Headliight beam falling short

Technical Advice, Faults and How-To Information.
Duvetday
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Joined: Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:54 am

Post by Duvetday »

With it beng summer I haven't done much driving yet in the FType in the dark.

Did so last night and noticed that the main headlight (not the high beam) on the right hand side does not seem to throw as far out ahead of the car as that on the left. And it lights up brightly the area several yards ahead of the car but after that it is very dark, so sort of binary .....very light then then very dark...(hope that makes sense).

Is there anything a layman can adjust to fix this ? Or is it a job to add to the list when the car goes in for a service shortly ?

Also relevant, maybe, is that the dealer replaced both headlight units before I took delivery of the car, so maybe in their haste they either forgot to set them up or did a bad job of it.

2018 P380 V6 convertible

simpleR
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Post by simpleR »

The nearside should project further than the offside?
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Lunar
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Post by Lunar »

Noticed my adjustment was low on buying mine, the first time down a moors B road.
Had them adjusted and fine after that.
Highly likely that a proper setting of your new ones hasn’t been done.
When one started flickering I then replaced them both with Osram Night Breaker and now really good pattern and throw on dip and very long distance on main.
Incidentally have others noticed that the indicators are also bright enough to illuminate the exit signs on A and M roads?
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Lunar
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Post by Lunar »

simpleR wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:29 am The nearside should project further than the offside?
Not sure on that one as there’s no adjustment required when driving on the “wrong” side of the road.
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Duvetday
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Post by Duvetday »

Lunar wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:31 am
simpleR wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:29 am The nearside should project further than the offside?
Not sure on that one as there’s no adjustment required when driving on the “wrong” side of the road.
I'm going to check on this as I do recall seeing something in the settings once about lefthand or right hand side driving....but I don't recall what it was / the context, right now.
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scm
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Post by scm »

Duvetday wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:36 am I'm going to check on this as I do recall seeing something in the settings once about lefthand or right hand side driving....
Different model years have differenr types of headlight and the requirements to adjust vary.
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Philskill
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Post by Philskill »

There should be 2 adjusters for each headlight for vertical and horizontal adjustment, could be 6mm allen key white plastic adjuster bolts.

You should be able to raise the low pointing one, Ideally point the car on a level surface at a wall of fence and adjust to match the other.

It is a requirement they are correct at the MOT, but most garages will adjust it for you on the spot as so easy.
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Deleted User 1715

Post by Deleted User 1715 »

The newer LED headlights project 3 different beam patterns when set to auto dependant on speed, low and wide at low speed for city driving, high and narrow for high speed and somewhere in the middle for medium speeds. For abroad you don’t use the auto setting and just turn them on manually.

Is there a difference in the beam pattern between manually on and auto on? Any adjustments will, I think, need to be done with specialist equipment to adjust it accurately and not blind oncoming drivers etc.
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Hammers
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Post by Hammers »

GusA wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 1:33 pm For abroad you don’t use the auto setting and just turn them on manually.

Is that due to some EU law? Obviously in Australia it is unlikely I would ever take my car abroad, but it is interesting if this is something that some countries have laws on. I just use Auto all the time for the lights, but high beam I don't have the auto dim so manually use it.

I have noticed my lights on the left of the car seem to project a little further which I assumed was by design.
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Deleted User 1715

Post by Deleted User 1715 »

Hammers wrote: Mon Jul 19, 2021 2:39 am
GusA wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 1:33 pm For abroad you don’t use the auto setting and just turn them on manually.

Is that due to some EU law? Obviously in Australia it is unlikely I would ever take my car abroad, but it is interesting if this is something that some countries have laws on. I just use Auto all the time for the lights, but high beam I don't have the auto dim so manually use it.

I have noticed my lights on the left of the car seem to project a little further which I assumed was by design.
Using manual stops the auto function going to the high position which could dazzle on-coming drivers when driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road as the beam pattern is slightly higher to the left anyway. I imagine it’s a legal requirement in any country that your lights don’t blind other people in the dipped position from before the EU was formed.
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