How to adjust headlight angle?

silverado · 11-22-2005, 07:53 AM

This is very useful information. But I echo what others have said about doing this very conservatively. Just remember how you feel when you are blinded by xenons. You don't want to be driving around at night causing agony wherever you go.

soj · 12-01-2005, 12:15 PM

One day, these over-raised xenons is going to cause an accident, and we can all blame those who had no respect for others by setting the xenons into "blind the others, I don't care" mode.

mds82 · 12-01-2005, 12:21 PM

i think 1 turn is just perfect. at first i did 1.5 turns and i though i was going to blind someone.
Interesting idea i though of. someone shoudl turn it down about 5 turns and drive with the high beams on all the time. i wonder how that would work..... problaby it would be very bad for the lights though, thats my idea.

Hornet · 12-01-2005, 04:40 PM

Just FYI, I raised the xenons by 1 full turn and they still point lower than the A4s xenons (factory setting) for example. I'd guess that 2 full turns were still safe without blinding the oncoming traffic.

Here's a pic showing the difference between the A4 (standard susp) and the E90 (sport susp + raised 1 full turn) xenons.

poldim · 12-01-2005, 05:37 PM

[QUOTE=puck724]

Quote:

Originally Posted by visor

and the lexus discussions

BMW0 · 12-01-2005, 07:02 PM

Wow there's more to auto-leveling, didn't know you could manually adjust from the engine bay.

to E90Fleet!

JOYRIIDE1113 · 12-01-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hornet

Just FYI, I raised the xenons by 1 full turn and they still point lower than the A4s xenons (factory setting) for example. I'd guess that 2 full turns were still safe without blinding the oncoming traffic.

Here's a pic showing the difference between the A4 (standard susp) and the E90 (sport susp + raised 1 full turn) xenons.

the a4 body stance is higher than ours. the rule is to measure the height of u're headlights and then aim them 25 feet away from a flat surface to a wall and lower 2-4 inches lower than the headlights height.

if u see a big f350 headlight height, u'll notice its almost twice as tall as our e90's headlight. imagine if u would expect their light to aim by a specific height, like u were showing example of above with the bmw and audi, the fords f350 light output would be horrible and be aiming straight down.

joy

visor · 12-01-2005, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mds82

someone shoudl turn it down about 5 turns and drive with the high beams on all the time. i wonder how that would work..... problaby it would be very bad for the lights though, thats my idea.

Please don't. Because the high beams do not have a cut-off at the top like the low beams.

Using the high beams are not "bad for the lights". The same bulb is on, only the shutter has been removed allowing more light to travel higher unblocked.

Joyriide1113, good points and good rule.

We should use that rule to adjust the lights properly.

poldim · 12-02-2005, 12:08 AM

I took mine up 2 turns, drove for about half a mile, and turned back a turn, and then another half.

I guess mine were adjusted pretty good, or you some of you just dont care about blinding people...

BMW0 · 12-03-2005, 07:31 AM

Gratzie Mille, now I can raise my lights a tad bit higher

Asiann · 12-19-2005, 03:51 AM

Adjusted my lights right after I picked it up thanks to the thread!

AW330i · 12-19-2005, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bzzbenz

also... do you have to have a bmw screwdriver??

No, not necessariy but what happened to your bmw tools?!

youngtechman · 12-19-2005, 10:07 AM

I did 1 full turn, then I think is too high and did turn it 1/4 turn down.
Perfect.
So, my light is pefect at 3/4 turn.

ska///235i · 02-11-2006, 01:49 PM

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

petesamprs · 02-11-2006, 09:43 PM

I just adjusted my headlights upward but have no idea if it blinds oncoming drivers now. I probably gave it about 2 turns.

After the adjustment, I tried parking my e90 on my street with the lights on and then driving by with my other car. It didn't blind me at all, but it also didn't feel very realistic.

Any other good ways to test this?

mds82 · 02-12-2006, 12:00 AM

its snowing out in the northeast now, go outside on a road at night and turn the lights on. If the lights are shining much higher then the car then its blinding others. Mine are set so that they are just even with the height of the car, aka the light coming out of the headlights is level with the ground - this way it goes as far as it can withough going too high and blinding others

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

visor · 02-12-2006, 12:14 AM

petesamprs,
this is a good rule of thumb for aiming your headlights.
As posted several posts up:

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOYRIIDE1113

the rule is to measure the height of your headlights and then aim them 25 feet away on a flat surface to a wall and lower 2-4 inches lower than the headlights height.

puck724 · 02-12-2006, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petesamprs

I just adjusted my headlights upward but have no idea if it blinds oncoming drivers now. I probably gave it about 2 turns.

