Adjusting headlights

[Madmo]

right I have searched the forum regarding this and cant find anything regarding my issue so i must apologise if it has been posted before,

My question is How do you adjust the Headlights on a S3 Saloon MY15? They arent adaptive type just the standard Xenons.

I had it in at Dundee Audi today to get them adjusted up as they were only shining 10 feet in front of me, But now they are pointing far too high and the car is undriveable to be honest as everyone is flashing me.

 

[andywil13]

From inside the car there isn't any adjustment. It does it automatically based on weight distribution in the car.

 

[Madmo]

From inside the car there isn't any adjustment. It does it automatically based on weight distribution in the car.

Where about inside the car? I dont have a thumb wheel adjuster

 

[andywil13]

Where about inside the car? I dont have a thumb wheel adjuster

There is no adjuster with xenon lights

 

[Madmo]

There is no adjuster with xenon lights

So where inside the car do you adjust them?

 

[h5djr]

So where inside the car do you adjust them?

As 'Andywil13' has said Xenon headlights have an automatic self-levelling system with no driver adjustment. If you headlights are so far out of level that the automatic system cannot level them they will need to be adjusted by a workshop with the necessary equipment.

 

[steeve]

They can be adjusted there are some adjusting screws some where (how do you think the dealer did it?). Sadly on an A3 I don't know where they are, now if it was Mini I could tell you.

However if the dealer's cocked up take t back get it done properly.

 

[Jassyo06]

I adjusted my xenon lights on the Mk3ST by using a alun key,they had a nylon threaded nut on the outside of headlight enclosure,the Audi should have something similar

 

[Madmo]

They can be adjusted there are some adjusting screws some where (how do you think the dealer did it?). Sadly on an A3 I don't know where they are, now if it was Mini I could tell you.

However if the dealer's cocked up take t back get it done properly.

I may be wrong but I saw him sit in the car with a laptop, surely he didnt adjust them from the laptop?

I will take it back as soon as they are open on monday, but i was wanting to lower them a bit for tonight so i dont blind folks on the way home later lol

 

[cuke2u]

The headlights should be adjusted using a correctly calibrated headlamp aligner as used for mot's. I can't see why your dealership would allow doing it by any other way.

 

[A3_Rider]

I was wondering this, no thumb thing to adjust. They sit way too low and I'm very disappointed.

Do I have to go to the dealer just to get them adjusted!?

 

[h5djr]

The headlights should be checked as part of the PDI. Go back and get your dealer to check them using the proper equipment.

The thumb wheel adjustment is only there for halogen headlights and then these should be set to the correct setting and the thumb wheel used to LOWER them if you have a load in the back of the car. Xenon and LED headlights have a self-levelling system to do this automatically.

If they were to be adjusted without the correct beam setting equipment they may well blind drivers coming in the opposite direction even with the lights on dip.

 

[steeve]

Many idle mechanics will just raise them or lower them a 'bit' depending on what you commented about. But they SHOULD use a beam setter.
We had this problem several times in trying to get my wife's Mini headlamps set correctly. Tell them you want them set properly using a beam setter and not just on the garage wall.

 

[ChiYoung]

as somebody said there. Alen key or philips screw driver.
Open the bonnet and search for a white plastic screw behind theheadlight.

Turn lights on and face the car into a wall.
Lower both till same height.
Try finding yourself the right level. If they keep flashing keep lowering

 

[Madmo]

as somebody said there. Alen key or philips screw driver.
Open the bonnet and search for a white plastic screw behind theheadlight.

Turn lights on and face the car into a wall.
Lower both till same height.
Try finding yourself the right level. If they keep flashing keep lowering

Cheers mate i will have a look

 

[h5djr]

Personally I still think you should get them checked using the problem beam setting equipment. Xenon headlights can be very blinding to other drivers if they are only a small amount higher than they should be. Either take you can to the dealer who supplied it and they should do it for free or take it to any good MOT testing station. Both will have the correct kit to set them up properly.

Just fiddling about with them shining against a garage door is NOT they way to go.

