Headlight beam height

A

Adamski

Lifer
 Edinburgh
Was in a VW polo last night, it has xenon headlights. The headlights were FAR better than the zeds, could see much further along the road. I reckon this is because the beam sits higher on the Polo.

Now, I don't want to make the zed fail an MOT through mis-aligned headlights.... BUT, if it's possible to raise the beam slightly and pass an MOT I will give it a go. I've seen headlights guides in another thread, and reckon this will give me all the info I need to adjust the beam.

Has anyone done this ok and passed an MOT?
 
Yes - real easy to do

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_180.htm

Scroll down a page to the illustration. Make your own marking on paper and stick to a flat wall. Supermarket and undergrounds carparks are good.

Else get any MOT station to adjust using their beam setter for just a few ££'s
 
I raised mine before it's last MOT, nothing was said when I picked it back up, but several months later when I actually started to use the lights again I was convinced that they had lowered them but I have no proof one way or the other. :idunno:
 
Cheers guys. Was absolutely amazed by the xenon beams on the Polo last night, made by headlights look 2nd rate :o

I'll have a busy weekend. Headlights and CDV removal...

Happy days :)
 
BMW adjusted mine to dead centre but they were still crap.

Two complete turns of each adjuster sorted this, and I just adjusted them back for the MOT.
 
If you adjust your dipped beam cutoff above horizontal, you will illuminate more trees, not roadway. Think about it - centreline angle and beam dispersion pattern, etc. The beam will appear brighter, and you will dazzle oncoming traffic. You do not want dazzled drivers veering into your lane! You will also give others another reason to pour more hate onto BMW drivers.

Chavvy behaviour IMO.
 
bcworkz said:
If you adjust your dipped beam cutoff above horizontal, you will illuminate more trees, not roadway. Think about it - centreline angle and beam dispersion pattern, etc. The beam will appear brighter, and you will dazzle oncoming traffic. You do not want dazzled drivers veering into your lane! You will also give others another reason to pour more hate onto BMW drivers.

Chavvy behaviour IMO.
Click to expand...

BCW - UK lights are a little different to US lights and a very differnt type of beam pattern (left flick asymetric). That said I totally agree that lights should not be adjusted above the horizontal and hence my posting of the UK's official measurement chart so the guys can see the correct left right and horizontal alignment.

One could argue and rightly so that in the UK if nobody flashes you then your lights are not dazzling and not too high.. Believe me we let other drivers know real quick if their lights are a nuisance///
 
Yeah, the Polo referred to in my original post gets lots of light flashes as I think the beams are too high
 
Adamski said:
Yeah, the Polo referred to in my original post gets lots of light flashes as I think the beams are too high
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Guessing they weren't OEM then.

I never got flashed in the Z4 with them raised two turns.
 
cj10jeeper said:
One could argue and rightly so that in the UK if nobody flashes you then your lights are not dazzling and not too high.. Believe me we let other drivers know real quick if their lights are a nuisance///
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I think that would have been truer in days gone by, but nowadays there are so many crazy fools on the roads who go off with the slightest provocation, that I don't flash, even if they are too bright. Every other chav-mobile or minicab these days has blue lights pointing at the sky.
 
srhutch said:
Adamski said:
Yeah, the Polo referred to in my original post gets lots of light flashes as I think the beams are too high
Click to expand...

Guessing they weren't OEM then.

I never got flashed in the Z4 with them raised two turns.
Click to expand...

100% OEM. Inside the headlight unit they have the lens that focuses the beam etc. It's a 2000 Polo Gti. Think Xenons were standard spec...
 
Adamski said:
100% OEM. Inside the headlight unit they have the lens that focuses the beam etc. It's a 2000 Polo Gti. Think Xenons were standard spec...
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A 2000 Polo with Xenon's as standard equipment, now BMW should be ashamed.
 
Too busy counting the money and bean counting to be ashamed.
And the cost of making a car look pretty, if you want good headlights buy a ford
 
road warrior said:
Too busy counting the money and bean counting to be ashamed.
And the cost of making a car look pretty, if you want good headlights buy a ford
Click to expand...
I was about to say that the Z4 dipped beams are not as good as the dips on my Focus :poke:
 
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