GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

Adjust the Headlight Beams

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Old Aug 17, 2012 | 09:42 AM
  #1  
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Adjust the Headlight Beams

Anyone know how to adjust the headlights on a non HID headlight in GL450?

My low & high beams don't project out far enough and I'd hate the take the car into the dealership just to have the lights adjusted.

appreciate your help.
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Old Aug 17, 2012 | 07:57 PM
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The holes are on top. One does vertical and the other does horizontal. Look on top of the headlights where the support brace runs. The screws are white nylon and are set below the support brace above the headlights.

Take to an open flat area at night. If you have a long flat driveway, that works great. I aligned mine so it is below the trunk and windshield of the cars in front.
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Old Aug 17, 2012 | 09:22 PM
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IMO the non- hid lights on the gl are barely adequate. Adjusting them up will help, but they we weak to begin with.
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Old Aug 17, 2012 | 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by alx
IMO the non- hid lights on the gl are barely adequate. Adjusting them up will help, but they we weak to begin with.
+1
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Old Aug 17, 2012 | 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by alx
IMO the non- hid lights on the gl are barely adequate. Adjusting them up will help, but they we weak to begin with.
+1,000,000

Do the HID upgrade and you will finally be able to see at night.
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Old Aug 18, 2012 | 01:55 AM
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Yes but if you're going to so it, please use oem replacement HID housings/projectors. The halogen projectors were never meant for an arc light source (HID) and were designed around a filament light source. By installing HIDs in halogen housings, one of two things will result:

1. You will cause excessive glare to oncoming traffic

And/or

2. You will cause excessive foreground light that will give the illusion of better visibility, but in fact will kill your distance vision due to constricting pupils
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Old Aug 18, 2012 | 01:18 PM
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Originally Posted by stickygreen
Yes but if you're going to so it, please use oem replacement HID housings/projectors. The halogen projectors were never meant for an arc light source (HID) and were designed around a filament light source. By installing HIDs in halogen housings, one of two things will result:

1. You will cause excessive glare to oncoming traffic

And/or

2. You will cause excessive foreground light that will give the illusion of better visibility, but in fact will kill your distance vision due to constricting pupils
That is not my experience with the GL halogen projectors at all. I posted a pick of the cutoff and throw after my conversion. It is perfect. Never had anyone flash me and I could not be happier with the results. The results are truly night and day with he HID conversion.

The first night I drove my GL I thought I wasn't going to make it home. The stock halogens and aiming are horrible. They have very little usable light at night. By far the worst of any car I've ever driven. Yes, they are that bad!
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Old Aug 20, 2012 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by BlownV8
That is not my experience with the GL halogen projectors at all. I posted a pick of the cutoff and throw after my conversion. It is perfect. Never had anyone flash me and I could not be happier with the results. The results are truly night and day with he HID conversion.

The first night I drove my GL I thought I wasn't going to make it home. The stock halogens and aiming are horrible. They have very little usable light at night. By far the worst of any car I've ever driven. Yes, they are that bad!
Mee to. i did the HID conversion last week. i am so happy with the results. i did replaced both high and low beams, and matching LED small bulbs.

thanks BlownV8 for the help how to adjust the beams. is there any separate screws for adjusting high beams?
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Old Aug 5, 2019 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ksdprasad
Mee to. i did the HID conversion last week. i am so happy with the results. i did replaced both high and low beams, and matching LED small bulbs.

thanks BlownV8 for the help how to adjust the beams. is there any separate screws for adjusting high beams?
Can you do the HID conversion on lows & not highs?
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Old Aug 6, 2019 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Mikchek
Can you do the HID conversion on lows & not highs?
You convert the bulbs or the whole assembly.
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Old Aug 7, 2019 | 01:41 PM
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Found out my housings are aftermarket from a company in China called nsfauto.com and the adjustment tabs are broken. I don’t know if I should go back OEM or get another aftermarket housing?

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Old Aug 7, 2019 | 01:57 PM
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OEM. Get them used. If you're patient, you can get very good results with LED bulbs in the OEM housings.

It may not even take that much patience anymore. My experience is a couple of years old now.
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Old Aug 7, 2019 | 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by eric_in_sd
OEM. Get them used. If you're patient, you can get very good results with LED bulbs in the OEM housings.

It may not even take that much patience anymore. My experience is a couple of years old now.
Do you have any suggested places I can get them used? The places I’ve looked are still pretty high.

