Car: mk2 RS Does anyone have a comprehensive guide for xenon headlight alignment/aim? I have dialogys but other than CLIP they appear to be unadjustable. I have also read that some dealerships fail to be able to establish the aim correctly when setting them up? My problem is very low light output in front of the car. It os like my car only has sidelights on. Both bulbs work and I have replaced the front adjustment arm (it had failed). I have not checked the rear adjustment arm. My lights do not seem to auto level when they activate. They appear to activate and remain at the setting they are on. When I pull up to the drive and go down the side of the house I seem to have good output to the left and the beam seems sharp enough against the garage door. I do not get anyone flashing me (suggesting they are not too high). The plastic lenses are clear and in good condition. Any ideas or recommendations?
When the light output is crap the bulb normally isn't in correctly. The aim can be adjusted at the headlight but I'd advise you go to an mot testing station and get them to check them for you once you're 100% sure the bulbs are in right.
The aim seems good when I'm on my driveway but when out and about I don't get any light on the road. Could this be when it adjusts for speed it throws the aim off?
I was disappointed with the output of the xenons, but you're pretty much stuck to be honest - I've had cars with amazing xenon output and some that are like candles - these are somewhere in the middle!
Are they aiming low? Have you plugged in CLIP to see if there's any faults with height adjustment? It's not unusual for the switch or wiring to die and will just go to the lowest setting.
No. I've not got access to CLIP. Does anyone know if there is a manual override to aim the lights if I was to take ten to an MOT station? No pint taking the car in if it can't be reset (or set) without CLIP
The o/s one looks low to me. Like I said you can adjust them at the headlight (with an Allen key) so if you go to an mot station they can check the level is where it's meant to me.
Last night I decided to adjust the headlights with the adjusters for height. I used a wheelybin with lid down to blank each lamp so I could individually set the lamps. The NS had some range to adjust up but the OS lamp was as high as it would go. It would wind down but not any higher than it was originally set to. Before: After:
Clip doesn't adjust Xenons, just tests the levelling system. You need an allen key to adjust them. Best done at an MOT garage.
You'll find they are too high now - I did the same thing and maxed the height out, had to be dropped a tad for mot. Honestly it's because they are rubbish - you just have to live with it.
I put Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited in. Doesn't look a million miles better but it's ten times better on the road, especially the drivers side which appeared to be on the way out. I also adjusted the side to side alignment with the lower adjustment nob fitted under the lamp. It's only accessible from the back of the lamp. The rear levelling arm is missing too so I've bought some 5mm threaded bar and L/R hand threaded ball joints with bolted ends. I've read it should be 80mm centre to centre so I'm going to give it a shot. The sensors could be shot but at £86+VAT I'll give a make shift arm a go first.
