How to adjust headlights of BMW x3 2004

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ADJUSTMENT

HEADLIGHT AIMING

CAUTION: Turn off the light before adjusting headlight aiming. If the light is necessary to check aiming, do not turn on for more than 2 minutes.

1. Before checking the headlight aiming, be sure of the following:

• The area around the headlight has not sustained any accident, damage or other type of deformation.
• Vehicle is parked on level ground.
• The inflation pressure of tires is correct.
• Vehicles gas tank is fully charged.
• Bounce the vehicle several times to normalize the suspension.
• Make certain that someone is seated in the driver s seat. Turn the headlights on and then adjust the low beam pattern to the following positions on the screen.

1. Position the headlight beam leveler switch to "0" .

1. Rotate the adjusting screw (A) to adjust aim.

AIMING THE HEADLIGHTS

On 1989-91 vehicles, the headlights can be aimed using the adjusting screws located above and to the side of the headlight bulbs. A rough adjustment can be made while shining the headlights on a wall or on the rear of another vehicle, but headlight adjustment should really be made using proper headlight aiming equipment.
On 1992-98 vehicles, the aerodynamically styled headlights necessitate the use of headlight aiming kit 107-00003 or equivalent. The adjustable aimer adapters provided in the kit must be used to aim the headlights. Adjustment aimer adapter positions are moulded into the bottom edge of the headlight lens. Set and lock the adjustable adapters, attach each adapter to its mechanical aimer and aim the headlights according to the instructions in the kit.
Headlight aim adjustment should be made with the fuel tank approximately half full, the vehicle unloaded and the trunk empty, except for the spare tire and jacking equipment. Make sure all tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
The headlights must be properly aimed to provide the best, safest road illumination. The lights should be checked for proper aim and adjusted as necessary. Certain state and local authorities have requirements for headlight aiming; these should be checked before adjustment is made.

CAUTION About once a year, when the headlights are replaced or any time front end work is performed on your vehicle, the headlight should be accurately aimed by a reputable repair shop using the proper equipment. Headlights not properly aimed can make it virtually impossible to see and may blind other drivers on the road, possibly causing an accident. Note that the following procedure is a temporary fix, until you can take your vehicle to a repair shop for a proper adjustment.
Headlight adjustment may be temporarily made using a wall, as described below, or on the rear of another vehicle. When adjusted, the lights should not glare in oncoming car or truck windshields, nor should they illuminate the passenger compartment of vehicles driving in front of you. These adjustments are rough and should always be fine-tuned by a repair shop which is equipped with headlight aiming tools. Improper adjustments may be both dangerous and illegal.
For most of the vehicles covered by this guide, horizontal and vertical aiming of each sealed beam unit is provided by two adjusting screws which move the retaining ring and adjusting plate against the tension of a coil spring. There is no adjustment for focus; this is done during headlight manufacturing.
Because the composite headlight assembly is bolted into position, no adjustment should be necessary or possible. Some applications, however, may be bolted to an adjuster plate or may be retained by adjusting screws. If so, follow this procedure when adjusting the lights, BUT always have the adjustment checked by a reputable shop.
Before removing the headlight bulb or disturbing the headlamp in any way, note the current settings in order to ease headlight adjustment upon reassembly. If the high or low beam setting of the old lamp still works, this can be done using the wall of a garage or a building:

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, with the fuel tank about 1 / 2 full and with the vehicle empty of all extra cargo (unless normally carried). The vehicle should be facing a wall which is no less than 6 feet (1.8m) high and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. The front of the vehicle should be about 25 feet from the wall.

See Figure 6



Fig. 6: Example of headlight adjustment screw location for composite headlamps

1. If aiming is to be performed outdoors, it is advisable to wait until dusk in order to properly see the headlight beams on the wall. If done in a garage, darken the area around the wall as much as possible by closing shades or hanging cloth over the windows.
2. Turn the headlights ON and mark the wall at the center of each light's low beam, then switch on the brights and mark the center of each light's high beam. A short length of masking tape which is visible from the front of the vehicle may be used. Although marking all four positions is advisable, marking one position from each light should be sufficient.

