[gerbs]

[InTheDarkster]

Fantastic!! Thanks...

[Blake P]

Awesome, bookmarked.

[rxander]

You the man Gerbs! I thought I was stuck with my angle having dropped it on H&R super sports.

[kitw]

Hey thanks for this! I did manage to drop one of the adjustment caps, luckily I was able to fish it out from the bottom.

The adjustment is a 6mm Allen key.

[TonyS]

UK models don't have the adjustment caps - at least mine doesn't - which makes it even easier.

[RonSwanson]

great write up! thanks gerbs!

[auptown]

I must be doing something wrong. I can turn the white adjuster Ccw or cw, but the height of the xenons never changes.

Anyone have an idea why this might be?

Andrew

[Koer]

Originally Posted by auptown

I must be doing something wrong. I can turn the white adjuster Ccw or cw, but the height of the xenons never changes.

Anyone have an idea why this might be?

Andrew

You might be moving the rotation (left or right) adjustment knob. There is such a thing if you were wondering and moving it without noticing might have some annoying overlapping effects instead of the beams covering the whole view.

[auptown]

Originally Posted by Koer

You might be moving the rotation (left or right) adjustment knob. There is such a thing if you were wondering and moving it without noticing might have some annoying overlapping effects instead of the beams covering the whole view.

I don't think it's that. At least it sure looks like I am adjusting the white nylon hex socket, as is shown in these pics.

I project the beam on my garge wall, turn the adjuster and nothing changes. I do think the aim is low, so I wish it would work.

Andrew

[1.fresh.f30.335]

You just made my day Gerbs! The dealer said this could take hours to do, yeah right! I knew there would be 5 minute fix to this problem, I need to do this asap as my driver side is almost useless at night (from factory).

[F30-Sport-2013]

Hi, I just bought 2 weeks ago my first BMW, and is an F30 with the active xenon headligths. This is my first car with this kind of active lights (also is my first post here), so I don't have previous experience with this, but I feel that the beams were factory adjusted too low (specially for the driver's side). The beam (left) barely can iluminate below the bumper of a car in front at a distance of 30 ft.... I don't know if adjust it by myself (it looks pretty easy) or ask the dealer to perform this task under warranty.
By the way, I read in some thread that the system performs an "automatic" self adjustment each time that the car starts, but I don't know if this is true. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[TonyS]

Originally Posted by auptown

I must be doing something wrong. I can turn the white adjuster Ccw or cw, but the height of the xenons never changes.

Anyone have an idea why this might be?

Andrew

Did you ever resolve this? I have the same problem, I can turn the adjuster but the height of the lights doesn't alter at all. I'm definitely turning the adjuster shown in the pics.

[Sephanite]

Originally Posted by TonyS

Did you ever resolve this? I have the same problem, I can turn the adjuster but the height of the lights doesn't alter at all. I'm definitely turning the adjuster shown in the pics.

Not saying you are wrong but try shining the light against a wall with lines ( brick wall) and see if there is any changes. I haven't tried this on the f30 but on the z4, I had to turn quite a bit

[TonyS]

Originally Posted by Sephanite

Not saying you are wrong but try shining the light against a wall with lines ( brick wall) and see if there is any changes. I haven't tried this on the f30 but on the z4, I had to turn quite a bit

I am actually doing it against a brick wall. I've tried it again and turned the adjuster over two complete turns either way and there's no change at all. I've done this before on my E46 so I've got some idea of what should happen.

I'm wondering if there's something different about having adaptive headlights and/or it being a UK spec model (from what I've read there is a difference between UK and US adaptive h/light systems). Has anyone with adaptive or UK spec successfully done this?

[Sephanite]

Adaptive headlights should have a black box that is a leveling device. Maybe have a look around for that, turn the knob back to standard and tilt that box

[F30-Sport-2013]

Well, I just got a call from the dealer to pick up my plates, so I'll take the opportunity at the dealer and request to adjust the headlights. BTW, checking the description for the Lighting package (see pic taken from BMWUSA website), it says that headlights have "a dynamic auto-leveling feature to adjust automatically beams depending of cargo and or passengers loads..." so perhaps the system automatically "compensate" any adjustment/alignment done only with that screws. Perhaps code is required to introduce for set up the lights (any info?)...

BTW, I will also ask to turn Auto Start/Stop OFF by default (and still get the flexibility to turn on) or sets the A.S.S function in memory as last used setting. Additionally, (I'm just curious) my car also came with beacon light (sort of strobe light) attached to the rear mirror (similar to the picture attached but clear color) and, according to the car's manual, this light is part of the alarm system. The car's features data sheet doesn't indicate that the alarm is included with it (for US market, the alarm option cost an additional 400$), but the car already have premium pkg. (including Comfort Access), Technology Pkg, Lighting pkg. and heated front seats. Maybe I'm wrong, but with the comfort access already there, I'm suspecting that all the alarm's hardware is already installed in the car (horn & alarm light are there, right?) so could be just a matter of "code activation".... so I will ask at the dealer's service and get some answers... With the alarm installed the only thing additional that I'm looking for is get the sound and light alarm at activation. Perhaps they can code this too.
I will post any info.

[Accelerometer]

FYI The adjustment screw referenced in this DIY is for horizontal adjustment not vertical. My passenger side headlight was aimed to DOT spec but the driver side is a few inches off.

[m3 guy]

Thanks for the DIY, will be doing this tonight.

[TonyS]

Originally Posted by PeteNJ

FYI The adjustment screw referenced in this DIY is for horizontal adjustment not vertical. My passenger side headlight was aimed to DOT spec but the driver side is a few inches off.

Are you sure that it only adjusts the horizontal alignment? I know I've not had success with adjusting the height with this, but others have said it works for them. If you're right then that would explain a lot!

If you are right, do you know how to adjust the vertical alignment?

[TonyS]

Originally Posted by PeteNJ

FYI The adjustment screw referenced in this DIY is for horizontal adjustment not vertical. My passenger side headlight was aimed to DOT spec but the driver side is a few inches off.

Aha! I've just been out to have yet another look at this, and I think you are indeed correct. The adjuster shown is NOT the vertical alignment (at least not on my car).

The correct adjustment screw is inboard of that one and accessible through a hole that may or may not have a plug in it (my car had a plug on the driver's side but not the passenger's). You have to look through the hole at an angle and it's several inches below it, but still accessible with a normal length screwdriver. It looks exactly the same as the other adjuster pictured above. This photo hopefully gives you some idea...

[shivaswrath]

wait so how does one do the vertical?
I wonder if OP inadvertently did horizontal, and thus, the looked like a vertical adjustment?