My car came with halogen do I have to get halogen housings?

also I’ve been looking at a HID kit...is that better than LED?
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Old Aug 7, 2019 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Mikchek
Do you have any suggested places I can get them used? The places I’ve looked are still pretty high.

My car came with halogen do I have to get halogen housings?

also I’ve been looking at a HID kit...is that better than LED?
The headlight assemblies are available on Ebay.

You might try to get the bi-Xenon housings, but no way would I do that.

You'll kick off a firestorm if you start discussing HID vs. LED. I understand the hate, because there used to be a ton of lousy LED bulbs out there. I was able to get LEDs to work very well, however, so I think the haters are just behind the times. I've driven cars with HID and my LEDs are every bit as good. Check my thread on LEDs to learn more.

HID costs a lot more, and I think people that invest the money are unwilling to consider that they overpaid, and that's why LED BAD. I don't blame them. I just present facts.

HID might be comparable in cost if you include the OEM housings. Looks like you'll be doing well to pay $100 each.
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Old Aug 8, 2019 | 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by alx
IMO the non- hid lights on the gl are barely adequate. Adjusting them up will help, but they we weak to begin with.
+1, comically inadequate.

If you have a DAS compatible scan tool the xenon lights can be adjusted up that way as well, and become just adequate.
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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 09:02 AM
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I have stock xénons and can’t see F—k all
can I just replace the bulbs with HID or LED
the bulbs I have have the square ballast stuck to them
thanks

Originally Posted by Max Blast
+1, comically inadequate.

If you have a DAS compatible scan tool the xenon lights can be adjusted up that way as well, and become just adequate.
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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 09:44 AM
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The headlights are aimed very low from the factory. Adjusting them higher will make a dramatic difference.
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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by BlownV8
The headlights are aimed very low from the factory. Adjusting them higher will make a dramatic difference.
Correct. Forget about the manual's instructions. Go out on a level dark road or dark parking lot. Put the vehicle in Drive with the parking brake on. This to allow the air suspension time to self level. Pace off 50 yards. When you come back, shut off the engine. Take a piece of cardboard and, blocking off one light at a time, adjust the headlights to cut off at 50 yards.

Note: If I remember correctly, the headlight adjusters are weird. Each is at a 45 degree angle. You have to adjust both screws together. Make it so the break in the beam cutoff, where the beam angles up to the right, is centered.
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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by ertech
I have stock xénons and can’t see F—k all
can I just replace the bulbs with HID or LED
the bulbs I have have the square ballast stuck to them
thanks
Yes, you can just upgrade to a higher end HID bulb two if the best options are Osram Xenarc CBB and Philips 85415 XV2 XTREME Vision
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Old Aug 10, 2019 | 11:52 PM
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I have the OSRAM CBB bulbs and absolutely love them. But I also opened the headlights and replaced the projectors with EVOX-R projectors. Low beam is hitting 817 lux and high beam at about 1015 lux.

I also added a switch back strip in the front turn signals from Profile Pivot.

2010 GL550
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Old Aug 11, 2019 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Yup497
I have the OSRAM CBB bulbs and absolutely love them. But I also opened the headlights and replaced the projectors with EVOX-R projectors. Low beam is hitting 817 lux and high beam at about 1015 lux.

I also added a switch back strip in the front turn signals from Profile Pivot.

2010 GL550
I have done the exact same thing. It was a complicated DIY but solved the problem.
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Old Aug 11, 2019 | 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by TX07GL450
I have done the exact same thing. It was a complicated DIY but solved the problem.

Looks amazing! Are you using CBB bulbs? Our cutoffs are crisp and its awesome with the cornering headlights.

When my headlights reflect off signs I'm getting the exact color the brand new GLS gets w LED headlights. That purplish blue hue at the cutoff line. Thats where the projector bends the light.

Hands down the best performing projector I've ever used.

Ill try to grab some shots in the morning of the illuminated road ahead.
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Old Aug 12, 2019 | 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Yup497
I have the OSRAM CBB bulbs and absolutely love them. But I also opened the headlights and replaced the projectors with EVOX-R projectors. Low beam is hitting 817 lux and high beam at about 1015 lux.

I also added a switch back strip in the front turn signals from Profile Pivot.

2010 GL550
Ohhh they are called projectors not Lens??

why did you we place your?
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