07-14-2016, 11:15 AM | #1 |
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Adaptive LED Headlight Vertical Adjustment
My X3 is 4 months old and is equipped with the adaptive LEDs. It seems to me the low beams, especially the right one, can be raised a small bit for a substantial improvement without being a hazard to oncoming drivers. Virtually every new car I have had has come with the low beams much too low and my X3 is no exception.
Looking down on the headlight assemblies, each has an uncapped white nylon hex socket more or less in the center of the top of the assembly. At the back outside corner of each assembly appears to be a black capped adjustment. My guess is that the top center uncapped white nylon hex socket is for vertical adjustment. Does anyone know for certain? I also assume it would be necessary to make this adjustment with car completely off so everything is in its neutral position and there is no risk of competing with the servo motors. Is simply shutting everything down sufficient (i.e. same state as car would be in if unlocking and entering a locked car). |
07-17-2016, 07:39 AM | #2 |
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Better yet, find a parking lot next to a building with a flat wall so you can do it with vehicle running and lights on. Those adjustments are not integrated with electronics, so do them with the car running and lights on, them you can see your changes. Park straight facing the wall, approx. 10m away. Then make adjustments ands look at the beam pattern on the wall...
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07-17-2016, 01:30 PM | #3 | |
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Not too far from you, Jensen Beach here. |
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07-20-2016, 01:17 PM | #4 |
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I would assume so. It looks different than the lights I've done, but those were on an E46 3 series. If you're unsure, try it out. Turn the hex head exactly 1 full turn, see what happens. If nothing, turn it back to the original location.
As always, when adjusting lights, you want to be precise. So you should count the turns anyway and make sure they're the same. At the end of the day, its just a headlight, you won't break anything by trying it out.
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07-24-2016, 11:21 AM | #5 | |
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Because it is an "adaptive" system I believe there are servo motors that position it. I am sure of this because I notice, when starting the car facing a wall, horizontal movement of the light pattern. That does not mean it is also mechanically positioned vertically but I do not want to take any chances stripping a nylon gear or making it lose its reference position. |
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07-24-2016, 01:42 PM | #6 |
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I adjusted mine with everything on and running. No problems at all.
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07-26-2016, 07:14 PM | #7 |
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08-01-2016, 09:46 AM | #8 |
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Yes. When I can ill photograph the top of my lights.
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08-03-2016, 01:47 AM | #9 |
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How much adjustment did you need?
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08-04-2016, 10:46 PM | #10 |
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A tweak to lift the dipped beams very slightly. It's passed an MoT so a legal adjustment.
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