Headlight Adjustment?

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TWO
Joined: Tue 05 Apr, 2011 22:04
Posts: 177

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Chelmsford

Headlight Adjustment?

Post by TWO »

BMW Z3 2.2 2002

Does anyone know the height & width dimensions to allow me to check the headlight beam settings?

The Zed passed its MOT today.....but only just. They claimed that the nearside light was aiming high which could be caused by the bulb being poorly fitted :(

Rather than remove the air filter to check......the garage decided to crank the headlight adjusters by several rotations.

I'd rather take the whole bulb assembly apart and re-check. :)

Cheers
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by Southernboy »

The bulb fitting cannot be "mis-fitted" It is a bayonet type fitting. The bulb fits into a plastic holder which in turn fits into the headlight housing. There's only one way it can go in and also lock into position.
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TWO
Joined: Tue 05 Apr, 2011 22:04
Posts: 177

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Chelmsford

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by TWO »

Southernboy wrote:The bulb fitting cannot be "mis-fitted" It is a bayonet type fitting. The bulb fits into a plastic holder which in turn fits into the headlight housing. There's only one way it can go in and also lock into position.
Cheers Southernboy

That's what I thought; but I was not going to argue when an MOT pass was at risk :(

I'm still going to double check the bulb fittings, but would still like to know the distance/height/width dimensions against a 90 deg wall to ensure the headlight beams are all correct :)
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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by bertiejaffa »

The headlight unit probably needs moving down slightly - easy to do by adjusting the bottom retaining bolts and pushing the unit backwards and tighten up or undoing the top 2 bolts, winding the holding screws out a bit and then retightening the bolts
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c_w
Joined: Thu 19 Aug, 2004 16:50
Posts: 4032

  M roadster S50

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by c_w »

It's common for the plastic adjustment screws to break and just spin, but if they are working then use them to set the headlight aim where possible. The 4 outer bolts that physically hols the headlight to the car are adjustable to align it to the body/bumper/bonnet.
Boosh
Joined: Sun 30 Nov, 2014 22:40
Posts: 324

  Z3 roadster 1.9i

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by Boosh »

Rather than adjusting the whole unit, wouldn't it be easier to adjust the light beam by using the two star-shape adjustment screws on the unit? One's up/down, the other left/right.

Boosh.
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by bertiejaffa »

Boosh wrote:Rather than adjusting the whole unit, wouldn't it be easier to adjust the light beam by using the two star-shape adjustment screws on the unit? One's up/down, the other left/right.

Boosh.
That will work too - trouble with this way is that I reckon they will have been right in the first place and its more likely to be the bolts that have shifted slightly. My 2nd issue is that I never get the right screw and when I do I move it the wrong way resulting in the requirement for a proper headlight aligning session one evening :head:
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TWO
Joined: Tue 05 Apr, 2011 22:04
Posts: 177

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Chelmsford

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by TWO »

Hi All

I really do appreciate all of the advise & comments on how to adjust the headlights BUT that is not the issue :lol: ......all of the adjusters work absolutely fine 8-)

I just need to repeat my original request : -

I'm still going to double check the bulb fittings, but would still would like to know the distance/height/width dimensions against a 90 deg wall to ensure the headlight beams are all correct :)

Seriously, many many thanks for all the advise to date 8-) :)
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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by bertiejaffa »

Here come the girls.....
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TWO
Joined: Tue 05 Apr, 2011 22:04
Posts: 177

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Chelmsford

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by TWO »

bertiejaffa wrote:I used this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oz5ynBlx7k
Many thanks bertiejaffa, I'll give it a go..........
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kjb1
Joined: Thu 04 Feb, 2016 11:12
Posts: 238

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by kjb1 »

good vid


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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Headlight Adjustment?

Post by BladeRunner919 »

The headlight should point downwards by 1%, which means 1cm for every meter you are from the car. You just need to measure the height of the beam pattern right in front of the car, and then again at 1m to ensure the drop is there. Personally I'd measure it at something like 5m and look for a 5cm drop as it will be easier to measure.
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