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31/03/2008, 14:50 Keith Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 22 unilateral headlight adjustment? Having just bought an BMW X3 with xenon lights, contrary to what I was told, I find it nearly impossible to adjust the beam on the drivers side for driving in France. The other side is difficult but possible. Apparently it is not possible to use sticky bits on the headlight lenses with xenon lights. My question is would it be alright to divert only the dipped beam on passenger side as this is the one that would dazzle a driver driving on the right in France. The drivers side light unadapted would presumably just be pointing straight ahead of the car or towards the passengers side but not over the other side of the road to dazzle oncoming cars Many thanks for replies Keith    Report

31/03/2008, 17:14 Sunday Driver Joined on 07/10/2005 Deux Sevres (79) Posts 2,749 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment? If you are having difficulty in adjusting your headlamps, then it sounds as if either you're doing it incorrectly or there's a problem with the actual units. I'd suggest you ask your friendly BMW dealer to have a look at them. Of course, for short term visits here, you could always do what I do when going over to the UK - use the little thumbwheel on the dashboard to lower the beams....       Waddya mean it's only Saturday......    Report

01/04/2008, 10:44 united Joined on 16/11/2005 Edinburgh/Challans Posts 91 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment? It seems to be a problem with German cars I have a Mercedes with xenon lights and there are dire warnings in the handbook about adjusting the lights yourself . The book says only a dealer should do it. I went to the dealers who then showed me how to do it myself its a real fiddle but can be done, I think they would rather I did it than go before and after each trip. There is a small lever on each headlamp unit.    Report

02/04/2008, 23:28 Jill Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 552 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment? My car is a Skoda Octavia and it is possible to tilt the lights by twiddling something on the dashboard - but only for when you have a full boot so that it doesn't glare at people when you are driving in England.  This seems bizarre to me.  You would have thought that if the headlight can just be twiddled, it would be possible to make all headlights twiddleable so that you can tilt them for use in England or in Europe- especially given that surely there are more of most types of car on mainland Europe than Britain.  Why don't manufacturers think of such obvious things?  Oh, of course, it would mean that sales of deflectors would go down! Jill (99)    Report

03/04/2008, 8:25 Sunday Driver Joined on 07/10/2005 Deux Sevres (79) Posts 2,749 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment? I suspect that the manufacturers have figured out that continental Europe is left hand drive and the vast majority of cars never go across to that offshore island where the headlamps need to shine the other way.  So, why go to the expense of fitting adjustable headlamp mechanisms as standard across Europe when they'll never likely to be used.  Temporary beam deflectors are a practical and inexpensive solution for occasional visits.     Waddya mean it's only Saturday......    Report

03/04/2008, 11:23 ErnieY Joined on 05/12/2006 Nr Prayssac (Lot) Posts 2,945 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment? It's not just a case of tilting or lowering the lights though is it Jill ? The whole profile of the beam, especially on dip, is tailored for whichever side of the road you're normally driving on and is designed to enhance your range of visibility and thus your safety, as well as to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. Using the tilt is very much a compromise and should be used as a very temporary measure and not as a long term substitute for having the lights correctly set. I drive an Octavia also BTW (1.9TDi Estate) and an excellent car it is too  My doctor said one drink per day, I can live with that !    Report

03/04/2008, 14:00 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,017 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment? Some years ago I had a 3 series BMW which had left dip / right dip adjustment. It needed (if my memory serves well) a dumpy x head screwdriver to slacken three screws on the rear of each light unit, turn the holder about 15 (?) degrees and re-tighten the screws. The 7 series was similar but more fiddly, needing a long thin screwdriver. The instructions were in the owners manual on the 3 series, albeit in German. It seems that technology has gone backwards!!!!!!! Steve Sharjah + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... Roll on death.....Demob is too far away.    Report

03/04/2008, 17:23 andyps Joined on 04/11/2005 Posts 32 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment? Many of the manufacturers use it as an excuse to get you to go into the dealer and give them some money to change it over and then more money when you get home to change them back again. Go to the dealer and ask them to show you how - if they say it is not a DIY task ask them if they will pay any fines you incur through driving a car with illegal headlights between the dealership and the port. If you drive away from a dealer in the UK with headlights set to dip for driving on the right your car does not meet construction and use regulations so they would be liable for letting it go in that state!    Report

03/04/2008, 18:09 ErnieY Joined on 05/12/2006 Nr Prayssac (Lot) Posts 2,945 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment?  andyps wrote: If you drive away from a dealer in the UK with headlights set to dip for driving on the right your car does not meet construction and use regulations so they would be liable for letting it go in that state! Doubtful as ultimately it is always the driver who is responsible for ensuring his/her vehicle is lawful and roadworthy. Drive away in a hire car with a bald tyre and see who gets prosecuted for that ! My doctor said one drink per day, I can live with that !    Report

03/04/2008, 18:45 Baz Joined on 23/08/2004 Posts 987 Re: unilateral headlight adjustment?  Keith wrote: Having just bought an BMW X3 with xenon lights, contrary to what I was told, I find it nearly impossible to adjust the beam on the drivers side for driving in France. The other side is difficult but possible. Apparently it is not possible to use sticky bits on the headlight lenses with xenon lights. Keith I have a Honda Accord with xenon lights, they simply solve the problem of diverting the beam by supplying headlamp protectors with marks to show where to place black sticky bits. This is a useful accessory as it can remain in place the whole time to protect headlamp against stone damage,  plus the stickers will not damage xenon lights unlike when they are used directly onto the lamp glass. Baz    Report

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France Forum » Living » Driving » unilateral headlight adjustment?

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