See Figures 7 and 8



Fig. 7: Low-beam headlight pattern alignment



Fig. 8: High-beam headlight pattern alignment

1. If neither beam on one side is working, and if another like-sized vehicle is available, park the second one in the exact spot where the vehicle was and mark the beams using the same-side light. Then switch the vehicles so the one to be aimed is back in the original spot. It must be parked no closer to or farther away from the wall than the second vehicle.
2. Perform any necessary repairs, but make sure the vehicle is not moved, or is returned to the exact spot from which the lights were marked. Turn the headlights ON and adjust the beams to match the marks on the wall.
3. Have the headlight adjustment checked as soon as possible by a reputable repair shop.

Hope thats helped (remember rated this) Good luck.

AIMING THE HEADLIGHTS

The headlights must be properly aimed to provide the best, safest road illumination. The lights should be checked for proper aim and adjusted as necessary. Certain state and local authorities have requirements for headlight aiming; these should be checked before adjustment is made.

CAUTION About once a year, when the headlights are replaced or any time front end work is performed on your vehicle, the headlight should be accurately aimed by a reputable repair shop using the proper equipment. Headlights not properly aimed can make it virtually impossible to see and may blind other drivers on the road, possibly causing an accident. Note that the following procedure is a temporary fix, until you can take your vehicle to a repair shop for a proper adjustment.
Headlight adjustment may be temporarily made using a wall, as described below, or on the rear of another vehicle. When adjusted, the lights should not glare in oncoming car or truck windshields, nor should they illuminate the passenger compartment of vehicles driving in front of you. These adjustments are rough and should always be fine-tuned by a repair shop which is equipped with headlight aiming tools. Improper adjustments may be both dangerous and illegal.
For most of the vehicles covered by this guide, horizontal and vertical aiming of each sealed beam unit is provided by two adjusting screws which move the retaining ring and adjusting plate against the tension of a coil spring. There is no adjustment for focus; this is done during headlight manufacturing.
Because the composite headlight assembly is bolted into position, no adjustment should be necessary or possible. Some applications, however, may be bolted to an adjuster plate or may be retained by adjusting screws. If so, follow this procedure when adjusting the lights, BUT always have the adjustment checked by a reputable shop.
Before removing the headlight bulb or disturbing the headlamp in any way, note the current settings in order to ease headlight adjustment upon reassembly. If the high or low beam setting of the old lamp still works, this can be done using the wall of a garage or a building:

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, with the fuel tank about 1 / 2 full and with the vehicle empty of all extra cargo (unless normally carried). The vehicle should be facing a wall which is no less than 6 feet (1.8m) high and 12 feet (3.7m) wide. The front of the vehicle should be about 25 feet from the wall.

Fig. : Location of the aiming screws on most vehicles with sealed beam headlights




Fig. : Dual headlight adjustment screw locations-one side shown here (other side should be mirror image)



Fig. : Example of headlight adjustment screw location for composite headlamps

1. If aiming is to be performed outdoors, it is advisable to wait until dusk in order to properly see the headlight beams on the wall. If done in a garage, darken the area around the wall as much as possible by closing shades or hanging cloth over the windows.
2. Turn the headlights ON and mark the wall at the center of each light's low beam, then switch on the brights and mark the center of each light's high beam. A short length of masking tape which is visible from the front of the vehicle may be used. Although marking all four positions is advisable, marking one position from each light should be sufficient.

Fig. : Low-beam headlight pattern alignment



Fig. : High-beam headlight pattern alignment

1. If neither beam on one side is working, and if another like-sized vehicle is available, park the second one in the exact spot where the vehicle was and mark the beams using the same-side light. Then switch the vehicles so the one to be aimed is back in the original spot. It must be parked no closer to or farther away from the wall than the second vehicle.
2. Perform any necessary repairs, but make sure the vehicle is not moved, or is returned to the exact spot from which the lights were marked. Turn the headlights ON and adjust the beams to match the marks on the wall.
3. Have the headlight adjustment checked as soon as possible by a reputable repair shop.

Hope helped with this information. Good luck (remember rated this help).

The adjustment screws/nuts should be located either on the top of the headlamp assembly, behind the headlamp assembly, or near the frame rail by the radiator support.