After the adjustment, I tried parking my e90 on my street with the lights on and then driving by with my other car. It didn't blind me at all, but it also didn't feel very realistic.

Any other good ways to test this?

do test runs in your neighborhood with a friend. thats what i did. i drove behind him at differant distances and then drove towards him. there was a place by my house that had some good curves too so we tried it out there. it was all good.

BMW335PA · 04-07-2006, 08:58 PM

Hey guys, great thread, but was wondering, IF for some reason, we wanted, or needed to get them back to factory setting, HOW would one go about this?
Any options?

PS I too adjusted mine, and def notice a BIG difference. Great Job!

bavarian19 · 04-25-2006, 09:10 PM

Ok... just adjusted mine. Took it up 3/4 of a turn. OH MY GOODNESS... Huge difference in the lighting on the car. I even had it up 1 to start, and it was a little high for low beams...

I can see at night now

I suggest everyone with factory xenons to try this adjustment. Make sure you do so cautiously so that you do not blind oncoming drivers though...

Best lighting 'mod' done so far

Garrett · 04-25-2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EVO_S4

how many turn did you do , i did full 360degree turn

WTF don't you people just turn your headlights on against a wall... THEN adjust them..?

That way you can ge the right hight and not be asking "how many turns" ..?

I pulled my car up to a school wall the to dial it in and checked it by making sure the beams never went above the grill of another car 30' away. I ended up actually lowering it a tad.

bavarian19 · 04-25-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett

WTF don't you people just turn your headlights on against a wall... THEN adjust them..?

That way you can ge the right hight and not be asking "how many turns" ..?

I pulled my car up to a school wall the to dial it in and checked it by making sure the beams never went above the grill of another car 30' away. I ended up actually lowering it a tad.

Calm down buddy... Its best as a trial and error process. Do one turn, and take it from there. You do need to drive out and about town instead of just at a wall. As you make the adjustments, you need to make sure you are not blinding people as you go up and down hills too, not just statically sitting at a wall...

I went for a quick drive on my way back home tonight, made one adjustment, and now its perfect

