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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Golf mk7 how to guides + info => Topic started by: Eccie on 08 December 2015, 16:05

Title: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Eccie on 08 December 2015, 16:05
A number of people have commented on the limited range (forward distance) of the xenon lights and a few people have even had the dealers looking/checking them, I also thought they were poor compared to my wife Mercedes (the headlights are far superior).

I'd read a number of conflicting reports as about adjusting them, so I thought I'd have a look at them, Interestingly there are a couple of points of adjustment on both units; up and down, left and right. (see photo 2)

I've also read that you can't adjust them, because the self levelling feature will cancel it out, or they need to be adjusted through VCDS. :huh:

So I scanned the car with VCDS (all good :smiley:) I then marked the height of the headlights on the garage wall, put a couple of turns (using a 6mm allen key) on the headlight and it raised it up. Took the car out for a quick drive at night and checked to see if the headlight was still raised (new mark on the garage wall) and yes it was :cool:

So I adjusted the other headlight unit and checked after a couple of days and bingo, the car was still at the new setting. I ran another VCDS scan and no faults were showing so after a little experimentation I settled on 4 turns of adjustment. I've been running it for a week, not been flashed by any other driver and the range has most defiantly improved.

So in conclusion, it doesn't appear to blind any other drivers, it hasn't thrown up any errors and It has made a very noticeable difference to the range/distance. What is there not to like :whistle:

(http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt60/gpe/IMG_2881_zps3t4uzwyv.jpg) (http://s597.photobucket.com/user/gpe/media/IMG_2881_zps3t4uzwyv.jpg.html)

(http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt60/gpe/IMG_2882_zpseljyosbw.jpg) (http://s597.photobucket.com/user/gpe/media/IMG_2882_zpseljyosbw.jpg.html)

(http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt60/gpe/IMG_2883_zpsfiq4lnrc.jpg) (http://s597.photobucket.com/user/gpe/media/IMG_2883_zpsfiq4lnrc.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: fredgroves on 08 December 2015, 17:45
Nice!

I'm off to find my allen keys!
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: JohnH on 08 December 2015, 18:11
thanks for this. i've asked my dealer to check for this in the past and they've said all is OK.  lights are no where near as good as the old ST

will be trying this at the weekend
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Stuartr1024768 on 08 December 2015, 18:18
I can confirm what Eccie says (did this months ago and have tweaked it over time) and I'm sure there was another thread or two on this but without the images. Word of warning though chaps, don't get them mixed up as at first I did not notice the up down Alan bolt was down towards the bottom of the headlight unit and ended up adjusting mine only left and right at first (whoops!).  Now got them just right (5-6 turns on the passenger side for up/down and 3 turns to the left for left/right (so the beam throws better at road signs). 4 up on drivers side seemed to level it off about right and avoids dazzling oncoming traffic.

I guess it will differ slightly from car to car and if the dealer actually checked the alignment at pdi stage (which I doubt many bother to do !). Happy tinkering !
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: gazmondo35 on 08 December 2015, 20:50
Great post,I know what I'll be doing at the weekend.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Gnasher on 17 December 2015, 10:44
Did mine last night - piece of cake.

All you need is a 6mm alan key.

That said, probably some way of marking a wall with the height of your headlights might help too. I did mine against a brick wall so counted bricks.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: ajmoir36 on 17 December 2015, 10:56
What do you consider to be a turn? A full 360 rotation of the allen key?
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Eccie on 17 December 2015, 17:11
What do you consider to be a turn? A full 360 rotation of the allen key?

Yes
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: C2K on 17 December 2015, 17:51
I too complained about the range on mine when I first got the car,  dealer sorted it for me without hassle at a snagging service. They have been Bob on since.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Diehammer on 18 December 2015, 12:58
I find the range on mine really good, my wife actually thought i had the full beam on. They do seem to blind other drivers though, I have had a few people pull over to let me past because of it.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Eccie on 18 December 2015, 15:45
I find the range on mine really good, my wife actually thought i had the full beam on. They do seem to blind other drivers though, I have had a few people pull over to let me past because of it.

