Audi a3 S3 black edition xenon headlight adjusting

210_MIH

210_MIH

Drive it like u stole it
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On my A3 I have the 2010 DRL LED xenon headlights. The headlights dont have much range and seem to be facing downwards!

Any way of adjusting the height?

Thanks
 
Ermm are they doing their initial "up down" (and maybe side to side if adaptives) when you first switch them on?

theyre self levelling...so if it feels too low and it's not doing the test upon switch on then something maybe ******.

would have thought an error would have come up though.
 
Since you have just retrofitted them did you retro fit your self levelling?
If you have then go into the xenon module on VCDS and turn on not mode to align the headlights properly... If you haven't retrofitted the self levelling then you know what you need to do!
 
Hmm Not retrofitted the self levelling. Dont these lights have the screws on the units themselves to level them?
Ok so if I need to fit the self levelling where do i get this from and also what needs to be done? I am totally clueless at this stage....
 
It may be only factory fitted but I thought it was a legal requirement that xenon's had self levelling and auto-wash?
 
NathanJT said:
It may be only factory fitted but I thought it was a legal requirement that xenon's had self levelling and auto-wash?
Click to expand...

It is - and not only factory fitted !

To the OP - you should have been aware of this before you started the project. You need self levelling sensors on front and back axles together with wiring and VCDS coding and a headlight washer system connected to your washer bottle (another motor + tubing etc.) plus nozzles cut into the front bumper.

Do a search and you will find loads of threads on the subject.
 
irry_07 said:
Hmm Not retrofitted the self levelling. Dont these lights have the screws on the units themselves to level them?
Ok so if I need to fit the self levelling where do i get this from and also what needs to be done? I am totally clueless at this stage....
Click to expand...

you can adjust the headlights manually but its not advised...

just look for the big white screw point on the top of the headlight and adjust carefully with the screwdriver (torx i think) until you have your desired position. still try to get the auto levelling sorted out at some point but that should help you for now.
 
Bear in mind that it won't pass the MOT without correct auto-levelling and washers so, as Ash says, you need to get sorted asap.
 
mike foster said:
Bear in mind that it won't pass the MOT without correct auto-levelling and washers so, as Ash says, you need to get sorted asap.
Click to expand...

true but MOT as everyone knows is still based on who you take it to :ninja:
I still havent sorted out my auto levelling and its been well over a year since i fitted my xenons... no issues and passes the MOT with flying colours! i'd also like to add i get no complaints or flashing from other drivers... but thats because i have purposly set it a couple mm lower than it should be
 
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Ash187 said:
true but MOT as everyone knows is still based on who you take it to :ninja:
I still havent sorted out my auto levelling and its been well over a year since i fitted my xenons... no issues and passes the MOT with flying colours! i'd also like to add i get no complaints or flashing from other drivers... but thats because i have purposly set it a couple mm lower than it should be
Click to expand...

Ash, that maybe the case as far as your car is concerned, but as an experienced forum member and OEM installer I do not think that you should be encouraging other, less experienced forum members to 'get away' with carrying out sub-standard and effectively illegal modifications. I'm sure you would not undertake an install for someone else that you knew was incorrect.

Perhaps if you were to point the guy in the right direction with part numbers and instructions etc. it would be of more long-term assistance.

I would try and help but I haven't got xenons so have no experience apart from what I have read!!! lol
 
no totally fair point mate. like i said earlier i advise him to get it installed... i should be getting mine sorted in the next couple months as well... but for the time being he needs to get his lights raised up otherwise he will be a danger to himself, other passengers and other people driving on the road if he cannot see where he is going so i have written what he can do in the short term to fix the issue.

in the end we can go on all day saying what he should do but its down to him to decide, i just give both options for him
 
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Ash187 said:
in the end we can go on all day saying what he should do but its down to him to decide, i just give both options for him
Click to expand...

Too true mate, but it is clear in this case that the guy wasn't even aware that there was a 'proper' way to do it !! :think:

Would be good if you could guide him to a thread that will show him how it should be done ? :icon_thumright:
 
Yup... thanks for your help....both solutions are of interest now, in the interim to adjust and also get the leveller kit installed. so it may be good, for me and others, as to how we can go about carrying out the install, whats required and approx cost....important thing is...I am now aware, never too late...
 
Cheers mike....appreciated!
 
OEM Auto-Leveling Xenons still have manual adjusters...



This is the N\S unit, the shorter left hand screw (highlighted) is for Vertical adjustment, the other is for Horizontal. You'll need an allen key, a brick wall and dark skies. ;)
 
Thanks. Ive managed to adjust them.