 

[Madmo]

Personally I still think you should get them checked using the problem beam setting equipment. Xenon headlights can be very blinding to other drivers if they are only a small amount higher than they should be. Either take you can to the dealer who supplied it and they should do it for free or take it to any good MOT testing station. Both will have the correct kit to set them up properly.

Just fiddling about with them shining against a garage door is NOT they way to go.

Its booked in for Monday at my local audi dealer. They mucked it up so they can fix it

 

[A3_Rider]

I had xenons on my previous A3 and know them knock off ones people retro fit are horrible to look at, I don't think I will have a play, just another issue to add to my list come service time (can't be bothered going now, probably end up arguing blehh)

 

[Jassyo06]

l checked out my my xenons for the first time tonight,they are far better and the beam is longer reaching than the ST's....there is a certain amount of manual adjustment in all xenon lights.factory settings aint correct all the time,my ST's xenon beams barely reflected off regy plates 10 feet away until l adjusted them myself,all was perfect after that.........A wall is all you need

 

[ChiYoung]

Well I had to adjust mines after a few drives on narrow mountain roads.
checked and it only lighted up to 10m, no more!
Now I can see perfectly and I also had the chance to test it with my friends car set into incoming traffic to ask him if they were high.
Did 2 turns to the screw and until now nobody flashed me. (well once to warn me a speed trap)

 

[Helifella]

I had successfully adjusted the xenons on my 8P with a laptop ( with VCDS )

 

[h5djr]

I had successfully adjusted the xenons on my 8P with a laptop ( with VCDS )

In that case rather than just say you've done it using VCDS, perhaps you would like to tell us how you did it.

 

[steeve]

I've found adjusting lights without a beam setter very hit and miss, but eventually possible. Its worth having a light proof cloth or plastic sheet to hang over the other light as you alter each one.

 

[h5djr]

At a guess most headlights set up without beam setting equipment are set too high. It must be almost impossible to get the required degree of downward setting without a beam setter. The actual process for the A3, as described in Elsawin, is quite complex and requires, compensation for the amount of fuel in the tank for example. Surely the cost of getting in done properly is well worth it.

 

[Helifella]

In that case rather than just say you've done it using VCDS, perhaps you would like to tell us how you did it.

I would if I could remember sorry. Didn't want to wrongly state any steps.

From memory, there was a Xenon module which allowed them to be set. It ran through a stepped process. Sorry again I can't be more clear.

 

[cemerson]

The number of cars on the road with badly adjusted headlights is crazy - you really need to be careful doing this, and should be using the right calibration equipment. Remember that these things are part of the MOT now so when your car is 3 years old, if they are out - it'll fail.

 

[jasso86]

Well I had to adjust mines after a few drives on narrow mountain roads.
checked and it only lighted up to 10m, no more!
Now I can see perfectly and I also had the chance to test it with my friends car set into incoming traffic to ask him if they were high.
Did 2 turns to the screw and until now nobody flashed me. (well once to warn me a speed trap)

Could you post a pic of wich screws you turned please?

 

[ChiYoung]

 

[jasso86]

 

[jasso86]

Awesome! Thanks a lot @ChinYoung

 

[GeoffDunk]

as somebody said there. Alen key or philips screw driver.
Open the bonnet and search for a white plastic screw behind theheadlight.

Turn lights on and face the car into a wall.
Lower both till same height.
Try finding yourself the right level. If they keep flashing keep lowering

Do not do it this way, use a beam adjuster rig and get it done properly!!!! You are not running and old Ford Escort so don't treat as such, this is a safety issue, for both the driver and oncoming traffic, too low and you can't see to the best of your ability, to high and you blind oncoming traffic.

If you don't to pay deal prices find an MOT trester, they will do it for you, they have the equipment, if its anew car and you think the dealer should hav ealready done this for you then take it back and demand its done correctly.

 

[Johan]

Adjusting the headlights on a Xenon equipped 8V A3 is not easy. The screws mentioned above adjust both the dipped and high beam simultaneously. My understanding is that you adjust the dipped beam using the screws, and after that set the high beam using a laptop. Quite difficult to do yourself, have had mine into the Audi workshop three times for this and they've yet to be able to adjust them properly...