How to adjust headlight angle?

ibeclueless · 01-31-2010, 11:40 PM

i am also trying to find out how to adjust the headlight left and right

taukappa2000 · 02-02-2010, 09:52 PM

Mad love to EVO_S4 for the pics, and GTS_330 and E90Fleet for the commentary. I just adjusted mine (hopefully without breaking anything), and I love my '07 335i more than ever. Thanks.

jedexec · 02-18-2010, 01:16 PM

For the left / right adjustment, does anyone know whether to turn CCW or CW to move the beam 'out' and away from the vehicle?

mr.e90 · 03-07-2010, 05:18 PM

Can you also adjust the lci xenons higher??

BongC36 · 03-13-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mds82

Dont think its been posted - You can also adjust LEFT ad Right. there ia another screw under this rubber plug

Great Stuff! My 07 335i E90's headlights were hitting about 15' away and I couldn't see very well. 1-1/2 turn CCW did the trick. Thanks!

mr.e90 · 06-13-2010, 08:18 PM

Is there a screw under that rubber piece for the lci xenon???

blacknbean · 06-14-2010, 03:22 AM

so my passenger headlight is aimed like 2 ft higher than my driver when against the wall. I have an e92 and tried adjusting and nothing happend. turned like 1x, then 5x, then 10x in each direction with a screwdriver and it didnt seem to move the light. i also tried adjusting the driver light even tho it was already good and still nothing. do i need the special tool or i am doing it wrong?

Bobby_LeMans · 07-04-2010, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacknbean

so my passenger headlight is aimed like 2 ft higher than my driver when against the wall. I have an e92 and tried adjusting and nothing happend. turned like 1x, then 5x, then 10x in each direction with a screwdriver and it didnt seem to move the light. i also tried adjusting the driver light even tho it was already good and still nothing. do i need the special tool or i am doing it wrong?

i have a similiar problem...
my lights are hitting lower than usual and read this and gave it a try....
i adjust it CCW and didnt do much....move me up like 1" and goes back down...
the most it moves up is like 1"..doenst help or do much...

hookah66 · 07-14-2010, 04:43 PM

The screw that you are trying to adjust is for bias compensation only, i.e. its adjustable level is within a certain limit; the real leveling is done within the assembly unit of the Xenon lights. Do it after properly setting tire pressures, and fill you gas tanks full otherwise it won't be accurate. Mine doesn't got side to side adjustment for I got active headlight.

E46toE90 · 09-09-2010, 09:11 PM

Thannk God for this thread. Once I bought my e90 I always complained about the light being to low ! Now it's perfect!

QwiksilverA4 · 09-23-2010, 01:40 PM

Sorry to bring this up again. i lowered my car on coilovers and and the height with motors just wants to bring the beams down again. is there a way to manually set? height? and not left and right? or am i not understanding something?

hookah66 · 09-23-2010, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QwiksilverA4

Sorry to bring this up again. i lowered my car on coilovers and and the height with motors just wants to bring the beams down again. is there a way to manually set? height? and not left and right? or am i not understanding something?

Turn the adjusting (bias) screws the other way. Do it slowly with full tank of gas and properly inflated tires on a level surface. I know only how to make limited adjustments on those Xenon HID lights. May be someone else got better experience in making larger adjustment as after a body collision damages.

srh335xi · 11-07-2010, 10:07 AM

Awesome post, thanks.

dday · 11-11-2010, 04:38 PM

Does this process still apply to new cars? Just got a 2011 and the headlights feel very low.

hookah66 · 11-15-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dday

Does this process still apply to new cars? Just got a 2011 and the headlights feel very low.

It is to my understanding this is applicable to all bmw's HID headlights with "lens pods". The adaptive feature affects horizontal axis not vertical alignment, so the adjustment procedure is same with the adaptive feature. The apparent "low" feeling you got for Xenon lighting is illusion, but if you really feel it is "low" adjust it with the bias screws aimed at a white wall in a dark area, with proper tire inflation & full gas tank. The left headlight (in LH vehicles) is typically lower than right headlight, you will see the "zee" jagged line on the wall. I don't know how to adjust the HID headlights after major body damage requiring larger vertical compensations, the bias screw is for limited vertical compensations.

Nqwjx30 · 12-08-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ska325xi

Great Post

but please be courteous to other drivers so DO NOT exceed more than 1 full turn

I post more pics for the blind

just turn down mine a little, this is the spot for the xi i think, because i cannot find it using the pic EVO S4 provided, thanks for both all you guys.

Im8Up · 02-13-2011, 09:16 PM

What if it's empty where the screw is supposed to be? My drivers side is fine and has the screw but my passenger side is low but there is no screw where the screw is supposed to be? Is it possible to buy one to put back in or am I "screwed"?

txusa03 · 02-14-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mds82

Dont think its been posted - You can also adjust LEFT ad Right. there ia another screw under this rubber plug

Quote:

Originally Posted by BongC36

Great Stuff! My 07 335i E90's headlights were hitting about 15' away and I couldn't see very well. 1-1/2 turn CCW did the trick. Thanks!

wow, how did I miss this...

tracerit · 03-28-2011, 05:08 PM

do i have ot use a "BMW Screwdriver" or will any philips that fits in work fine? JUst worried that i might break the threading in side or something.

BKV122 · 03-28-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracerit

do i have ot use a "BMW Screwdriver" or will any philips that fits in work fine? JUst worried that i might break the threading in side or something.

A slotted head will work also

Kid Eh · 04-10-2011, 02:15 PM

I have tried everything to level my lights but with no luck. They do the "test" at startup but the passenger light always starts off and settles lower then the drivers side. Much lower. I've tried adjusting with the screws under the hood but that's as far as it will go. It will go a little lower but not higher. I don't know what to do anymore. Here's some pics of the left and right lights. You can clearly see the beam is way lower on the left. And the zoomed in photo shows the gap above the light. HELP!!!

