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hid headlight alignment/adjustment help please!
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:30 am
by nogwuy
found an old post on this and have a few questions! i think mine might need re- alighning.
the car is lowered by 40mm all round, does this mean they will need re-aligning to suit?
Also, the dipped (hid) passengers side is slightly lower than the drivers, there is a definite diagonal line in the beam spread (about where the white lines are in the middle of the road) with the beam noticably lower on the oncoming traffics side. is it supposed to be like this to reduce dazzle?
Think there must be between 2-3 car length of light before the dipped beam hits the road and ends, (slightly more on the passengers side, well this covers the side of the road you drive on).
There are a couple of screw things on top of the lights for adjustment in and out and i think the other is up and down but it doesnt say., are these just for the main beam? if so does anyone know which does what? as i think the main beam may also need adjustment.
I have replaced all the bulbs myself recently including the hids (without removing the bumper), could i have upset the allignment?
The hids are self leveling arnt they? as they adjust when you turn them on. thaught this was to accomodate for weight of shopping in the boot etc that might change the angle of the car, does this take into account the lowering?
Does anyone have (or could anyone take ) a pic of their headlight beam (dipped and full) from inside the car at night so i can compare? anyone know how much vw charge for re-alighnent through vag-com? any advise welcome! cheers guys.
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:05 am
by 8080
My specialist topic! I've fitted GTI xenons to my 1l, so I know about this
If you lower the car you'll want them to be raised a bit alright
The beam should look like this
Lighting up the ditch more
The height control is the one without "Auf <-> Zu" next to it. Anti-clockwise to raise the headlight. I just adjusted my lights to match my ma's passat
I'm getting mine aligned at VW in the next week or two, they want €40. There'll be no vagcom involved, as I have no self-levelling. I can control the level of my xenons manually with the rheostat in the dashboard, if I ever had a heavy load in the back
The self-levelling shouldn't be affected by lowering - it's based on the load on the rear axle. I'm not sure how the VAGCOM adjustment works really. I guess they use vagcom to reset the values back to the normal load setting
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:15 pm
by nogwuy
8080 wrote:My specialist topic! I've fitted GTI xenons to my 1l, so I know about this
If you lower the car you'll want them to be raised a bit alright
The beam should look like this
Lighting up the ditch more
The height control is the one without "Auf <-> Zu" next to it. Anti-clockwise to raise the headlight. I just adjusted my lights to match my ma's passat
that is what the beam looks like on the road, so is that normal/correct? maybe just needs adjusting up abit then? i have the auf/zum (up/down) adjustment thing, and another one like it on each side with no writing, is that for left/right? does anyone know if these controlls move the whol unit or just the main beam? cheers.
I'm getting mine aligned at VW in the next week or two, they want €40. There'll be no vagcom involved, as I have no self-levelling. I can control the level of my xenons manually with the rheostat in the dashboard, if I ever had a heavy load in the back
The self-levelling shouldn't be affected by lowering - it's based on the load on the rear axle. I'm not sure how the VAGCOM adjustment works really. I guess they use vagcom to reset the values back to the normal load setting
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:17 pm
by nogwuy
sorry, buggered that up a bit, should have been;
that is what the beam looks like on the road, so is that normal/correct? maybe just needs adjusting up abit then? i have the auf/zu (up/down) adjustment thing, and another one like it on each side with no writing, is that for left/right? does anyone know if these controlls move the whol unit or just the main beam? and which way does what? cheers.
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:48 pm
by 8080
nogwuy wrote:sorry, buggered that up a bit, should have been;
that is what the beam looks like on the road, so is that normal/correct? maybe just needs adjusting up abit then? i have the auf/zu (up/down) adjustment thing, and another one like it on each side with no writing, is that for left/right? does anyone know if these controlls move the whol unit or just the main beam? and which way does what? cheers.
That pattern is what i see against a wall, I can't really see the pattern clearly on the road, since the light ends so far down the road
The one withOUT Auf-zu is the one that controls the height. Anticlockwise is up
Auf-zu must be left/right - i didn't need to touch that on mine. Don't know if the main beam is affected
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:59 pm
by ModifiedMadness
I answered in the old topic, I'm sure that with the GTi due to the self levelling it has to be done via VAG Com as that stores where the beam should be.
If you just adjust them with the screws the lights reset themselves to where were they were before you moved them.
Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:58 pm
by alexperkins
Yes its a VAG COM adjustment - as modmad says, theyll just reset to home. You have to set them to learn in vag com, adjust, then save that as the new default.
Though a reset to default home position usually resolves issues regarding headlight levelling after lowering anyway.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:28 am
by nogwuy
ok thanks guys, i will have it sorted at the dealers
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:25 am
by sorted
I done mine in VAG COM - about 5 times now as they keep going back down - bit of a *^%&£"$
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:38 am
by nogwuy
do you think i shouldnt bother then if they will keep going down again? has everyones done this?
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:40 am
by nogwuy
or perhaps i should try plugging my wife into vag com
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:14 am
by sorted
I think it only really me thats had that problem LOL
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:28 pm
by Tusc_si
Hi all,
I've got the same problem, when you mention VAG-COM is this from the dealer, specialist or is there a copy I can get on the cheap as I've only found it for £300 ish.
Si
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:46 am
by Si_GTi
I got my headlights adjusted by my local dealership after lowering the car on coilovers. They've been fine ever since!
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:04 pm
by Tim_GTi
Tusc_si wrote:Hi all,
I've got the same problem, when you mention VAG-COM is this from the dealer, specialist or is there a copy I can get on the cheap as I've only found it for £300 ish.
Si
You can get the Vagcom program off the internet no problem. Then it's a case of buying the lead off eBay.