11-22-2005, 07:53 AM	#67
silverado Captain 291 Rep 874 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	This is very useful information. But I echo what others have said about doing this very conservatively. Just remember how you feel when you are blinded by xenons. You don't want to be driving around at night causing agony wherever you go. __________________ 2018 F87 M2 \| LBB \| Executive \| Moon Roof \| Apple CarPlay [2018 F22 M240 (sold) ; 2015 F22 M235i (sold); 2006 E90 330i (sold); 1983 E30 Coupe 320i (sold)]
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2005, 12:15 PM	#68
soj Private 1 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2008 328i, SP, PP, CW Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	One day, these over-raised xenons is going to cause an accident, and we can all blame those who had no respect for others by setting the xenons into "blind the others, I don't care" mode.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2005, 12:21 PM	#69
mds82 Major General 379 Rep 5,842 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Central Connecticut iTrader: (40) Garage List 2006 325xi Snow Pics [0.00] 2006 BMW 325xi [0.00]	i think 1 turn is just perfect. at first i did 1.5 turns and i though i was going to blind someone. Interesting idea i though of. someone shoudl turn it down about 5 turns and drive with the high beams on all the time. i wonder how that would work..... problaby it would be very bad for the lights though, thats my idea.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2005, 04:40 PM	#70
Hornet Lieutenant 59 Rep 410 Posts Drives: g20 330d xdrive Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland iTrader: (0)	Just FYI, I raised the xenons by 1 full turn and they still point lower than the A4s xenons (factory setting) for example. I'd guess that 2 full turns were still safe without blinding the oncoming traffic. Here's a pic showing the difference between the A4 (standard susp) and the E90 (sport susp + raised 1 full turn) xenons.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2005, 07:02 PM	#72
BMW0 Colonel 263 Rep 2,059 Posts Drives: AW E90 330i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Spokane, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Wow there's more to auto-leveling, didn't know you could manually adjust from the engine bay. to E90Fleet! __________________ 330i 6MT l 255 HP @ 5900 rpm 214 lb-ft Torque @ 3500 rpm l Alpine White l Beige l Aluminum l ZSP l 494 l PDC "Freude am Fahren" = "Joy to Drive"
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-02-2005, 12:08 AM	#75
poldim Vroom Vrrooooom 314 Rep 3,146 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i Sedan [0.00] 2003 GSX-R 600 [0.00]	I took mine up 2 turns, drove for about half a mile, and turned back a turn, and then another half. I guess mine were adjusted pretty good, or you some of you just dont care about blinding people... __________________ -Dmitriy 06' BMW 330i & 03' Suzuki GSX-R600 SG \| Beige Dakota \| Poplar \|\| iDrive w/MP3 \| PP \| SP \| CWP \| PDC \| Comfort \| Shades \|\| 40% Tint \| Black Line Tail Lights \| Hardwired V1
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-03-2005, 07:31 AM	#76
BMW0 Colonel 263 Rep 2,059 Posts Drives: AW E90 330i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Spokane, WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Gratzie Mille, now I can raise my lights a tad bit higher __________________ 330i 6MT l 255 HP @ 5900 rpm 214 lb-ft Torque @ 3500 rpm l Alpine White l Beige l Aluminum l ZSP l 494 l PDC "Freude am Fahren" = "Joy to Drive"
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-19-2005, 03:51 AM	#77
Asiann Got Seoul? 120 Rep 2,862 Posts Drives: 2012 535i MSport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Honolulu iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 535i [0.00] 2008 750Li [0.00] 2006 BMW [0.00]	Adjusted my lights right after I picked it up thanks to the thread! __________________ Can you say Alooooha? [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-19-2005, 10:07 AM	#79
youngtechman Private First Class 19 Rep 122 Posts Drives: 330i -> X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I did 1 full turn, then I think is too high and did turn it 1/4 turn down. Perfect. So, my light is pefect at 3/4 turn. __________________ E90 - 330i Arctic Metallic -> X3 M40i (Soon)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-11-2006, 01:49 PM	#80
ska///235i ***** noob 1460 Rep 10,477 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	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 Attached Images __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-11-2006, 09:43 PM	#81
petesamprs Lieutenant 37 Rep 522 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: northeast iTrader: (0)	I just adjusted my headlights upward but have no idea if it blinds oncoming drivers now. I probably gave it about 2 turns. After the adjustment, I tried parking my e90 on my street with the lights on and then driving by with my other car. It didn't blind me at all, but it also didn't feel very realistic. Any other good ways to test this? __________________ '14 535i (ED) Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-12-2006, 12:00 AM	#82
mds82 Major General 379 Rep 5,842 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Central Connecticut iTrader: (40) Garage List 2006 325xi Snow Pics [0.00] 2006 BMW 325xi [0.00]	its snowing out in the northeast now, go outside on a road at night and turn the lights on. If the lights are shining much higher then the car then its blinding others. Mine are set so that they are just even with the height of the car, aka the light coming out of the headlights is level with the ground - this way it goes as far as it can withough going too high and blinding others Dont think its been posted - You can also adjust LEFT ad Right. there ia another screw under this rubber plug Attached Images Last edited by mds82; 09-25-2009 at 12:34 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-07-2006, 08:58 PM	#85
BMW335PA Second Lieutenant 17 Rep 240 Posts Drives: '08 335i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Haverford, PA. iTrader: (0)	Hey guys, great thread, but was wondering, IF for some reason, we wanted, or needed to get them back to factory setting, HOW would one go about this? Any options? PS I too adjusted mine, and def notice a BIG difference. Great Job! __________________ 2008 335i: Platinum Bronze/Terra/Burl, Prem, Sport, Cold, I-Drive/Nav., Comfort Access, Logic 7, I-Pod/USB, Paddle Shifters, Alarm 2006 325i: JetBlack/Terra/Burl, Prem, Sport, Cold, Xenon, I-Drive/Nav., Alarm. - DECEASED (totaled by 19yo driver)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-25-2006, 09:10 PM	#86
bavarian19 General 558 Rep 18,849 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)	Ok... just adjusted mine. Took it up 3/4 of a turn. OH MY GOODNESS... Huge difference in the lighting on the car. I even had it up 1 to start, and it was a little high for low beams... I can see at night now I suggest everyone with factory xenons to try this adjustment. Make sure you do so cautiously so that you do not blind oncoming drivers though... Best lighting 'mod' done so far
	Appreciate 0 Quote