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Thread: How do I adjust my headlight aim height?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
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    Melbourne
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    How do I adjust my headlight aim height?

    I recently installed some HID's in my T5 and they are aiming a little too high. (I can see in the backseats of other cars) And when I drive towards oncoming cars, I can see my light shine at their eyes.

    I've located a pair of white plastic screw looking things that have a gear behind them near the headlights. However, when I screw them either way they don't move the headlights at all.

    Are the adjustments supposed to adjust the whole headlight enclosure? Or just the bulb beam?

  2. #2
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    Apr 2007
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    It is not a good idea to DIY. Go to Auto electrician that have "the head light aligner" to adjust it accurately.

  3. #3
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    Thread Starter
    I just want to aim it a little down more until I get my T5 serviced in a couple of weeks. I don't want to blind anyone for the mean time!

    Just want to know if the screws I have been looking at are the correct ones.

  4. #4
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    The white circle with hole for 6mm alan key is for adjusting.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by lemmiwinks View Post
    I recently installed some HID's in my T5 and they are aiming a little too high. (I can see in the backseats of other cars) And when I drive towards oncoming cars, I can see my light shine at their eyes.
    That may be glare above the "cut-off" line, not headlights aimed too high. The optics in T5 headlights are designed for halogen globes, not HIDs, so the different shape and location of the HID arc (compared with the filament in a halogen globe) can create a lot of uncontrolled light which dazzles other drivers even though the light itself is aimed correctly.

    I have been dazzled by several T5s that had aftermarket HIDs installed, and they did seem to be aimed correctly. "How did I know they were aftermarket ?" you ask ..... "Because no one makes RHD HID headlights for T5s" I reply.

    One way to check how much glare is produced is to drive towards your T5 in a normal height car on a level, straight road, and also get the T5 to drive behind you. If your van's lights are still excessively glary even after adjusting the aim then please consider other road users (and someone coming the other way may get dazzled enough to not see where they are going on a curve and run head-on into you).

    If you have fitted HIDs to low beam (and based on your post you obviously have), then unless you have:
    1 Fitted headlights that have ADR approval for HID globes,
    2 Added automatic beam levellers, and
    3 Added Headlight washers
    your van IS unroadworthy (and therefore also uninsured). Is that a situation you are happy to be in ?

    I admit your chances of getting caught are small, but after a serious crash the investigators will check your lights if there is even the slightest hint that the other driver was dazzled (and be assured they know all about illegal HID kits, as they see them all the time on "ricers")

    Your vehicle, your licence and your choice (but at least now you can't claim "But I didn't know.........."

    /rant
    2017 MY18 Golf R 7.5 Wolfsburg wagon (boring white) delivered 21 Sep 2017, 2008 Octavia vRS wagon 2.0 TFSI 6M (bright yellow), 2006 T5 Transporter van 2.5 TDI 6M (gone but not forgotten).

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by gregozedobe View Post
    but after a serious crash the investigators will check your lights if there is even the slightest hint that the other driver was dazzled (and be assured they know all about illegal HID kits, as they see them all the time on "ricers")
    Your vehicle, your licence and your choice (but at least now you can't claim "But I didn't know.........."

    /rant
    And for that they have my
    I lost the count how many cars with improper headlight adjustment or illegal globes/headlights I dobbed in.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
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    Thread Starter

    I've adjusted the lights so it aims lower and it has helped alot. Did a few tests with some mates in their cars driving towards me and they weren't getting dazzled at all.

    I've got some HID lights that came standard in my accord euro and was really happy with how well they reflected markings on the road and street signs. That is pretty much why i decided to install a kit in my T5.

    I will most possibly get an auto electrician to check it out aswell.

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