You will have vertical adjustment screws for each independent beam (separate highs and separate lows, but will be same screw if highs and lows are the same bulb). You may also have additional horizontal adjustment screws as well

Park your car on a level ground 30 feet from a wall and measure the height from the ground to the bulb and mark on a wall (do this for highs beams and low beams if the bulbs are separate, if highs and lows are the same bulb, only do it for the lows)

For Low Beams: If the headlights read VOR, then aim the brightest part or cutoff part just below the mark on the wall. If it says VOL or nothing, aim them 2 inches below the mark on the wall.

For High Beams (if separate from low beams): Aim the headlight directly at the line you marked on the wall.

Ford Requires a special tool to adjust headlights, you can buy from ford or Mac or snap-on tools. Car must be level and you need it to be slightly dark outside so you can see what your doing. Adjust driver head light on low beam, as you are turning adjustment screw turn the screw for raising the head light and raise the head light up or down till it is 30 feet in front of you. you can take steps and measure it this way which would be 10 steps or ten yards on a normal person that is 5.8ins tall. then adjust the side adjuster so that when looking at the head light spot on the ground it is pointing to the passenger car side about one foot away from straight on. Meaning if you were going down the highway that the light would point down and slightly to the right not on the center road painted lines. Next adjust the passenger side to where it is the same height as the driver side, then hit your high beams. it should be aimed so that the lights do not shine into on com-ming drivers eyes. If you have a garage or a building that you can get thirty feet away and the car is level it will make it easier for you to see what your adjusting. Afterwords you may have to make a minor adjustment to both lights. I like to set them so that the passenger is slightly higher and a little to the right so you can see going down the road at night an avoid or see a deer or person to the right side of the road. Some states requires that a certified light mechanic to do this so be sure you are not voilating any laws when doing this. Thanks for using fix-ya and rate if this was helpful.

The adjustment screws/nuts should be located either on the top of the headlamp assembly, behind the headlamp assembly, or near the frame rail by the radiator support.

You will have vertical adjustment screws for each independent beam (separate highs and separate lows, but will be same screw if highs and lows are the same bulb). You may also have additional horizontal adjustment screws as well

Park your car on a level ground 30 feet from a wall and measure the height from the ground to the bulb and mark on a wall (do this for highs beams and low beams if the bulbs are separate, if highs and lows are the same bulb, only do it for the lows)

For Low Beams: If the headlights read VOR, then aim the brightest part or cutoff part just below the mark on the wall. If it says VOL or nothing, aim them 2 inches below the mark on the wall.

For High Beams (if separate from low beams): Aim the headlight directly at the line you marked on the wall.

AIMING The head lamps should be aimed using a special alignment tool, however this procedure may be used for temporary adjustment. Local regulations may vary regarding head lamp aiming, consult with your local authorities.

1. Verify the tires are at their proper inflation pressure. Clean the head lamp lenses and make sure there are no heavy loads in the trunk. The gas tank should be filled.
2. Position the vehicle on a level surface facing a flat wall 25 ft. (7.7 m) away.
3. Measure and record the distance from the floor to the center of the head lamp. Place a strip of tape across the wall at this same height.
4. Place strips of tape on the wall, perpendicular to the first measurement, indicating the vehicle centerline and the centerline of both head lamps.
5. Rock the vehicle side-to-side a few times to allow the suspension to stabilize.
6. Turn the lights on, adjust the head lamps to achieve a high intensity pattern.

pop your hood open and on flat surface check too see where the beads are in the bubble levels,if they are off then there are 2 adjustments on each headlight,some require special tool they look like little gears on the adjusters. make sure car is on good flat surface

Make sure the bulb was put in correctly and sitting flat as bulb replacement does not require head light adjustment.Check head light bulb before attempting to adjust

on each headlamp assembly, there will be either one or two plastic nuts that you can turn.

If you only have one nut on each, that will adjust the vertical aim of the headlights.

If you have two nuts on each, one will adjust the vertical and the other will adjust the horizontal.

Park your car on a level ground 30 feet from a wall and measure the height from the ground to the bulb and mark on a wall (do this for highs beams and low beams if the bulbs are separate, if highs and lows are the same bulb, only do it for the lows)

If the headlights read VOR, then aim the brightest part or cutoff part just below the mark on the wall. If it says VOL or nothing, aim them 2 inches below the mark on the wall.