Adjusting Xenons

[GTI2014]

Hi All,

I would like to adjust the range on my Xenons as they are adjusted very low and I drive a lot on country roads so I would like to raise these - just prior to buying the car, it had an MOT and I noticed that the only advisory that they corrected, was to raise the level as it was too low.

However this still seems very low - I have done some searching on the forums and it looks like there are two ways to do this, via the manual adjustment or via Vagcom.  I do not have access to Vagcom and was going to adjust them using the vertical white adjustment manually - is this ok?  I have read some people mentioned that the auto levelling could realign them to where they are now even after manual adjustment?

Any advice is much appreciated, thanks! 

[Rhyso]

Manual adjustment should be fine

I retro fitted xenons to my A3 and dont have the levellig sensors so got my local MOT garage to manually adjust them as whenI first fitted them it was like I had full beam on all the time 

You may need VCDS to ensure that you dont have a fault with the leveling system though 

[falconmick]

I have a MK7 R and also find that high beam has a short reach. Searched various forums and other owners comment similarly. I believe that the auto levelling of xenon lights would lower any manual adjustment made. I intend to contact dealer to find out. Please keep us updated with any info that you obtain.

[mike.]

This is the procedure from the Ross-Tech site but you would need  a VCDS cable.

I think if you keep manually adjusting them without the learning process you will eventually run out of mechanical adjustment.

Headlight Adjustment
[Select]
[55 - Xenon Range]
[Basic Settings - 04]
Select Basic headlamp setting from the drop-down menu.
[Go!] to activate the Basic Setting.
The meas. block field will show Running.

Adjust the headlights using their manual adjusting screws as referenced against a suitable aiming target.

[Stop] after any needed mechanical adjustments are completed.
Select Acknowledge basic setting
[Go!] to activate the Basic Setting.
After the result of Finished Correctly appears click [Stop]
The adjustment should now be learned.
[Done, Go Back]
Don't forget to check/clear fault codes afterwards.
[Close Controller, Go Back - 06]

[Big_Dave]

Has everyone driven a car with xenons before having these issues? Because the first time I drove one I noticed that the beam did appear short, but what was actually happening is that the focus of the light is stronger with less scatter, resulting in what looks like a hard edge. If you've only driven with halogens before it could be just as you get used to how xenons look. The first time I went back to a car with halogens I thought only the side lights were on! 

[mike.]

The first time I went back to a car with halogens I thought only the side lights were on!

I know what you mean, I got out of a recent hire car just to check the lights were on as I thought I couldn't work the switches. They were 

[falconmick]

Yes I've had a few cars with xenons, my MK7 R having the worst beam for range. Best was my Jag S type R, far better than Golf.

[ttdan]

I think xenons on the mk5 were better as you still had a halogen hibeam as well. Stick some of those off road only bulbs in there and the whole main beam was fantastic. Mk6 is not so good on hibeam.

[Jimble]

I have a MK7 R and also find that high beam has a short reach. Searched various forums and other owners comment similarly. I believe that the auto levelling of xenon lights would lower any manual adjustment made. I intend to contact dealer to find out. Please keep us updated with any info that you obtain.

Had mine checked at the dealers last friday, they checked them on the MOT machine and they're exactly where they should be apparently.

[GTI2014]

Hi,

I had Xenons on my other cars including a MK5 GTI and these are aimed too short on the MK6 - currently the Xenons are poor compared to my other current car which is a Honda.

If I do adjust these manually without using Vagcom, hopefully this will be ok as long as they do not auto level back to where they were prior to the manual adjustment.