headlight alignment? - XBimmers

cadman50 · 12-01-2012, 12:55 PM

I had one headlight assembly taken off the car and then put back in for some body work. Do the headlights need to be re-alligned? Seems like a few people are giving me the high beams as they approach at night. There was no structural damage to the front at all...just to blend some paint in. i thought they were self levelling.

nyalpine90 · 12-03-2012, 11:22 AM

headlights adjusts themselves. park in front of wall/garage and u can check the lights adjusting themselves. u can tell if one is not at proper level (xenons)

snowboardjoe · 12-03-2012, 11:37 AM

Yes, the HID headlights do auto-adjust, but they must still be calibrated. The system knows how much to adjust the headlights, but they can't calibrate themselves the first time. If a headlights is replaced, it will likely need adjustment.

There there should be small adjustments knobs on each headlamp. Shine the headlights on a level surface (a brick wall can serve as a great alignment grid) and use your're old headlamp as a guide. From there you can make small adjustments.

Even just standing 20' or more away from your vehicle will help give you a good idea of alignment and see if either one is blinding oncoming traffic. They tend to aim the drivers side headlight (the one more likely to shine on oncoming traffic) down a bit more than the other.

lbjgh · 12-03-2012, 04:05 PM

Being in the USA you have auto horizontal levelling and the lamps turn with steering input.

Perhaps the lights are aimed to the left.

p.s. us guys north of the border only get auto horizontal levelling.

cadman50 · 12-04-2012, 10:53 PM

Thanks for the input. I was thinking more of the left/right adjustment and wondered if they can be calibrated that way. I see the headlights rising to an equal level now as far as up/down. I'll have the dealer look at them when I take the X in for some squeak/creak repair.

XB101 · 12-05-2012, 01:51 PM

Hmm I don't know because in the fog I noticed my left side's beam seems a bit high. I have not hit anything with the vehicle. Will have to look into it.

cadman50 · 12-07-2012, 02:57 PM

Was at the dealer yesterday and they did adjust one of the lights. Not much though. Got rid of onbe of my creaks and almost got rid of the other. Will have to monitor it more.

nyalpine90 · 12-07-2012, 03:04 PM

everyone has creaks n squeaks

12-01-2012, 12:55 PM	#1
cadman50 Private First Class Drives: 2012 X3 35i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 147 iTrader: (0)	headlight alignment? I had one headlight assembly taken off the car and then put back in for some body work. Do the headlights need to be re-alligned? Seems like a few people are giving me the high beams as they approach at night. There was no structural damage to the front at all...just to blend some paint in. i thought they were self levelling.
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12-03-2012, 11:22 AM	#2
nyalpine90 Major General Drives: '12 X3 28i AW Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: valley stream LI Posts: 8,718 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2012 X3 [4.50]	headlights adjusts themselves. park in front of wall/garage and u can check the lights adjusting themselves. u can tell if one is not at proper level (xenons) __________________

12-03-2012, 11:37 AM	#3
snowboardjoe Enlisted Member Drives: 2013 X3 28i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 43 iTrader: (0)	Yes, the HID headlights do auto-adjust, but they must still be calibrated. The system knows how much to adjust the headlights, but they can't calibrate themselves the first time. If a headlights is replaced, it will likely need adjustment. There there should be small adjustments knobs on each headlamp. Shine the headlights on a level surface (a brick wall can serve as a great alignment grid) and use your're old headlamp as a guide. From there you can make small adjustments. Even just standing 20' or more away from your vehicle will help give you a good idea of alignment and see if either one is blinding oncoming traffic. They tend to aim the drivers side headlight (the one more likely to shine on oncoming traffic) down a bit more than the other. __________________ Joe Morris

12-03-2012, 04:05 PM	#4
lbjgh Major Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North of Toronto Posts: 1,242 iTrader: (0)	Being in the USA you have auto horizontal levelling and the lamps turn with steering input. Perhaps the lights are aimed to the left. p.s. us guys north of the border only get auto horizontal levelling. __________________ 2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes

12-07-2012, 03:04 PM	#8
nyalpine90 Major General Drives: '12 X3 28i AW Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: valley stream LI Posts: 8,718 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2012 X3 [4.50]	everyone has creaks n squeaks __________________

12-04-2012, 10:53 PM	#5
cadman50 Private First Class Drives: 2012 X3 35i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 147 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the input. I was thinking more of the left/right adjustment and wondered if they can be calibrated that way. I see the headlights rising to an equal level now as far as up/down. I'll have the dealer look at them when I take the X in for some squeak/creak repair.

12-05-2012, 01:51 PM	#6
XB101 Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 TiAg X3 35i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Western Canada Posts: 225 iTrader: (0)	Hmm I don't know because in the fog I noticed my left side's beam seems a bit high. I have not hit anything with the vehicle. Will have to look into it.

12-07-2012, 02:57 PM	#7
cadman50 Private First Class Drives: 2012 X3 35i Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 147 iTrader: (0)	Was at the dealer yesterday and they did adjust one of the lights. Not much though. Got rid of onbe of my creaks and almost got rid of the other. Will have to monitor it more.

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