Headlight beam pattern

[mattyboyc]

Hi all,
Just had a trip to my local m.o.t. place to get my beams set as the headlights have been out a few times over the summer and with winter coming and all that!!, the guy put them on the machine and the conclusion was one seemed to be set for european use and one not, although both are within the m.o.t regulation the beam patterns are different, ( one is flat and the other lifts on the outer edge) the car has had one headlight replaced after a close encounter with a deer a couple of years back, he drew a picture of the correct beam pattern, if you imagine looking at a wall with two flat lines both lifting towards the left on the outer edge. So my question is can the beam patterns be altered inside the headlight ( i.e have i moved something without realising ) or is the tester talking out of his ear!! , he did also comment on the fact that it had Hid's without washers but would not fail the mot with them as he is only interested in beam height and pattern ( light field )
Thanks as always
Matt

 

[quattro tony]

hi matt, yes the aims should kick up to the left, this is correct. If its kicked up to the right then this is for european markets.
Is the straight beam on the headlamp you had replaced? , are they genuine headlamps? , prob just check the bulb is fitted 100% correctly. Im not entirely sure if a4 headlamps can be adjusted internally to alter the kick up. at present no headlamp washers with hid's is not an mot failure but with the new mot rules looming it will be a failure from what ive heard.

 

[quattrojames]

From memory, xenon headlights can be adjusted for RHD by a lever, by Halogen units can't.

 

[benjie]

I'm having trouble with my beam pattern/headlight brightness, they seem really dim... we're talking a mid-90's VW Golf level of dimness!

Can't for the life of me figure it out what the problem is, other than both lights are 'fading' at the same time. Not ****** likely. Might just change the bulbs to be sure though.

 

[mattyboyc]

hi matt, yes the aims should kick up to the left, this is correct. If its kicked up to the right then this is for european markets.
Is the straight beam on the headlamp you had replaced? , are they genuine headlamps? , prob just check the bulb is fitted 100% correctly. Im not entirely sure if a4 headlamps can be adjusted internally to alter the kick up. at present no headlamp washers with hid's is not an mot failure but with the new mot rules looming it will be a failure from what ive heard.

Hi, the straight pattern is not on the headlight i had replaced and yes that is a genuine one, i will remove the headlihghts again to check that the bulbs are seared correctly, i do hace a spare set of hid bulbs from a previous set that had ballast faliure so could try a different bulb.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[quattro tony]

I'm having trouble with my beam pattern/headlight brightness, they seem really dim... we're talking a mid-90's VW Golf level of dimness!

Can't for the life of me figure it out what the problem is, other than both lights are 'fading' at the same time. Not ****** likely. Might just change the bulbs to be sure though.

Yeah might be worth changing your bulbs, One of the first things i did on my a4, Im running osram silver star, I replaced one first and then compared the two, the result spoke for themselves

 

[benjie]

I think I'll do that. I've always used the 'good' Halfords ones and never had problems. (I also have a friend with a trade card!)

 

[Woorlord]

From memory, xenon headlights can be adjusted for RHD by a lever, by Halogen units can't.

Halogens can be adjusted by an internal mechanical lever if fitted!
HOWEVER - not all headlight units have them?
Picture below from one of my headlights.

Later Xenon headlights, maybe on A4/B7 I believe not 100%, have a VAG-COM/VCDS setting for LHD/RHD.

 

[mattyboyc]

Halogens can be adjusted by an internal mechanical lever if fitted!
HOWEVER - not all headlight units have them?
Picture below from one of my headlights.

Later Xenon headlights, maybe on A4/B7 I believe not 100%, have a VAG-COM/VCDS setting for LHD/RHD.

Thanks very much for that, mine has these i have just moved the lever from up to down, see what it's like tonight,
Thanks again,
Matt

 

[quattrojames]

Do we know whether having the lever up or down relates to rhd or lhd?

 

[mattyboyc]

Do we know whether having the lever up or down relates to rhd or lhd?

I would say up= uk as when I moved it down it kicked the edge up to the right, however my original headlight has the lever the one that is only 2 years old dosen't