Xenons too bright!

C

Crimson_27

Member
 East Anglia
Hi all,

Ok so not sure if this is a problem as such but my xenons seem to be too bright. I know these are supposed to be bright but i'm getting a lot of flashes from other cars when they are on and when standing a few meters away i can see what they mean.

They are self leveling according to manual and this is working fine i've checked. Its as if they are not dipping once on, but i watch them raise when starting the car.

Any ideas or people had similar problems?? Do you get main beam xenon bulbs and dipped bulbs? This is my first car with xenons so bit of a noob question soz. My mate has them and says he gets drivers flashing him also but i'm getting flashed every 5 cars or less., which seems excessive. If anyone can shed some light on this (pun not intended) id be grateful.

Thanks
 
You need to understand the auto levelling. This function merely keeps the lights to the correctly set static level, so if you add fuel, luggage, etc they don't end up pointing skywards. The levelling you see is the step motors resetting themselves to the correct static level as they forget where they are positioned when switched off. Later gen xenon so don't need this.

The static setting has to be done manually as with any other headlight and as SR notes above that could be out, so needs checking.at an mot station (or your garage wall)

In terms of low and high beam - on xenon it's done by a shutter cutting off part of the beam, not separate bulbs. Minor differences on pre and post facelift but some have a separate halogen flash to pass fitted.
 
as above - if you want to adjust the headlights yourself, the sockets need a T25 Torx screwdriver. There are two adjustments:

Z4headlightadjustment_zpscfb16104.jpg
 
It might be different on xenons but my headlights are adjusted with a 6mm allen key or a cross or flat screwdriver.
 
Mine are also Xenons, Steve. I find the torx fits fine, Allen key would also probably work. I would not use a flat or crosshead screwdriver as they will have a tendency to chew the plastic sockets.
 
Steve84N said:
It might be different on xenons but my headlights are adjusted with a 6mm allen key or a cross or flat screwdriver.
Click to expand...

Allen key is indeed the correct tool to adjust them (xenon and halogen), however a torx will also fit and the way the adjust is moulded gives the illusion that it's a torx fitting

You can also see how they are designed to take a crosshead screwdriver
 
Ah thanks for the detailed replies,

cj10 your correct in mine being halogen flash to pass fitted, it was mot'd just before being sold so i havn't done this myself. Sounds like they need a manual adjustment so will get on that i think. Is there a way against the wall to know when they are at a correct level ?? or is this just an educated guess? The pic will help hugely thx.

cheers
 
Crimson_27 said:
Ah thanks for the detailed replies,

cj10 your correct in mine being halogen flash to pass fitted, it was mot'd just before being sold so i havn't done this myself. Sounds like they need a manual adjustment so will get on that i think. Is there a way against the wall to know when they are at a correct level ?? or is this just an educated guess? The pic will help hugely thx.

cheers
Click to expand...

There are numerous guides around if you Google it, but this shows what test centres work to

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

A good start is a flat floor / wall on say an underground car park and from 10 feet or so back see how the beams are falling and do some basic left /right up/down adjustment
 
I just had to adjust mine, too. 6 mm key, no problem there.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NU2VOU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

You will need several rounds of doing it since finding actually level ground isn't as easy as you think. When you are behind a car watch that you don't hit the side mirror. When you drive by parked cars on the left check that your light does not enter the cabin. Third adjustment will be the charm.
 
Squiddie said:
I just had to adjust mine, too. 6 mm key, no problem there.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NU2VOU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

You will need several rounds of doing it since finding actually level ground isn't as easy as you think. When you are behind a car watch that you don't hit the side mirror. When you drive by parked cars on the left check that your light does not enter the cabin. Third adjustment will be the charm.
Click to expand...

Large underground carparks, such as supermarkets, office buildings, etc. are the solution. Free to get in, lots of space, perfectly flat floors vertical clean concrete walls and even nice lines to align the car to be perpendicular tho the wall.
 
They light up the cabin in front a treat at the moment if i'm following traffic!! My first clue.

My drive is actually more or less level so hopefully should be no problems there, loads of multilevels near me as well, spoilt for choice.
 
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