Adjusting headlights in my C!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
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From: BirdCity, Tx
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport
Adjusting headlights in my C!
Sup everyone. New to the site! And I'm glad I stumbled across it. Just bought my wife a C300 and we love it. 
We had a light go out in the headlight and took it to the dealer to replace (Halogen) and now when driving at night you can tell the lighting ain't the same level. 
I looked in the manual for info but to no avail and I did a search on the site 1st before I asked and didn't come up with anything. Was wondering if anybody knew how to adjust the headlight level on the C300's. Looked at it last night but was pretty dark out and got impatient and stopped. 
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
We had a light go out in the headlight and took it to the dealer to replace (Halogen) and now when driving at night you can tell the lighting ain't the same level. I looked in the manual for info but to no avail and I did a search on the site 1st before I asked and didn't come up with anything. Was wondering if anybody knew how to adjust the headlight level on the C300's. Looked at it last night but was pretty dark out and got impatient and stopped. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I would check that bulbs are properly seated. The light aiming should not change from a bulb change. If it really needs adjusting, open the hood and adjust height from the screw at the top of the head light, close to the fender. Adjust sidewise from a similar screw at about the centre of headlamp, at the top of course.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
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From: BirdCity, Tx
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport
I may know what screws you're talking about... I'll give it a try when I get off of work... I shined the lights in front of my garage and you can tell one is slightly lower than the other. Also, I first noticed something was up when my wife was driving behind me and I noticed one of the headlights didn't look as bright as the other... 
We'll see.... Thanks...
We'll see.... Thanks...
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Calgary, AB
2012 C63 AMG
Which headlight is higher than the other? If the passenger side light is higher, it's supposed to be like that. It gives you better lighting and vision of signs posted on the side of the road at night.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Calgary, AB
2012 C63 AMG
Yep, if you park your car up to a wall and turn on your headlights, there should be a good horizontal cutoff from your drivers side headlight and then make a small step change upwards at the middle of the car so the passenger headlight is aimed a bit higher. Better illumination at night for road signs without blinding oncoming traffic.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
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From: BirdCity, Tx
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport
Awesome... And is it just one screw that controls the lowbeam headlight (to adjust) like Diesel was talking about. I will look at tonight and make the adjustments... Thanks...
Thanks...
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From: Romania
Audi A4 1.9 TDI 2002, MB C200 CDI 2004, MB C220 CDI 2009
I asked my dealer when he delivered my car about leveling headlights and he told me that there is one level sensor under rear bumper that takes care of the headlights level.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
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From: BirdCity, Tx
2008 Mercedes C300 Sport
Really... Hmmm... I'm gonna have to see what's up... The light seems to stay in the same spot... Haven't noticed it adjusting itself. Maybe on loaded a C, but my wife's C is pretty plain...
Hmmm... I'm gonna have to see what's up... The light seems to stay in the same spot... Haven't noticed it adjusting itself. Maybe on loaded a C, but my wife's C is pretty plain...
Last edited by Royal281; Aug 11, 2009 at 11:39 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
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From: Orange County, CA
E350
Yep, if you park your car up to a wall and turn on your headlights, there should be a good horizontal cutoff from your drivers side headlight and then make a small step change upwards at the middle of the car so the passenger headlight is aimed a bit higher. Better illumination at night for road signs without blinding oncoming traffic.
Just out of curiosity, when aimed at the wall, I know the adaptive Bi-Xenon headlights are shaped flat like this by default (and will move to adapt to your steering wheel... and to oncoming traffic headlights in the new 2010 E-Class):
_____ _____
but are the halogen headlights supposed to be like this (MBWorld defaults the alignment to the left and messed it up my drawing, so ignore the dots):
......../ ....../
____/ ____/
or like this (again, ignore the dots):
................../
..........____/
......../
____/
or something in between like this (again, ignore the dots):
................../
......../ ____/
____/
I have my headlights set up exactly how I want them, but I'm just curious how they're "supposed" to be...
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Headlight levelling
If you have Xenon lights, there is a level sensor on the right rear suspension arm and another on the right front suspension. For Europe, Xenon light equipped cars have this system by law. So, it's worldwide. If you have standard lights and you have a wagon, there may be a sensor on the rear suspension but since we don't get that model in the US, I'm just guessing. A non-US sedan with standard lights might have a leveling adjustment on the dashboard since MB fitted that feature for 25 years. But, that old system was vacuum operated and new MBs don't have vacuum operated anything.
Get under your car and look above the RR suspension arm for a small wired box with a movable rod connecting to a bracket on the arm.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 600
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From: Northern California
09' E350 AMG Sport, 09' C300, 03' Honda S2K
For the first time, i was driving behind my wife, she was driving my C, and I notice that the driver side looks alot brighter than the passenger side, it looks like it aim higher, but from a wall they are aim straight across. Is this normal?
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\
I'm not sure about in the US, but in Germany this is performed annually for free at the dealerships.
http://translate.google.com/translat...istory_state0=
http://translate.google.com/translat...istory_state0=
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 600
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From: Northern California
09' E350 AMG Sport, 09' C300, 03' Honda S2K
Mines also look something like this, again ignore dots
............_________
_______/
I can definitely see the cutoff on the driver side on a wall and from behind, the driver side looks like it aim higher than the passenger side. I have tried matching the light together where they would looks the same, but either one side would be very high or very low as far as beam pattern on a wall.
