Headlight Alignment
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 882
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From: Bucks Co., PA
2008 Subaru Legacy GT Limited
Headlight Alignment
Anyone know how to adjust the beam on the OEM (non-HID/non-Xenon) headlights? Mom's car wound up in the body shop, and when they reconstructed the headlamp area, they aimed the beam a little too low. (And I just don't feel like bringing it back, too much of a PITA.)
Did a search, but didn't come up with anything...TIA.
EDIT: n/m, I just didn't search hard enough.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w210/20549-headlight-aim-adjuster-not-functioning.html
Did a search, but didn't come up with anything...TIA.
EDIT: n/m, I just didn't search hard enough.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w210/20549-headlight-aim-adjuster-not-functioning.html
Last edited by AJChenMPH; Aug 26, 2004 at 05:44 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
They should have two obvious 'crown' adjusting knobs inboard from the large headlights. One adjusts for vertical and the other, horizonal. OEM ones have bubble level gauge to assist with vertical zero. Non-OEM prob do not.
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From: Northeast
e300d
adjust hi beam
Guys, is there any way to adjust the high beams on an early W210 car? I can find the height and lateral adjusters for the main bean but can't see any method to adjust the inboard high-beam units.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
I've taken the headlamps completely apart. The reflector for the high and low beam is one piece inside, so no.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
Don't understand what you're askin' player... HID or Halogen are the same sturcture, just different reflector pattern, lense for the low beam and that should be about it...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
i've disassembled, retrofitted, baked in oven, reassembled...blah blah, W210
headlight assemblies. the inboard HIGH beam is of fixed design. there is no
easy method of adjusting....as the design has less critical need to aim. it's
design and spread is simply to throw the beam out there in wide fashion. so
unless there was lingering damage from an accident etc, the high beam should
be pretty much okay. do you have picture of what it is that tells you it is aimed
high or low?
headlight assemblies. the inboard HIGH beam is of fixed design. there is no
easy method of adjusting....as the design has less critical need to aim. it's
design and spread is simply to throw the beam out there in wide fashion. so
unless there was lingering damage from an accident etc, the high beam should
be pretty much okay. do you have picture of what it is that tells you it is aimed
high or low?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Northeast
e300d
Raymond, thanks for clarifying that. I won't waste any more time on it.
My concern:
On my 1999 car, the HID is low beam only. Our previous cars had bi-xenon (hi and low) and that's how I expected the Benz to be set up.
I really dislike having tremendous illumination in the foreground, provided by the HIDs, and very weak hi beams projecting down the road. There's almost no apparent change in overall lighting when switching to high beams under this design. My eyes don't like it and it's hard to get accumstomed to.
My wife does not have HIDs on her '02 wagon and the lights are great on that car - - both high and low beams - - at least to my eyes. I'd never complain about the uniformity of illumination on her car.
Sounds like I am stuck. Glad I don't drive that much at night.
My concern:
On my 1999 car, the HID is low beam only. Our previous cars had bi-xenon (hi and low) and that's how I expected the Benz to be set up.
I really dislike having tremendous illumination in the foreground, provided by the HIDs, and very weak hi beams projecting down the road. There's almost no apparent change in overall lighting when switching to high beams under this design. My eyes don't like it and it's hard to get accumstomed to.
My wife does not have HIDs on her '02 wagon and the lights are great on that car - - both high and low beams - - at least to my eyes. I'd never complain about the uniformity of illumination on her car.
Sounds like I am stuck. Glad I don't drive that much at night.
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
uber-
read your post on the other board and now better understand your need. how
about picking up premium bulb such as Silverstar or Phillips something that touts
brighter light? I put the Silverstars in mine and that seems to help a little with
the HID. i also read where the PHillips high end bulb might be better in compari-
son to the SS but I figured I'd test this after the SSs died down the road.
side note: with the HIDs running, turning on the fog light serves no meaningful
purpose save for that perceived cool look on a FRI night when rolling the Ave.
read your post on the other board and now better understand your need. how
about picking up premium bulb such as Silverstar or Phillips something that touts
brighter light? I put the Silverstars in mine and that seems to help a little with
the HID. i also read where the PHillips high end bulb might be better in compari-
son to the SS but I figured I'd test this after the SSs died down the road.
side note: with the HIDs running, turning on the fog light serves no meaningful
purpose save for that perceived cool look on a FRI night when rolling the Ave.
Super Member
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From: Northeast
e300d
I've bought quite a few sets of the OSRAM Silverstar bulbs for various cars. I've certainly been pleased with them. My last set installed in the '02 wagon didn't last long (low beams) as the wife does quite a bit of driving at night. I think those bulbs are rated for 500 hours. They failed within a day or two of each other and I've since switched back to standard bulbs as I search for some LongLife bulbs made by Hella that I've had good luck with in the past.
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I've had SS low and hig beam on my '02 Avalanche for about three years. Use them often and still going.
I used the SS fogs and those died in about thirty days. OSRAM replaced them for free with a new design, which also failed in about the same time frame
So I gave up on those.
My MB has the HID lows. I put on Eurolite brand bulbs for high beam and they've been on for about three years also.
I used the Titanium bulbs for the turn signals (gets rid of the yellow/orange look).
I used the SS fogs and those died in about thirty days. OSRAM replaced them for free with a new design, which also failed in about the same time frame
So I gave up on those.My MB has the HID lows. I put on Eurolite brand bulbs for high beam and they've been on for about three years also.
I used the Titanium bulbs for the turn signals (gets rid of the yellow/orange look).
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Posts: 545
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From: Northeast
e300d
When all else fails: RTFM !!
I checked the OM index for headlights and it describes how to turn them on and use of the standing lights. However, when scanning the "Practical Hints" section, I did come across a nice bit on "Adusting Headlamp Aim" and they state the hi and lo beams are adjusted simulataneously.
Halogen procedure:
HID procedure:
(WOW, I can't believe the effort to get such a simple question answered.)
It's strange, my car doesn't have part #9 pictured in the diagram. I think my wife's car does.
HID assembly:
I checked the OM index for headlights and it describes how to turn them on and use of the standing lights. However, when scanning the "Practical Hints" section, I did come across a nice bit on "Adusting Headlamp Aim" and they state the hi and lo beams are adjusted simulataneously.
Halogen procedure:
HID procedure:
(WOW, I can't believe the effort to get such a simple question answered.)
It's strange, my car doesn't have part #9 pictured in the diagram. I think my wife's car does.
HID assembly:
Almost a Member!
Joined: Aug 2006
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You may be able to get them at a local auto parts shop, or try here:
http://www.cardomain.com/shopbrand/Eurolite?ref=gogw5
http://www.cardomain.com/shopbrand/Eurolite?ref=gogw5
