Adjusting E39 headlights? DIY?

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

It looks like my headlights are actually working but just pointing too low? Is this a DIY fix anyone or best left to the garage?

(I know I should invest in a Bentley mechanic's manual but not got around to it yet!)

Thanks in advance

Savaloy

[Hawmaws]

Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

It looks like my headlights are actually working but just pointing too low? Is this a DIY fix anyone or best left to the garage?

(I know I should invest in a Bentley mechanic's manual but not got around to it yet!)

Thanks in advance

Savaloy

Xenons, or standard?

Xenons should self-adjust, if not, it could be that the level sensor on one of the suspension arms isn't working...same thing happened to me yesterday and my indy fixed it with a cable tie.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Xenons. Had my independent check the adjuster yesterday and he said all was well. I'm convinced the lights are pointing too low. They do the wibble wobble thing when you turn them on but then point too low imo.

[E30M3SE]

Maybe you have a duff sensor, did your inde check the aim or just confirm they were working?

Run it into a MOT test centre and get them to check the aim.

[Hawmaws]

Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

Xenons. Had my independent check the adjuster yesterday and he said all was well. I'm convinced the lights are pointing too low. They do the wibble wobble thing when you turn them on but then point too low imo.

It does sound like the sensor has gone..wibble wobble means that the motors are working.

If there's a problem on the sensor it defaults to very low beam... before it was fixed I could drive along on full beam without getting the full "tosser" flash treatment.

[Quinten]

You should also check the Left/Right lever hasn't been changed. On the top of your headlight unit you'll find a lid which when removed provides access to the lever. You can normally use that for driving on the continent.

[Neil.D]

Have you adjusted the level recently? The E39 manual adjuster is plastic and very weak. It goes brittle over time with the constant heating up and cooling down. You then adjust it with a screwdriver and it breaks. Its default position is to point about 6 feet in front of the car.

http://www.odometergears.com/subpages/E39_Headligh...

[Hawmaws]

I don't think that Xenons have a left/right adjustment....if there is I've never found it.

It would be unlikely that both adjusters go at the same time..are they both low?

[Neil.D]

Xenons have Left/right adjustment for UK/Euro driving, they also have dipped and main beam adjustment.

Its the dipped/main beam adjusters that break.

[Quinten]

Hawmaws said:

I don't think that Xenons have a left/right adjustment....if there is I've never found it.

It would be unlikely that both adjusters go at the same time..are they both low?

They most certainly have. Mine have.



It's the lid in the center on top of the glass

[Hawmaws]

Neil.D said:

Xenons have Left/right adjustment for UK/Euro driving, they also have dipped and main beam adjustment.

Its the dipped/main beam adjusters that break.

Thanks, I spent a frantic 20 minutes in the tunnel trying to find out how to do this, and gave up...I'll have another look tomorrow.

[Neil.D]

Hawmaws said:

Neil.D said:

Xenons have Left/right adjustment for UK/Euro driving, they also have dipped and main beam adjustment.

Its the dipped/main beam adjusters that break.

Thanks, I spent a frantic 20 minutes in the tunnel trying to find out how to do this, and gave up...I'll have another look tomorrow.

Spin the circular cap that is directly in the middle and on top of the headlamp unit.

IIRC its the lever towards the centre of the car = UK driving

Lever pointing to the outside = Euro

[Max M4X WW]

I've had my lights in and out a few times and fitted new standard (xenon) bulbs, finally got them adjusted by an MOT tester friend last weekend and now my 'cut-offs' are level and I can see a lot more!

[Jobbo]

Hawmaws said:

I don't think that Xenons have a left/right adjustment....if there is I've never found it.

It would be unlikely that both adjusters go at the same time..are they both low?

In addition to the continental driving adjuster, they also have left-right and up-down threaded adjusters on the back.

My specialist always used to aim mine downwards for the MOT; I'd then wind them back up a couple of turns so I could actually see at night.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Thanks for everyone's input. So if I take the caps off (I have them on my lights are the adjusters inside or are they adjusted at the back of the lights? There are some philips plastic screws sitting at the back of the lights that I guess you turn for upward/downward adjustment and if memory serves there are horizontal ones that I guess you twizzle for left/right.

Car is in wales, me in london so can't just nip outside and check at the moment!

[528Sport]

make sure you dont turn the screws hard if you meet resistance incase you snap the plactic ajusters.

to check if one of the ajusters is broken get hold of the connector at the back of a buld and see if you can move the assembmy. A mill or 2 of movement is okish but if you can move the light quite a lot the an ajuster is bust. BMW sell them. You then have the fun of opening up the light cluster replacing the broken bit and then se sealing the thing

if the car is angel eye type lights then im sure they are sealed and cant be repaired.