Whats up with my headlamps?

[Birdman]

Sorry I don't understand you.
It clearly says in your post that if a levelling device is needed, as it will always be on a passenger car due to having suspension, then it must be automatic.

Thats a fairly crucial word "automatic".

I'm afraid that's mutual! My point precisely. I'm agreeing (which may be difficult to understand...)

 

[Dieselman]

Oops.
I thought you were advocating that manufacturers could choose.

 

[Birdman]

Oops.
I thought you were advocating that manufacturers could choose.

Yes - choose to have automatic self-levelling Xenons, or choose to have automatic self-levelling suspension that ensures the headlamps are properly aimed. Which was your original point, and completely correct!

 

[television]

Xenon lights on MB are all self leveling and can only be adjusted on a diagagnosis set up, there is no adjustment on the car.

This is very much a country desinated thing with a lot of conflicting non clear info, very much so when it comes to after market fitments.

I noticed that Toyota send cars to the UK with adjusters, but in germany they are self leveling.

I did have a very good link on this suject but it all disapeared with the last 5 years of my life when the HD went down.

Malcolm

 

[Birdman]

Xenon lights on MB are all self leveling and can only be adjusted on a diagagnosis set up, there is no adjustment on the car.

This is very much a country desinated thing with a lot of conflicting non clear info, very much so when it comes to after market fitments.

I noticed that Toyota send cars to the UK with adjusters, but in germany they are self leveling.

I did have a very good link on this suject but it all disapeared with the last 5 years of my life when the HD went down.

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm - yes, it seems the whole area remains a bit foggy - nearly as dense as the Suffolk fog I've disappeared into!

The owner's manual merely states the Xenons should be regularly checked by the dealer for alignment. Ever since the n/s Xenon was replaced last year the o/s Xenon has aimed slightly high, so if it's adjusted using STAR diagnostices perhaps the dealer misaligned the o/s unit unintentionally when aligning the n/s unit, if that's possible...
Don't suppose you could research that missing link - the subject really interests me.
- Andrew

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm - yes, it seems the whole area remains a bit foggy - nearly as dense as the Suffolk fog I've disappeared into!

The owner's manual merely states the Xenons should be regularly checked by the dealer for alignment. Ever since the n/s Xenon was replaced last year the o/s Xenon has aimed slightly high, so if it's adjusted using STAR diagnostices perhaps the dealer misaligned the o/s unit unintentionally when aligning the n/s unit, if that's possible...
Don't suppose you could research that missing link - the subject really interests me.
- Andrew

Hi Anndrew, I do have the link posted on another site,I will post back,soon. I know that you are an exact man, and why not

Best regards. Malcolm

 

[television]

Here is one more to read Andrew.

http://www.osram.com/service_corner/faq/automotiv.html


Malcolm

 

[sovereign42]

The self levelling function is to keep the lights at eh same angle to the road whatever the load in the vehicle or if it hits bumps.
It is working all the time you just don't notice it.

Guys,

I am currently trying to work with my dealer because I dont think that the 'self levelling' Bi-xenons are levelling.

I have just bought a SAAB 9-5 Aero and I can see the lights adusting themselves constantly. However, my B-Class lights do the 'little dance' when I turn them on but from then on no movement can be detected. The near side light is a little high but both lights often spend a lot of time in the high dazzle zone which makes me very unpopular.

So it went to Watford Merc Dealer and it took 5 Techs to agree with me that it had self levelling lights !!! They said that they adjusted the nearside light down a little but I dont think they believe me that the lights should actually move whilst I am driving.

So the question is, is there a sure fire test to make these lights adjust themselves to a degree that can be seen. So that I can tell the dealer what to do.

The car is a B200 CDI

Thanks in advance

 

[Diesel Benz]

Guys,

I am currently trying to work with my dealer because I dont think that the 'self levelling' Bi-xenons are levelling.

I have just bought a SAAB 9-5 Aero and I can see the lights adusting themselves constantly. However, my B-Class lights do the 'little dance' when I turn them on but from then on no movement can be detected. The near side light is a little high but both lights often spend a lot of time in the high dazzle zone which makes me very unpopular.

