E34 headlight aim (screw location??)

[ktteoh]

folks, i want to adjust my headlight up/down aim.

i know this url:
http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Electrical/Headlight_adjustment.htm

but can someone send me some pictures where the 2 screws are:
>>
Adjustment screws location:
- The screw to move the light up and down is located at the front of the grill.
- The screw to move the light left and right is located in the engine compartment next to the fender, it is a long piece of white plastic.
>>

[Rob]

Will look tonight for you when I get home from work. ;)

[pgrindstaff]

folks, i want to adjust my headlight up/down aim.

i know this url:
http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Electrical/Headlight_adjustment.htm

but can someone send me some pictures where the 2 screws are:
>>
Adjustment screws location:
- The screw to move the light up and down is located at the front of the grill.
- The screw to move the light left and right is located in the engine compartment next to the fender, it is a long piece of white plastic.
>>

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures for you but, the screws you are looking for are located behind the black grille piece surrounding the lights. The only way to access these screws is to remove the grille that extends across the front of your car. After you take this off you will gain access to all of the screws required to remove the black plastic piece. Once that is off the two screws you are looking for are the ones that appear to be holding the light in place. For a better idea of what I am talking about, take a look here (http://home.comcast.net/~winstonfong/repairpagessite2/frontgrillremoval.htm)

What's funny is, I had to replace my highbeam insert Tuesday night because the glass had holes in it and was holding water. Unfortunately, getting the grille off is not the easiest thing in the world. It took me a little over an hour to pry the thing off, and I only managed to release the grille on the side I intended to work on. I'm sure it doesn't take so long for everyone to remove the grille but I guess it just takes practice. Good luck on adjusting your lights.

-pgrindstaff

[Alexlind123]

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures for you but, the screws you are looking for are located behind the black grille piece surrounding the lights. The only way to access these screws is to remove the grille that extends across the front of your car. After you take this off you will gain access to all of the screws required to remove the black plastic piece. Once that is off the two screws you are looking for are the ones that appear to be holding the light in place. For a better idea of what I am talking about, take a look here (http://home.comcast.net/~winstonfong/repairpagessite2/frontgrillremoval.htm)

What's funny is, I had to replace my highbeam insert Tuesday night because the glass had holes in it and was holding water. Unfortunately, getting the grille off is not the easiest thing in the world. It took me a little over an hour to pry the thing off, and I only managed to release the grille on the side I intended to work on. I'm sure it doesn't take so long for everyone to remove the grille but I guess it just takes practice. Good luck on adjusting your lights.

-pgrindstaff

Umm...you dont need to remove your grill to adjust your headlights. Simply stick a screwdriver through thr grill from the front, after shining a lfashlight around to determine where the screws are. There is absolutely no reason to remove your grill.

[ktteoh]

thanks. look fwd to the pictures.


Will look tonight for you when I get home from work. ;)

[Qube]

Let me 'steal' your signature for a moment...

There are two holes at that location on both sides. Shine a light and you'll see them. That will adjust your vertical aim.

[pgrindstaff]

Sorry for the bad advise, didn'e ever notice you could access the screws without taking anything apart. :(

[ktteoh]

being in the tropics, mine is a bit rusted - could not see
clearly enough.

1. what kind of screwdriver should i use - flat/phillips and size ?

2. the higher hole is for aiming higher?


Let me 'steal' your signature for a moment...

There are two holes at that location on both sides. Shine a light and you'll see them. That will adjust your vertical aim.

[ktteoh]

i manage to adjust the aim of my low beam headlight based upon these instructions.

however yesterday i discover that the screw for right hand light is "loose" ie not "gripping - i can keep turning it clockwise (to lower the aim) but it never tightens or hit a deadstop - it is as if the screw thread is worn off.

can someone tell me how to fix this?


Let me 'steal' your signature for a moment...

There are two holes at that location on both sides. Shine a light and you'll see them. That will adjust your vertical aim.

[shogun]

you need a new screw,
Headlight Adjuster Screw
Part # : 63 12 1 378 368 $ 4.95
http://www.bavauto.com//assets/product_images/hardpart/63121378368.jpg

[ktteoh]

i just removed the headlight shroud (behind the headlight, in side the engine bay). i can see the plastic part moving together when i turn the screw - i guess it shouldn't happen right - broken it seems?

how do i take out the grill to put in the new screw? is it difficult - i hate taking things out that has plastic clips which may break :(


you need a new screw,
Headlight Adjuster Screw
Part # : 63 12 1 378 368 $ 4.95
http://www.bavauto.com//assets/product_images/hardpart/63121378368.jpg

[632 Regal]

shouldnt break any plastic things, there are areas you will have to push with a screwdriver or something to pop the clips out of the way. There is a diagram floating around somewhere here.


i just removed the headlight shroud (behind the headlight, in side the engine bay). i can see the plastic part moving together when i turn the screw - i guess it shouldn't happen right - broken it seems?

how do i take out the grill to put in the new screw? is it difficult - i hate taking things out that has plastic clips which may break :(

[ktteoh]

regal/shogun, i assume the approach is to leave the whole headlight assembly in place and to just take off:

1. the headlight shroud (behind the headlight, inside the engine bay)
2. the grill cover at the front of the headlight

i know how to do (1) but i need clues how to do (2) correctly so that i don't break any dear old plastic clips - my dear old car is ~13 years old so things are a bit fragile :(.

folks, any clues especially pictorial guidance would be most helpful.

many thanks ahead.


shouldnt break any plastic things, there are areas you will have to push with a screwdriver or something to pop the clips out of the way. There is a diagram floating around somewhere here.

