Adjusting high beam on headlamps - How?

[treeman]

On my 2003 E53 3.0d although the main beam on the headlamps has perfect aim, the high beams are badly directed - one goes off to the left and one too low. I've fiddled and re-seated the bulbs numerous times and always the beams are off. I've searched around but all I find out is that the beam control on the headlamps is automatic, so apparently no way to adjust them.

Is there a way to adjust the high beam without affecting the low/main beam direction?

[Ricky Bobby]

Yes its called the white adjusters on top of the headlights

[powers1]

Originally Posted by treeman

On my 2003 E53 3.0d although the main beam on the headlamps has perfect aim, the high beams are badly directed - one goes off to the left and one too low. I've fiddled and re-seated the bulbs numerous times and always the beams are off. I've searched around but all I find out is that the beam control on the headlamps is automatic, so apparently no way to adjust them.

Is there a way to adjust the high beam without affecting the low/main beam direction?

Hi Treeman,
Have you solved your problem?
As RB said ,you do have the white adjusters on top of headlights but as he well knows ,the inside adjuster only adjust main and high beam together ,not separately.while the outside adjuster adjusts the sideways cut of.

I just had an X5 E53 in with similar issue and it was found to be an internal headlight adjuster on high beam side had dropped ,so we had to open headlight and pop it back in!

Hope it helps

[Blowout]

Hi powers1,

I have a similar issue. Driver side HID in alignment, but the high beam/halogen running light is aimed too high.

Did you have any issues disassembling the housing to access the ball and socket components? I assume this is what you popped back in.

BMW X5 - Headlight Assembly

I'm waiting for the wife to get back with the car so I can dig into this tonight.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by Blowout

Hi powers1,

I have a similar issue. Driver side HID in alignment, but the high beam/halogen running light is aimed too high.

Did you have any issues disassembling the housing to access the ball and socket components? I assume this is what you popped back in.

BMW X5 - Headlight Assembly

I'm waiting for the wife to get back with the car so I can dig into this tonight.

Hi Blowout,
You got it!The ball popped out of the socket!In my case ,it was on an aftermarket Depo headlight which was easy to open!I found the ball had actually broken and had to replace it.
Yours may not be broken and you may get away in popping it back into place.
Remove the rubber bulb covers on the back of heaadlight and try to locate the ball and socket beam adjuster and try to get some pliers in there (pliers with 90 degrees ends!)
If you find it that its also broken ,and if your headlights are 2003 build ,will then to be cut open ,so you may as well just source a used headlight,as they quite cheap and not worth all the trouble of working on your headlight!
Good luck

[Blowout]

Originally Posted by powers1

Hi Blowout,
You got it!The ball popped out of the socket!In my case ,it was on an aftermarket Depo headlight which was easy to open!I found the ball had actually broken and had to replace it.
Yours may not be broken and you may get away in popping it back into place.
Remove the rubber bulb covers on the back of heaadlight and try to locate the ball and socket beam adjuster and try to get some pliers in there (pliers with 90 degrees ends!)
If you find it that its also broken ,and if your headlights are 2003 build ,will then to be cut open ,so you may as well just source a used headlight,as they quite cheap and not worth all the trouble of working on your headlight!
Good luck

Thanks powers1 !!
I'll see if I can reach the adjustment mechanism through the bulb holes. Yes, they are the original headlights. This side is getting weathered and buffing out isn't working too well at this point so replacement might be the best path forward.

Thanks again!

[Blowout]

Pulled the driver side headlight and opened the cap to access the HID bulb. Without pulling the bulb, its easy to see the ball and socket for both adjustment mechanisms were correctly inserted. Confirmed both the HID and the halogen bulbs are on the same adjustment plate.

I used WD40 on the outside adjustment knob to get it to move freely. Made sure none went into the housing. I'm sure if any got on either bulb it would reduce the bulb life.

After putting everything back together the HID and Halogen lights are still out of sync. Halogen aim higher than the HID.