So it went to Watford Merc Dealer and it took 5 Techs to agree with me that it had self levelling lights !!! They said that they adjusted the nearside light down a little but I dont think they believe me that the lights should actually move whilst I am driving.

So the question is, is there a sure fire test to make these lights adjust themselves to a degree that can be seen. So that I can tell the dealer what to do.

The car is a B200 CDI

Thanks in advance

Perhaps the suspension on your Saab isn't too good. I don't think I've ever noticed xenons levelling while driving. The movements would be too smooth. Also the lights should adjust to load changes on the car that make the front level differently from the rear, relatively.

Why not aim lights towards a wall, and ask two big guys sit at the back, the rear should go lower enough to make the lights adjust accordingly (I assume there is no self levelling suspension on a B-class car, the test would fail with Airmatic or ABC).

 

[glojo]

Guys,

I am currently trying to work with my dealer because I dont think that the 'self levelling' Bi-xenons are levelling.

The bi-xenons on a 211 will do a self levelling check everytime the engine starts up with the lights switched on. If your vehicle is the same then simply have the car face a wall garage door etc and start up the engine. On the 211 the lights go up, down and then centralise, I wonder if other models would do a similar thing?

Good luck,
John

 

[television]

When driving you do not notice it as dieselman said. I have never noticed mine move, but as I have to reverse into my garage I cant easily do what John said

On the MB the leveling device is on the rear axle, My SAAB did not have them so I cant comment

 

[glojo]

When driving you do not notice it as dieselman said. I have never noticed mine move, but as I have to reverse into my garage I cant easily do what John said

In that case, one should then task the butler to stand in front of one's car whilst Juan starts it up.

'ang on, what about your remote closing door? Start the car before opening the door.

Regards
John

 

[Birdman]

Guys,

I have just bought a SAAB 9-5 Aero and I can see the lights adusting themselves constantly. However, my B-Class lights do the 'little dance' when I turn them on but from then on no movement can be detected.
Thanks in advance

I've just bought a Phaeton and their Xenon's constantly move up and down too, in sympathy with the suspension movements and road undulations. Looks odd and I rather prefer Merc's way of doing it with the lamps adjusting just once, when turned on. But the Phaeton's air suspension when on 'Comfort' allows a fair amount of pitching movement.

 

[television]

In that case, one should then task the butler to stand in front of one's car whilst Juan starts it up.

'ang on, what about your remote closing door? Start the car before opening the door.

Regards
John

I have just been down to the garage, and the car is too near the door to see what happens. the lighting intensity changes once they have struck.

Re the door,I always open that from in the house, and I never have had reason to go anywhere in the dark, though of coarse I often come home in the dark.

 

[television]

I've just bought a Phaeton and their Xenon's constantly move up and down too, in sympathy with the suspension movements and road undulations. Looks odd and I rather prefer Merc's way of doing it with the lamps adjusting just once, when turned on. But the Phaeton's air suspension when on 'Comfort' allows a fair amount of pitching movement.

Any chance of any pictures please

 

[Diesel Benz]

I've just bought a Phaeton and their Xenon's constantly move up and down too, in sympathy with the suspension movements and road undulations. Looks odd and I rather prefer Merc's way of doing it with the lamps adjusting just once, when turned on. But the Phaeton's air suspension when on 'Comfort' allows a fair amount of pitching movement.

Just a clarification on my comment, I assume the MB system is active during driving too but the adjustments are just so smooth that one would not be able to detect any. Not at least while driving normally instead of staring the lights. Actually it must adjust after start (after the initial dance John described) because one might load the trunk after starting the car etc.

There levelling should compensate for the load balance in the car and that would not often change during driving. Perhaps other cars respond (visibly) to dynamic load changes like braking, accelerating or even passing bumps on roads (front and rear suspension kneeling at different times)?

PS. W221 and W211 at least have two level sensors at the front, one at the rear axle. Self levelling is mandatory in most EU countries for xenons, interesting if it isn't for UK.