"power headlights" how to adjust?

[Espen]

In my country you have to controll your car evey 2years.
They will check allmost everything, rust, oilleaks, every bushings, balljoints, wheel alignment etc etc etc.

My car allmost passed with no error, Got one leaking shock absorber, and a bad adjusting of the headlights.

I knew the headlights were a bit off, the left was a bit lower than the right one.
The workshop tried to adjust them but failed. So now my light adjustmen is totally crazy, the left one only lights up 7-8m in front of the car. (low beam) and the right one is narrowed all over to the left side, In fact it is overlapping my left one totally. The right one is also pointing "straight" upwards.

I tried to adjust it back to "normal" with the two screws in front of the grille. But the didnt turn at all, I have the electric adjustment engine, wich i can controll the height of the lights with. Is there a special way to adjust?

[Espen]

up ^

[Paul in NZ]

i beleive the headlights adjust in the same manner as other headlights.you may have to go at those adjustment screws with crc or wd 40 or whatever you use over there.I have the power adjusters too,will check the manual or bentleys tomorrow.Its dark and cold out!

[Espen]

Did you check your manual?

[shogun]

The adjustment has to be done on the screws. If they do not turn, buy new ones from the dealer, they cost maybe 2 $.
The automatic adjustment with the motors you have it then for the adjustment when you have passengers in the rear, but the basic adjustment must be done with the adjustment screws.
The motors just move the headlights up and down based on the system.

[Espen]

the adjustment screw, wich partnumber is that?

Number 21 on this picture seems to be both the adjustment engine _and_ the screw, right?

http://filserver.pyrabel.net/bilder/e34/skjemaer/e34headlight.jpg

[shogun]

Headlight Adjuster Screw
Part # : 63 12 1 378 368 $ 4.95 at bavauto.com
http://www.bavauto.com//assets/product_images/hardpart/63121378368.jpg

[Espen]

Hmm..
Is that one compatible with cars with the electric adjustment motor?

The adjustmentscrew is normally attached to the headlight with a plastic clip in the round globe looking thing on the screw.

But on cars with the electric up/down tilting, the adjustment screw goes straigt into the little electric engine. Im not sure the part you suggested there will fit.

Checked that partnumber, and it seems to be part #9 in my picture above, wich is the horizontal adjustmetn screw (inside the engine bay), not the vertical through the plastic grille.

[Paul in NZ]

21 is the rod which pushes the headlight up and down.
No i havent looked in the manual,sorry i have just been out too to a BMW car Club Committee Meeting!I will go down now and bring the manual back!

[Espen]

Thanks.

I was at the dealer, he wasnt sure, but he was aafraid that i had to buy the complete motor to get new adjustment screws. As they are in one piece.
Maybe it will be easier to cut off the head on the adjustment screw and weld on a new head.

[Paul in NZ]

nothing in the owners manual,sorry espen.

[Espen]

Ok thanks anayway, ill wait for shogun to reply on werether the screws can be replaced as a standalone part, or if the screw and motor is one single part.

[Espen]

shogun?

[shogun]

I do not have auto motors for that because I have LAD.
But I think the dealer is mixing up something.
First of all the headlights are adjusted in such way that at normal car level they are properly fixed, and that is done with screws from the front (in case of my car).
The long pin which goes at the back into the motor, is just for fine automatic adjustment up and down, depending on what weight you have in the trunk.
Maybe someone with a auto headlight motor can check.

This one is on offer in Germany with the motor, and on the right side you can see for example the adjustment screw
http://i21.ebayimg.com/03/i/08/58/e5/c8_1.JPG
There are pics from clear glass, maybe that helps too
http://www.fmw-onlineshop.de/example/in3624+ne+1.jpg
http://www.fmw-onlineshop.de/example/in3624+ne+2.jpg
http://www.fmw-onlineshop.de/example/in3624+ne+3.jpg

Check it once more, I have different ones w/o the motor.

[Paul in NZ]

I have the motors and the adjustment screws are visible throught the gril.There are two small holes at the bottom of the grill)say 2 mm idameter max,are these for adjustment too?
I am sure tho that those adjustment screws in the picture you posted espen are the adjustment screws.The motors just move the headlights in the bucket,independent of the adjustment screw

[Espen]

The motors just move the headlights in the bucket,independent of the adjustment screw

Really? as far as i can tell, the motor is connected to the back of the adjustmentscrew, and the engine output axle is the same part as the adjustmentscrew.

the two holes in your grill are for adusting the height of your headlights, one for low beam, and one for high beam.

Shogun, mine is not auto, i have to turn a "wheel" by my foglight switch to tilt the lights up and down. Im really convinced that the small enginge is turning the adjustment screw. not just tilting the headlight independent of the screw,

[shogun]

So why do you not just take one side out complete and have a look, that is a matter of 10 minutes.
Then you are 100% sure.

[Espen]

Even if it took only 10minutes, i wouldnt have time for it.. But I ordered the adjustmentscrew on monday, they will arrive today. Gonna take a look at it this evening.

[Espen]

Well i have done some research.

The adjustmenscrew are screwed into the electric.adjuster, the screw are ireplaceable without replacing the engine, but the screw are 1cm longer than the adjustmenscrew i bought.

http://filserver.pyrabel.net/bilder/e34/lysjustering/1.JPG
http://filserver.pyrabel.net/bilder/e34/lysjustering/3.JPG

So i took away the electric adjuster and tossed it, mounted the new adjustmens screws i bought, so now i can get my cars light adjusted properly, and pass the test.

[Espen]

Its a bit tricky to install a new adjustment screw, i spent some time figuring out the right way to do it.

First, intall the white clip and lock it by turning it 45 degrees, and partly screw in the screw. The white clip is just a plastic nut, for the adjuster screw.
http://filserver.pyrabel.net/bilder/e34/lysjustering/11.JPG

Then pop on the black clip that is holding the headlight to the screw:
http://filserver.pyrabel.net/bilder/e34/lysjustering/22.JPG

Now you connect the headlight to the black clip by just pusshing them together.
http://filserver.pyrabel.net/bilder/e34/lysjustering/33.JPG

[Paul in NZ]

so the electric motors turn the ajustment screw that is the normal ajustment screws in cars without the electric adjusters and there is no other way of adjusting them?
Or can you turn the adjustment crew independent of the motor?

[Espen]

Well, except that the screw is longer when you have the engine. I dont think the enginge turns the screw, more likely its pushing/pulling the screw. Ill make a sketch for you. be back in 2 minutes.

[Espen]

http://filserver.pyrabel.net/bilder/e34/lysjustering/headlightadjuster.JPG

[Paul in NZ]

i must look at mine this weekend we all know the low beams are weak good adjustment helps too mine are a little low.the motors could also do with a little tlc too.Thanks Espen!