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[Arrolman]

Hi,

The aim of my headlights (Xenons) seems really low, when driving at night it light up the road about 10 feet away and thats it, dangerous to drive at night as I can't see a thing in front of me. Is there a way to manually set the level? The car being ex-plod, minus rear self levellers. No way of setting them from within the car.

Cheers,
Iain

[Andy B]

Hi,

The aim of my headlights (Xenons) seems really low, when driving at night it light up the road about 10 feet away and thats it, dangerous to drive at night as I can't see a thing in front of me. Is there a way to manually set the level? The car being ex-plod, minus rear self levellers. No way of setting them from within the car.

Cheers,
Iain

self leveeling suspension & hid head light leveling are two completely seperate things. Are you getting an error message re your hid's?

[Brikhead]

As said, auto levelling suspension and self levelling lights (which all factory fit xenon lights are, regardless of make) are two separate features.
The lights use sensors attached to the front and rear suspension arms, sometimes the arm connecting the sensor to the suspension pops off and then the beam pattern no longer adjusts...

[Arrolman]

Hi,

I'm aware that the suspension and lights are two seperate things, just letting you know I don't have rear shocks fitted to rule them out . No error messages flash up, check light comes on at start up and goes out almost instantly. Would both arms come off at same time? How can I tell if motors are working?

Cheers,
Iain

[Brikhead]

Would both arms come off at same time? How can I tell if motors are working?

Why would the arms on both sensors need to have come off? If the rear, for example, came off whilst the suspension was fully loaded (pot hole, dropping off a kerb etc.) then the sensor would think the rear of the car was loaded and adjust the lights low down...

It is quite common on the Omega for the levelling motors inside the headlight housing to become detached from the adjusters.
I think the lights should rise and fall when first switched on, they certainly did in my Vectra which was equipped with xenons, park facing a wall and see if you can see the lights move.

[Entwood]

Hi,

I'm aware that the suspension and lights are two seperate things, just letting you know I don't have rear shocks fitted to rule them out . No error messages flash up, check light comes on at start up and goes out almost instantly. Would both arms come off at same time? How can I tell if motors are working?

Cheers,
Iain

Are you anywhere near H21   He has a tech2 which can properly check the motors by actually sending signals to them to move..

If not it is, theoretically, possible to check them by shining the lights at a spot on a wall, then loading the boot, the lights should continually adjust so the spot does not move .. if that makes sense.

The raw "datum" around which the lights are set can be adjusted by the 2 screws on the lights ... there is a thread around somewhere in which mark DTM gives the measurements that are reasonably approximate.

Other than the adjusting system failing .. the main problem is the actual adjusters break internally.. the lights then drop to fully down and tend to rattle and move about.  Can be fixed by taking the lights apart and replacing with an aluminium casting .. see the parts for sale section .. I believe there is a "how to" on changing them.

HTH

[Terbs]

Hi,
I have just adjusted my self levelling headlights manually.
I posted on this topic a few days back as my lights were way too high. I have adjusted them but they are now a tad too low, so I will have to pull them up a bit.

AndyB put a couple of piccys up that showed the hex adjusters....you screw them clockwise to drop the lights, anti to lift. The ones nearest the indicators dropped the beam.
Have to say...was nice to drive back from Brackley tonight and not get flashed once

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1283970228

This may help.....

[Chris_H]

The headlights are manually adjustable as said but if you were to get them done at a garage I think you would consider them too low for safe driving at any realistic speed at night.  Because they are so intense, the legal limits are set quite stringently to avoid dazzling oncoming vehicles.

My advice is to be very reluctant to make them too high.

I don't know if you've seen cars coming towards you apparently flashing their headlights?  It's often because of the sharp cut-off on the top of the beam.  If too close to the eyeline of oncoming drivers, the level changes of the car flick the lights above then below, eyeline causing the effect.  It can even lead to people pulling out in front of you thinking you are offering that!  It's another reason why speed-humps are a curse.

[bigdods]

Omega Headlights are rubbish, HID or not. I've had both types and have considered getting a torch to shine out the front to see better . Seriously my HIDs have been adjusted to the maximum height allowed in the MOT and I can still only see a few feet. High beam is fine but dipped is rubbish. I guess the only option is to set them too high.

Problem for me is that I get flashed occasionally already with them set legally!

[Andy B]

Omega Headlights are rubbish, HID or not. I've had both types and have considered getting a torch to shine out the front to see better . Seriously my HIDs have been adjusted to the maximum height allowed in the MOT and I can still only see a few feet. High beam is fine but dipped is rubbish. I guess the only option is to set them too high.

Problem for me is that I get flashed occasionally already with them set legally!

HID's are brilliant ... no pun intended. Infact the tungsten halogen yellow main main beam doesn't improve the light out put that much.

[2woody]

actually, I think my HiD's are rather good, too. Very often don't need main beam now.

[Chris_H]

Am I right in saying that the main beam units go up when you crank the HIDs up?  I seem to recall the you can dazzle aeroplanes on main beam if you lift the HIDs too high.

[twiglet]

Here here! I think my HID's are fantastic! Best headlights of any car I've owned or driven!!