanations: http://danielsternlighting.com/images/Codes.pdf

I have found the brightest bulbs at an autoparts store tend to be pretty short-lived, especially if there is any blue tint on the bulb. I too recommend Hella or Osram. A bit more expensive, but better quality.

 

What is wrong with my auto (low beams)?

It seems correct.
Your first picture, labeled Low Beams, show the proper stepped pattern. Illuminating the road ahead but only at a low enough angle to reach ahead a limited distance and still avoid blinding oncoming drivers (and those in your lane in their rear view mirror). You'll also notice that the top of the pattern has two levels appearing as steps, lower on the left (to protect oncoming drivers) and a little higher on the right, presumably to reveal objects on your side of the road a little farther ahead and those things (like wildlife) likely to jump into your path. This is a European concept -- for many years I always converted my sealed beams to European bulbs which had an even more useful pattern, low and horizontal on the left and a rising diagonal to the right to even more effectively illuminating those risks on the right side of the road (for me, my concerns were deer, moose, etc. because of where I drove).
Your second picture, labeled Parking Lights, appears to actually be your DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) which switch on automatically along with your parking lights.
Your third picture, labeled High Beams, appears to be as stated, your High Beams, and at proper height to reach farther ahead; but they are anemic because they are consistent with dubious US-DOT regulations, which is why I always switch on high beams on my cars with higher lumen bulbs - and the reason I am owning my last Subaru because the new ones with LED headlights cannot be upgraded.