PROBLEM...yes another one. Put brand new bulbs (d3s) in the headlights. After 5 days of working and a little use, the left one fails to fire up sometimes. Wen it does, it flickers then comes on. No change in colour..so bulb must be fine...may be a loose wire? Sometimes gotta fladh the main beam a few times before it comes on. Ballast maybe??
 
Have you tried swaping the bulbs over and then see if it still does it? this is mainly a fault in the bulb. did you get copy d3s bulbs?

your haveing alot of issues with your headlights aint ya :uhm:
 
I have just purchased the same model A3 8P (Sept 59 plate) as this but with OE xenons. I want to adjust the Offside headlight horizontillaly slightly to the off-side as it is pointing to the nearside too far. However whichever adjustment screw I move, the headligh beam moves vertically. Any one any suggestions?
 
bowler said:
I have just purchased the same model A3 8P (Sept 59 plate) as this but with OE xenons. I want to adjust the Offside headlight horizontillaly slightly to the off-side as it is pointing to the nearside too far. However whichever adjustment screw I move, the headligh beam moves vertically. Any one any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Take it to any MOT testing station ( preferably VAG specialist ) and ask them to check the alignment and adjust if necessary.

It isn't advisable to try and change the beam direction without precision instruments.
 
bowler said:
I have just purchased the same model A3 8P (Sept 59 plate) as this but with OE xenons. I want to adjust the Offside headlight horizontillaly slightly to the off-side as it is pointing to the nearside too far. However whichever adjustment screw I move, the headligh beam moves vertically. Any one any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Headlight angle adjusters are circled in the picture ..one for vertical, one for horizontal. you'll need a hex (allen) key! just make sure you don't overdo it and blind on-coming traffic. :icon_thumright:
 

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lol! just realised I'd already posted that picture in this very same thread.

what gives Bowler? :search:
 
Hi Artimus,
thanks for your reply, my point is that that I tried adjusting the beam as per your post ( I am a retired auto electrician and mechanic), but they both only moved the beam either up or down, not horizontally. The "back" smaller adjuster which you advised was the horizontal adjuster only seems to move the beam up/down.
I am carrying out the check/adjustment on a workshop wall with reference markings.
 
yea, I may have got that backwards, only adjusted mine once as the were practically topping out at 20ft in front of the car when I got it! not good on dark country lanes.

If yours aren't adjusting manually, the problem may be with the auto-leveling\adaptive system - either mechanical or electronic, or a damaged mount. :shrug:

do you have the Adaptive system installed - do they swivel when you corner?
 
Might be wrong but don't you have to set the lights to 'MOT Mode' with VCDS before you can adjust them ?
 
mike foster said:
Might be wrong but don't you have to set the lights to 'MOT Mode' with VCDS before you can adjust them ?
Click to expand...
I think that's to adjust the adaptive system - basic adjustments can usually be done manually.

it sounds more like the O\S bulb has swiveled and is stuck.
 
I'm sure the computer will interfere with more advanced settings, similar to putting wipers in service mode via DIS. but whether it controls auto leveling or not - I don't know! I will be an electro-mechanical system, but the ins & outs are beyond me thus far.
 
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Not to bring up an old thread but i had this problem as well. Both lights seem to point to the passenger side where it is significantly higher than the drivers side all well and good when driving on a perfectly flat straight road but as soon as it comes to a slight incline or a corner i get flashed all the time.

So i tried the above method it works however both screws seem to move the lights up and down but i have lowered it and been for a drive and its improved a lot :)
 
Hi people,

I’m new to the forum & realise this is an old thread but hoping someone can help me out.

I’ve recently changed the drivers side headlight on my Audi A3 black edition (DRL xenon) due to my old one being damaged, so I bought one off eBay that had come off an A3 also, fitted it on the weekend gone.. come to turn the engine over to see if it was all good & I have an error coming up on the dash ‘headlight range control defective’ & also on turning the engine over the headlights have stopped the auto levelling/adjusting that they usually do.. so can anyone help me out as to what’s gone wrong here please..




Thanks in advance, Sam.
 

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Sam Greer said:
Hi people,

I’m new to the forum & realise this is an old thread but hoping someone can help me out.

I’ve recently changed the drivers side headlight on my Audi A3 black edition (DRL xenon) due to my old one being damaged, so I bought one off eBay that had come off an A3 also, fitted it on the weekend gone.. come to turn the engine over to see if it was all good & I have an error coming up on the dash ‘headlight range control defective’ & also on turning the engine over the headlights have stopped the auto levelling/adjusting that they usually do.. so can anyone help me out as to what’s gone wrong here please..




Thanks in advance, Sam.
Click to expand...
Just a Stab in the dark but you might have to do something in Vcds
 
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Help I am confused which of the two screws is for horizontal adjustment . The red or the blue circled in the pic attached.
 

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