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[Peter13]

Hi Guys,

I have recently replaced the D2S xenon bulbs and the level adjusters in my '98 MV6. The bulbs light quite well (despite they are cheapo chinese...), the levelling is working fine, but there is a constant level difference between the two sides. Is it possible to reset somehow the system (e.g. like the climeate control) or do I have to make basic adjustment manually?
Thanks.

[RobG]

Hi Guys,

I have recently replaced the D2S xenon bulbs and the level adjusters in my '98 MV6. The bulbs light quite well (despite they are cheapo chinese...), the levelling is working fine, but there is a constant level difference between the two sides. Is it possible to reset somehow the system (e.g. like the climeate control) or do I have to make basic adjustment manually?
Thanks.

[jonnycool]

There are two adjusters on each headlight, one for up/down adjustment and the other for left/right. Iirc the outer ones are for the up/down but I may be wrong. Suck it and see!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Find some flat land and a wall.

Drive upto the wall until the bumper is almost touching, turn the headlights on and using a piece of tape or chalk, mark the position of the bright spot from the headlight beam on the wall (there is a an obvious bright point where the beam pattern starts to kick up).

Reverse back about 4m and then adjust the lights so the bright spot is approx 10-20mm below the marks you made.

Simples and works everytime!

[dbug]

As ^^^^^ but note you need to make a lot of turns on the adjusters for only a small movement in beams 

[bigegg]

allen key bit in a power screwdriver - I *think* it's about 6 revs/mm

[Peter13]

Thanks Guys, you are awesome!
Almost perfect. I should have done this long long time ago! It was a complete crap. I went to a parking house and put the marks on the wall, then reversed 8-10m and ... shhiiit: the left beam didn't reach the wall at all, the right was aiming upwards :D:D
I could correctly set the level of the beam to approx 10cm below the mark, but I didn't really feel that any of the other screws had effect on the left-right alignment.
Is that the infamous adjuster breakage or I just wasn't assidous enough to keep turning it by hand?

[Andy B]

.......
Is that the infamous adjuster breakage or

Quite possibly

I just wasn't assidous enough to keep turning it by hand?

Good word! 

[bigegg]

If the beams are WAY out (like more than a foot) and the adjusters don't appear to make any difference, then almost certainly the adjusters. - unless you've had a front end shunt and the body's twisted, or you've not installed the lamps properly.

The aluminium adjusters are fantastically good - and the job's easy - just don't be tempted to try to wipe any marks off the chrome reflectors whilst you have the lamps apart - the chrome comes off just by looking at it.

[Peter13]

assiduous +u added

Good word! 

You know, online dictionaries help poetry

If the beams are WAY out (like more than a foot)

The beams spread almost a foot or so on 10 meters. I'll give it a try with a power screwdriver, and of course see how it performs on a night drive.
I'm not sure yet if it worth to start that "headlamp baking" hassle. If I decide to do this job, how/from where can I get metal adjusters?

Thanks!

[bigegg]

there's a sticky in the parts for sale section.


If you drive past a copper and dazzle him, you'll get pulled 
It really isn't that bad a job - I received my adjuster at about 730am, and the headlamp was
stripped, fixed, put back together and re-installed by 830, which gave me enough time for a
good blast down the m/way before the MOT at 9am   

If the adjuster has crumbled. the internals flop about inside the housing, and you risk irreparably damaging them -
and replacements aren't easy to find (or weren't when I tried)

[Kevin Wood]

I wouldn't use a power screwdriver if I were you..

The adjusters are known to be brittle so a gentle touch is needed to prolong their life. Having said that, if yours are a foot out it might well mean they are already broken.

[bigegg]

fragile isn't close -
imagine a particularly brittle cornflake   

And I just realise the OP said "baking" not "breaking" -
I didn't bake the headlights to loosen the sealant, I used sw(ts)mbo's hair drier

[Peter13]

I have checked the available threads and docs about this issue. Have also found the metal adjuster here. But as far as I see there is only one each side to be replaced. If that one had been broken I couldn't have managed to set the vertical level could I? The problem is only the horizontal adjustment.

[bigegg]

The only way to be sure is to openit up.
I seem to remember that it's not actually an "adjuster" which breaks, it's like a little ball and socket
swivel hinge, and affects both adjustments, although not equally