[ktteoh]

folks, any pictorial clues on step (2)?

[Evan]

To get the headlight grille off you have to remove the chrome kidneys and the steel body-colored front grill.

Get a strong flashlight and look for the tabs holding the kidneys in.

The steel piece is held in place by six plastic tabs on the center grille (three on top and three on bottom)

AND it's held in place underneath the corner lights by a plastic tab on each side -- for this I recommend you remove the corner lights and get a good look at how it's held in place

[ktteoh]

folks, finally i didn't went thru the hassle of removing the front grille. instead i adjust the downward aim of my low beam by using a plier to hold the white plastic thingy still from behind the headlight and turning the screw from the front end.

while doing that i notice that my left/right aim is off - however the plastic handle attached to that screw is broken - how do i adjust the lef-right aim then?

i will try to snap some pictures but meanwhile i look fwd to any collective advice/experience in this area.


To get the headlight grille off you have to remove the chrome kidneys and the steel body-colored front grill.

Get a strong flashlight and look for the tabs holding the kidneys in.

The steel piece is held in place by six plastic tabs on the center grille (three on top and three on bottom)

AND it's held in place underneath the corner lights by a plastic tab on each side -- for this I recommend you remove the corner lights and get a good look at how it's held in place

[shogun]

I assume you mean the
Headlight Adjuster Socket - 3 required per headlight
Part # : 63 12 1 378 369 $ 0.95
http://www.bavauto.com//assets/product_images/hardpart/63121378369.jpg

[ktteoh]

nope. the headlight (low/high beam) aim can be adjusted for up/down & left/right.

the screw to adjust up/down is via the 2 holes on the front grille - got that and it's perfect with my 'workaround' above :)

now i want to adjust the left/right aim (horizontal aim) - i believe the screw to adjust that is behind the headlight unit (from inside the engine bay behind the plastic shroud) - it should be a white plastic handled screw but i could not see any in my car.


I assume you mean the
Headlight Adjuster Socket - 3 required per headlight
Part # : 63 12 1 378 369 $ 0.95
http://www.bavauto.com//assets/product_images/hardpart/63121378369.jpg

[bsell]

I assume you mean the
Headlight Adjuster Socket - 3 required per headlight
Part # : 63 12 1 378 369 $ 0.95
http://www.bavauto.com//assets/product_images/hardpart/63121378369.jpg
you need a new screw,
Headlight Adjuster Screw
Part # : 63 12 1 378 368 $ 4.95
http://www.bavauto.com//assets/produ...3121378368.jpg

I just replaced two of the adjusters on my newly purchased 1995 525i and boy did I do it the hard way!:( I took out the headlight housing for easy access to the back of the adjuster when I didn't need to. I also scratched the top of the bumper with the bottom of the light assy. Bummer.

Take the grill off to get access to the adjusters. The local dealer parts guy suggested always replacing the black cup when replacing adjusters. I fully agree as the swap is easier if you split the black cup with some diagonal cutters (two cuts, one on top and one on the bottom to split it) before removal from the headlight assy. This releases the squeeze pressure on the adjuster ball (screwdriver end), allowing a much easier dislocation of the ball head out of the black cap and then the cap out of the headlight assy. I figured this out after trying to push the black cap out of the headlight housing's ear with the ball inside it. I tried to squeeze it out with pliers, a bad move as I cracked the ear!

Once the black cap thingy is out of the way, grab some needle nose pliers and twist the white plastic nut jobby of the adjuster from the front of the car to unlock it from the headlight assy. It should twist a quarter turn or so then release. Take it easy as the white stuff is pretty delicate.

Installation is the reverse of disassembly, minus the cutting of the black cap. Just take care when snapping the adjuster ball into the black cap as the headlight housing is fragile!

While you have the grill off, adjust them lights!

[shogun]

in order to complete this thread: can someone make a pic of his U.S. headlights with the screws clearly shown and makes some arrows to show the screws and for what they are?
This shows the EURO headlights with headlight aim motor
http://jcrdevelopments.com/node/250?page=show

retrofit automatic headlight adjustment is shown here from around page 50
http://de.scribd.com/doc/80785425/4/Headlight-Beam-Adjusters-and-Headlights

Maybe these pics help
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E32-E34-525i-530i-535i-540i-M5-735i-740iL-750iL-Ellipsoid-Twin-Headlight-/251242084266?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item3a7f31f7aa

[bennyg]

Wow, that is dedication, a 6.5 year old thread revival for completeness.

I'd advise you save the last linked image elsewhere as it won't be there 90 days after the ebay item ends.

I did the whole removal of the grille thing on my way euro rhd e34, once you know where the tabs are its a very quick job. You will need a long e.g. 10 inch flathead screwdriver to get at the one coming from the top, the others were fairly easy. The reason I did it was to find why the vert aim motor was turning nonstop as soon as parkers/headlights were turned on, the plastic housing had cracked. Interestingly after I disconnected both motors (aimed manually using the screw) I got no more dodgy coolant, oil level, lic plate light etc warnings since.

[shogun]

Benny, I found this old thread with a google search when someone asked me how to adjust the headlights. As you have the automatic aim = EURO, that might be different from the U.S. spec headlights. I also have EURO headlights, and I also can even like you switch from LHD to RHD, I assume this is also not on the U.S. spec headlights.
http://750il.bmw7.hu/owners_manual/images/page_088.jpg
I just wanted someone complete it with pics from U.S. specification headlights.