They sound like they maybe aimed too high
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Juicetin on 18 December 2015, 15:57
Mine were the same, aiming too high as standard and kept getting flashed, whilst I was at the dealer for something else I had them adjust them...the result they were way too low and only shone about 10 feet in front of the car!
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Gnasher on 18 December 2015, 18:32
Mine were the same, aiming too high as standard and kept getting flashed, whilst I was at the dealer for something else I had them adjust them...the result they were way too low and only shone about 10 feet in front of the car!

Wait until you're driving down an unlit country lane and can't used main beam - it's downright bloody dangerous lol!
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Mike J on 16 November 2016, 07:52
Interesting to note that on a German built car the turn direction moulded on the fitting is in English  :huh:

From the way my new car was set up I reckon the PDI/production team use a default setting for four passengers and luggage.

Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: falconmick on 07 February 2017, 20:13
Thanks for this 'old' thread, just adjusted mine up 4 turns and what a difference, lights up road ahead on dipped beam and no complaints from oncoming drivers.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: RikWebb on 30 September 2017, 17:13
Pictures are not showing :(
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Splashalot on 01 October 2017, 04:27
Pictures are not showing :(

Click on the picture to open it in a new tab.  Then right click on that and select "open in new tab".  The 2nd new tab will show the picture.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: RikWebb on 09 October 2017, 23:44
Pictures are not showing :(

Click on the picture to open it in a new tab.  Then right click on that and select "open in new tab".  The 2nd new tab will show the picture.

Top stuff,  Thank you :)
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Gnasher on 09 October 2018, 14:26
As an aside and admittedly dragging up quite an old thread but I also found that coding the foglights to come on with high beam makes driving down unlit country lanes so much better as the fogs light up the verges.

This was after adjusting the headlights (after lowering the suspension) with the above method.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: hobbes22 on 09 October 2018, 20:18
I actually adjusted mine up a couple of nights ago, although 1 and half turns seemed sufficient. I do like the idea of putting the fogs on with the main beam as well. Will look at doing this.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: martin998877 on 30 September 2019, 20:21
I bought a long allen key for £3 from Amazon, and have adjusted the lights every few days, upwards,  one turn each side, then tested it.  After 4.5 turns up, the lights seem perfect, clipping a flat road about 150 ft in front of the car.

Note there are two white adjusters, the up / down one is much lower down behind the light cluster than the upper R/L one.

Many thanks for the idea.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Splashalot on 01 October 2019, 01:56

Note there are two white adjusters, the up / down one is much lower down behind the light cluster than the upper R/L one.


On my 7.5 the headlights height adjustment is on top of the light housing, not down low at the rear. 
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: martin998877 on 01 October 2019, 09:26

Note there are two white adjusters, the up / down one is much lower down behind the light cluster than the upper R/L one.


On my 7.5 the headlights height adjustment is on top of the light housing, not down low at the rear.

Many thanks, I have a 7.0 with bi-xenon, the height adjusters are lower down at the rear of the unit.  The 7.5 with LED headlights has the up / down adjuster at the top then, so easier to get to!

Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Splashalot on 07 December 2019, 03:53
I have the LED fancy-pants headlights on my 7.5 and have adjusted the low beam up to a safe level.  However, now the high beam is aimed too high for my liking.

There is, as far as I can see, only one adjustment screw on these 7.5 LEDs - a white unit on top of the rear housing, which it appears adjusts both low and high beams in unison. 

Is there a separate adjusting screw for high beam, independent of low beam?  Or is the height relationship between low and high beam fixed?
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Barb351 on 20 December 2019, 13:16
I have the same headlights. Garage says they are within spec but on dip they only shine about two car length in front. Would be very interested in replies to your post.
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Al1040 on 02 January 2020, 15:55
I have a 7.5 and can also confirm that both height adjusters are at the top (white allen keys & standard lights). One full turn anti-clockwise was the max for me with the odd on-coming car flashing. Still not great, but much better
Title: Re: Headlight Range - Adjustment
Post by: Nilz on 07 November 2023, 23:49
I know its an old thread, but I always thought the lights were not great on my 7.5.  Took it for an MOT last week and got told that the lights were aiming down and way off where they were meant to be, had them adjusted by the tester and they are a lot better now and more noticeable now the evenings are getting darker too.