Auto Level Adjusting Lights

[Patrick-Irish]

Has anyone had any experience with the auto adjusting headlights ? My lights seem pointed right down onto the road, I'm thinking it can't be right.

There doesn't seem to be an obvious way to manually adjust their height. There's no adjusting screw or knob I can see. I was thinking that perhaps they need manual calibration or something but can't see how to do that.

I've got the xenon headlights. When they're first turned on they seem to immediately dip. You can just see it .... in a split second after switching them on, they immediately dip.

Again, anyone ever seen anything like it ? It's one of those situations where I don't want to run out and buy new (expensive) level sensing switches that reside on the suspension only to discover they were not the problem.

[recklessspyder]

Maybe you just need the adaptive control unit to be replaced....if both lights are going down, something in the brain is wrong.

Here's a control unit for $50 on ebay. About $230 on realoem

BMW E53 X5 ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT CONTROL UNIT OEM: eBay Motors (item 270647463026 end time Nov-09-10 07:27:13 PST)

[amacman]

first thing to do is read through the drivers handbook for correct answers .
when the lights are switched on they should dip and rise .
if they have dipped and not risen , seems like they are stuck so what`s the deal ? have you checked and checked again .
if they are stuck down take it to the dealer or indy for repair .

if they function correctly but are too low they can be adjusted by the white plastic screws on top of the light unit using a crosshead screwdriver or 8mm socket .
each light has 2 screws , one for vertical aim , one for lateral aim .
I forgot which is which , maybe the outer screws adjust vertical , it has been discussed here before or the hand book will tell you .
you would be best to have an MOT shop adjust them .