Xcelrrate · 04-19-2011, 01:04 AM

Just got done with a test drive after adjusting my lights 2 full turns counterclockwise , Perfect .

01-31-2010, 11:40 PM	#221
ibeclueless What 142 Rep 9,325 Posts Drives: E92 328xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Quincy, MA iTrader: (1)	i am also trying to find out how to adjust the headlight left and right __________________ E92 328xi Space Gray Aero Lip \| M3 Side Skirts \| CF Performance Spoiler \| ACS Roof \| Gloss Black Grilles \| LUX H8 Angels \| BMW Performance Exhaust My E92 Photos
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02-02-2010, 09:52 PM	#222
taukappa2000 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0)	Mad love to EVO_S4 for the pics, and GTS_330 and E90Fleet for the commentary. I just adjusted mine (hopefully without breaking anything), and I love my '07 335i more than ever. Thanks.
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02-18-2010, 01:16 PM	#223
jedexec New Member 1 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 Audi A4 2.0T Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	For the left / right adjustment, does anyone know whether to turn CCW or CW to move the beam 'out' and away from the vehicle? Last edited by jedexec; 02-22-2010 at 02:50 PM.. Reason: more clarity
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03-07-2010, 05:18 PM	#224
mr.e90 Captain 62 Rep 746 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cali iTrader: (9)	Can you also adjust the lci xenons higher??
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06-13-2010, 08:18 PM	#226
mr.e90 Captain 62 Rep 746 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cali iTrader: (9)	Is there a screw under that rubber piece for the lci xenon???
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06-14-2010, 03:22 AM	#227
blacknbean Major 14 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: e92 335i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: LA iTrader: (2)	so my passenger headlight is aimed like 2 ft higher than my driver when against the wall. I have an e92 and tried adjusting and nothing happend. turned like 1x, then 5x, then 10x in each direction with a screwdriver and it didnt seem to move the light. i also tried adjusting the driver light even tho it was already good and still nothing. do i need the special tool or i am doing it wrong?
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07-14-2010, 04:43 PM	#229
hookah66 dirigir é a minha paixão 4 Rep 153 Posts Drives: e93 328c N52 3.0L cabriolet Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: somewhere called Boonton USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2002 325xi [0.00] 2009 328i cabriolet [0.00]	bias compensation... The screw that you are trying to adjust is for bias compensation only, i.e. its adjustable level is within a certain limit; the real leveling is done within the assembly unit of the Xenon lights. Do it after properly setting tire pressures, and fill you gas tanks full otherwise it won't be accurate. Mine doesn't got side to side adjustment for I got active headlight. __________________ Sou fanático por conversíveis...
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09-09-2010, 09:11 PM	#230
E46toE90 Sparkling Graphite Metallic FTW 156 Rep 3,211 Posts Drives: lci m-sport e90 n55 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: the bronx iTrader: (12)	Thannk God for this thread. Once I bought my e90 I always complained about the light being to low ! Now it's perfect!
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09-23-2010, 01:40 PM	#231
QwiksilverA4 Private First Class 11 Rep 181 Posts Drives: 2000 Audi S4, 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Downtown Vietnam, San Jose - CA iTrader: (0)	Sorry to bring this up again. i lowered my car on coilovers and and the height with motors just wants to bring the beams down again. is there a way to manually set? height? and not left and right? or am i not understanding something? __________________ 19" LE 37-D2 Coilovers-E90 M3 body-JB3-DCI
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11-07-2010, 10:07 AM	#233
srh335xi Private First Class 5 Rep 129 Posts Drives: e93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	Awesome post, thanks.
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11-11-2010, 04:38 PM	#234
dday Captain 35 Rep 856 Posts Drives: 2014 Alpine White 335 M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: MA iTrader: (1)	Does this process still apply to new cars? Just got a 2011 and the headlights feel very low.
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02-13-2011, 09:16 PM	#237
Im8Up Private 0 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cincinnati iTrader: (1)	What if it's empty where the screw is supposed to be? My drivers side is fine and has the screw but my passenger side is low but there is no screw where the screw is supposed to be? Is it possible to buy one to put back in or am I "screwed"?
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03-28-2011, 05:08 PM	#239
tracerit Captain 146 Rep 804 Posts Drives: 13 BRZ Limited 6MT Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Huntington Beach/OC, CA iTrader: (9)	do i have ot use a "BMW Screwdriver" or will any philips that fits in work fine? JUst worried that i might break the threading in side or something.
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04-10-2011, 02:15 PM	#241
Kid Eh I used to be conceited, now I'm perfect. 596 Rep 1,833 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 CS Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 CS [0.00]	I have tried everything to level my lights but with no luck. They do the "test" at startup but the passenger light always starts off and settles lower then the drivers side. Much lower. I've tried adjusting with the screws under the hood but that's as far as it will go. It will go a little lower but not higher. I don't know what to do anymore. Here's some pics of the left and right lights. You can clearly see the beam is way lower on the left. And the zoomed in photo shows the gap above the light. HELP!!! Attached Images __________________ 2018 M3 CS - Alpine White l l "I used to be conceited. Now I'm perfect"
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04-19-2011, 01:04 AM	#242
Xcelrrate Driver 41 Rep 372 Posts Drives: E90 ///M3 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW E90 M3 [10.00]	Just got done with a test drive after adjusting my lights 2 full turns counterclockwise , Perfect . __________________ '08 Jerez Black E90 ///M3 Pics of my Ride
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