Headlamp Alignment

[sym]

It was pointed out to me today that my headlamps do not seem to be properly aligned . . . i.e. the reach is not what it should be, and there is no definition to the beam at its furthest reach. In fact, most of the light seems to be lighting up my front wheels !

Checked the electric adjuster switch, but it is already on the highest setting (0) - changing this just makes the bulbs go even lower - i.e. even less light in front of the car !

Any ideas on correcting this ? Is it simply a case of manually adjusting the knobs at the back of the bulb holders in the bonnet ? Any tips on how to ensure they are the correct height ?

Cheers, s.

 

[Steve_Perry]

Yes it is just a case of manually adjusting the knobs at the back of the headlight units.

Do you know anyone close by that also drives a W202 with halogen lights? If so you take both cars and park them side by side infront of a large wall and adjust your beams until they match the reach of the other W202 if you don't want to get any garages involved to check beam alignment.

S.

 

[sym]

Cheers Steve. . . . I will give it a go and experiment with the manual adjustment knobs.

S.

 

[jimmy]

Yeah, I like to do it against a wall too.

Have you made sure youre bulbs are properly seated? There are little knobs that have to sit in some holes, otherwise the bulb alignment goes way out.

They used to give a diagram in the haynes manuals on how to align the headlamps, something like park 5 metres from a wall and adjust the lights so that the top of the beam pattern is 1m high. They dont do it anymore, (those figures are off the top of my head so dont take them for real!)

 

[sym]

Thank you so much for that James !!

Actually - you could have a point about the bulbs . . the range (not the brightness!) has been worse since I switched to the PIAAs . . . probably me fumbling about in the dark and not installing them correctly . . will make sure they are in properly before twiddling any knobs !!

S.

 

[Steve_Perry]

Originally posted by sym
...me fumbling about in the dark... ...twiddling any knobs...

Make sure you don't get arrested!



S.

 

[clk270]

Sym,

follow this link to the Total BMW magazine how to section - they did a headlight conversion feature and the last paragraph explains about headlamp height setting. IT seems little bit too simple to me but will at least tell you if the alignment is way out currently.

www.totalbmwmag.com/HandsOn/TechMay02.PDF

 

[Dieselman]

In the text it says that the light cutoff on dip beam should be at the same height as the light centres.
This cant be right otherwise the lamp isn't dipping. Isn't the usual setting 1% down tilt. It should be on a sticker on the bonet landing panel.

At 1% the lights should be 100mm lower for every 10m of range.

 

[clk270]

Yes thought the BMW article was flawed.

Try this one instead:-

http://www.autooptiks.com/aiming.html

 

[sym]

Originally posted by clk270
Yes thought the BMW article was flawed.

Try this one instead:-

http://www.autooptiks.com/aiming.html

Thanks . . . there are enough measurements in there to keep me busy for about a week !

I'll give it a go over the weekend . . . at some point when its dark enough to see the lights, and light enough to do the measuring !!

s.