Dazzling headlights problem

[lastking]

Car in question is a 2005 CLK w209.
Recently at night a lot of cars keep flashing me and I passed a friend who also commented on my lights being very bright. Ive only had the car a few weeks and as far as I know they are factory Xenons.

Noticed also they don't seem to self level as such on start up and the adjustment wheel in the dash beside the light controls doesn't seem to do anything.

Is this due to a sensor being broke or does the whole mechanism need replacing ?

Many thanks

 

[Codger49]

I thought only cars equipped with halogen headlights had the adjustment wheel beside the light switch, as factory fitted Xenons came with an automatic adjustment mechanism on the suspension.

Has the PO done an incomplete HID conversion?

 

[lastking]

I thought only cars equipped with halogen headlights had the adjustment wheel beside the light switch, as factory fitted Xenons came with an automatic adjustment mechanism on the suspension.

Has the PO done an incomplete HID conversion?

You are probably right in that case, however looking under the bonnet there doesn't seem to be any power ballasts that Im used to seeing with aftermarket HID's

With that being said then, do you reckon the levelling mechanism is at fault or can they just be aligned correctly at a garage ?

 

[Lit91]

As above, sounds like it isn't factory if it has a wheel to change the level. Are the lights projector based or just standard reflectors?

If they are projector, then it could have been a retrofit from a bi-xenon car, I guess the system isn't connected to the suspension OR the level adjustment wheel, if this is the case.

 

[bob6600]

Get them manually adjusted at an MOT station and all should be fine

 

[lastking]

Yeah Ill just get that done. Only realised as well yesterday that there is a button for headlight washer spray hahaa. I was under the impression it was the same as BMW where its automatic after every 6th window washer spray. The joys of stupidity !!

 

[Codger49]

There is an auto function on the headlamp washers, its every 15th time you use windscreen wash wipe. Resets to zero when you switch ignition off.

Doesn't seem of much use to me, would prefer BMW's 6th time.

 

[lastking]

15 seems quite a lot, kind of ridiculous.

Anyways, thanks for your help buddy.

 

[ss201]

I had a similar problem on my 55 plate W203 estate. which has the same xenon headlight arrangement. There is a mechanical ball-joint self-levelling headlamp mechanism which had broken. I noticed it hanging loose from the inside of the wheel arch when changing my front offside wheel. It was diagnosed and fixed by my trusted indie who fitted the new parts from M-B which were:

203 328 01 26 mounting bow
209 320 02 89 rod
00000 006573 ball stud
910113 006000 nut
010113 005001 hexagon nut

parts cost £23.14 + VAT, plus an hour's labour to fit.

Strongly recommend you have it sorted ASAP as xenon headlamps are legally required to self level correctly and it if spotted will be an MOT fail - as well as being dangerous to oncoming motorists at night.

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

If it has been retrofitted, and the headlamps are projector headlamps then you don't need self levelling for it to be legal. With that scenario, anything fitted from factory must work to pass MOT, I.e you have lamp washers so they must work, but if self levelling is not fitted then you don't need a self levelling function for it to pass

Work out the measurements where you can level the headlamps yourself to the correct height, by measuring the distance between the bonnet and a flat horizontal surface. Might just be a case of adjusting the screws on the headlamps themselves

Could even be dirty bulbs? You'd have to look behind the dust caps to see if they're xenons or halogen bulbs, or post a picture. Ballasts could be attached to the bottom of the headlamps out of sight

 

[Lit91]

By the UK law, any xenon setup - factory, retrofit or modification requires auto levelling headlights and headlight washers.

In reality, I have never seen anyone check anything but the light pattern on M.O.T

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

By the UK law, any xenon setup - factory, retrofit or modification requires auto levelling headlights and headlight washers

Correct, but only if they were fitted from the factory mate

Someone could retrofit Xenons/HID's (in correct headlamp housing) and not need self levelling or washers

The only time those rules would come into play is if they had levelling or washers installed from factory, and if the case, these would need to function correctly

I could put OEM xenons on mine and not worry about anything else come MOT time, only thing I'd need to make sure is spot on is the level of the lights, which doing the measurements can be done by adjusting screws and using the manual adjuster within the car

 

[Lit91]

Correct, but only if they were fitted from the factory mate

Someone could retrofit Xenons/HID's (in correct headlamp housing) and not need self levelling or washers

The only time those rules would come into play is if they had levelling or washers installed from factory, and if the case, these would need to function correctly

I could put OEM xenons on mine and not worry about anything else come MOT time, only thing I'd need to make sure is spot on is the level of the lights, which doing the measurements can be done by adjusting screws and using the manual adjuster within the car

Maybe things have changed, I haven't researched this recently and can't seem to find anything on this topic on official websites now - but I'm sure the rule used to apply to all xenon applications.

Not sure I totally agree with the need of both, auto-levelling maybe, but headlamp washers, why?

 

[Codger49]

Probably because dirty headlamps could scatter the light beam thus causing glare to oncoming drivers.

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

Maybe things have changed, I haven't researched this recently and can't seem to find anything on this topic on official websites now - but I'm sure the rule used to apply to all xenon applications. Not sure I totally agree with the need of both, auto-levelling maybe, but headlamp washers, why?

I'm not sure, I can see the self levelling to be more important due to dazzling.

With the washers possibly the due to the extra heat or light, incase something gets splattered onto the headlamp and it spreads light unevenly

I've seen halogen cars built with washers too though so not sure on that one

 

[bob6600]

Probably because dirty headlamps could scatter the light beam thus causing glare to oncoming drivers.

^^this