............_________
_______/
I can definitely see the cutoff on the driver side on a wall and from behind, the driver side looks like it aim higher than the passenger side. I have tried matching the light together where they would looks the same, but either one side would be very high or very low as far as beam pattern on a wall.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 373
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From: Nagoya, Japan
'15 C200 AMG line, '08 C300 Sport Avantgarde, '07 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd, '02 CLK 200 (gone)
Well, thank you everyone. 
I thought my lights were screwed up. Now I know they're supposed to be that way.
I have the bi-xenons and they're aligned like the diagrams by charliele729 and Illusive, above.
I thought my lights were screwed up. Now I know they're supposed to be that way. I have the bi-xenons and they're aligned like the diagrams by charliele729 and Illusive, above.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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whkento: wait....you're in Japan, your lights should shine the opposite way than the US-Spec ones. I had JDM projectors on my WRX and it totally was opposite. I felt bad for the people driving on opposite lanes.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 600
Likes: 2
From: Northern California
09' E350 AMG Sport, 09' C300, 03' Honda S2K
I did exacttly that, I have adjusted to make sure they are even on a flat wall. But the driver side looks like it just aim higher than the passenger side. I can also tell by looking stragith at the car from about 15ft away and the driver side blinds first before the passenger. i am guessing this is just normal.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 600
Likes: 2
From: Northern California
09' E350 AMG Sport, 09' C300, 03' Honda S2K
Can anyone with OEM xenons tell me if this normal or not, when looking in front of the car or driving infront of my C, the driver side headlight looks likes it is aim higher than the passenger. Shouldnt it be the opposite
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 757
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From: LI, NY, U.S.A.
2013 GLK 350 4M (Iridium Silver), 2010 E350 Coupe (Iridium Silver)
If either side looks brighter, it means it is pointed higher. Neither side should appear brighter than the other.
Some people are posting that the light is supposed to be higher on the passenger side. I think their comments will be misunderstood. The beams should be perfectly aligned, but as everyone has noticed they taper up towards the right. That is what helps your lights beam off reflectors, signs, pedestrians, whatever. NOT a passenger side bulb that is pointed higher. This can be annoying and dangerous, especially, with HID's.
That said, does anyone know if I can manually adjust the height of my OEM HID's like the halogen ones can?
My driver's side is wayyy higher than it should be, when I'm driving behind another W204 the light against the highway divider is about twice as high the car in front of mine!
Some people are posting that the light is supposed to be higher on the passenger side. I think their comments will be misunderstood. The beams should be perfectly aligned, but as everyone has noticed they taper up towards the right. That is what helps your lights beam off reflectors, signs, pedestrians, whatever. NOT a passenger side bulb that is pointed higher. This can be annoying and dangerous, especially, with HID's.
That said, does anyone know if I can manually adjust the height of my OEM HID's like the halogen ones can?
My driver's side is wayyy higher than it should be, when I'm driving behind another W204 the light against the highway divider is about twice as high the car in front of mine!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Irvine, CA
2009 C350
Ditto. It's so that you don't blind oncoming traffic to the left and so that you can see pedestrians or bicyclists to the right or something.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,481
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
You have not provided enough information for an accurate answer, but.......
If you have Xenon lights, there is a level sensor on the right rear suspension arm and another on the right front suspension. For Europe, Xenon light equipped cars have this system by law. So, it's worldwide. If you have standard lights and you have a wagon, there may be a sensor on the rear suspension but since we don't get that model in the US, I'm just guessing. A non-US sedan with standard lights might have a leveling adjustment on the dashboard since MB fitted that feature for 25 years. But, that old system was vacuum operated and new MBs don't have vacuum operated anything.
Get under your car and look above the RR suspension arm for a small wired box with a movable rod connecting to a bracket on the arm.
If you have Xenon lights, there is a level sensor on the right rear suspension arm and another on the right front suspension. For Europe, Xenon light equipped cars have this system by law. So, it's worldwide. If you have standard lights and you have a wagon, there may be a sensor on the rear suspension but since we don't get that model in the US, I'm just guessing. A non-US sedan with standard lights might have a leveling adjustment on the dashboard since MB fitted that feature for 25 years. But, that old system was vacuum operated and new MBs don't have vacuum operated anything.
Get under your car and look above the RR suspension arm for a small wired box with a movable rod connecting to a bracket on the arm.
A few months ago I checked where you suggested and there was nothing to be found. The level sensor was on the front of the car, driver's side. Accessed it from under the car.
In my case, I have a 2008 C300 with P2 which includes the factory bixenons. Built in Germany for US market and delivery. They started misaiming after the startup leveling routine. Found that this strap connecting the sensor to some other part had slipped off. Only had to push it back on. Then good to go.
As others have said, the driver's side is suppose to aim downward. In my opinion, I think it may be just a little too far down. Probably wouldn't hurt to raise it a hair. It would still be lower than the passenger side.
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From: La Jolla, CA
'11 ML350
