My Xenons have beam adjustment, this isn't normal, right?

[P-Nut]

Hi, my ZT has Xenons retro fitted, I thought they were self levelling but it turns out that I can still adjust them using the scrolling wheel.

I don't know how the Xenons self level so am I safe to assume that this function doesn't work?

Sorry for all the posts, still discovering things about this car

[trikey]

Better to have the adjustment on the wheel, the self levelling is pants at best!

[rab60bit]

Originally Posted by P-Nut

Hi, my ZT has Xenons retro fitted, I thought they were self levelling but it turns out that I can still adjust them using the scrolling wheel.

I don't know how the Xenons self level so am I safe to assume that this function doesn't work?

Sorry for all the posts, still discovering things about this car

Depending on the sensor (BMW part), for auto levelling you'll require either a front and rear suspension mounted pair or a rear only (which was fitted to very late cars, I think mid. 04-05). Each sensor position has a bracket/jumper loom/sender arm/clip assembly and and an appropriate light control unit for the dashboard (which doesn't have a scrolling wheel).
The sensor assemblies are fitted to the O/S at a fixed point on the chassis and on a front and/or rear suspension arm.

[Rick-sta]

someone probably swapped the original headlights out for xenon ones at some point, hence why you dont have self levelling. do you have headlamp washers?

[P-Nut]

Originally Posted by Rick-sta

someone probably swapped the original headlights out for xenon ones at some point, hence why you dont have self levelling. do you have headlamp washers?

I do not. I know the Xenons didn't come from the factory. By the sounds of it they sound like a pain so I'm glad

[Les4048]

Originally Posted by P-Nut

I do not. I know the Xenons didn't come from the factory. By the sounds of it they sound like a pain so I'm glad

I’ve had Xenon on every car I’ve owned since 2003, three cars in total and never even changed a bulb

[jonc3725]

Had Xenons on three cars. 2 x factory fit with auto adjust and one car I fitted them without the auto adjust. I did fit the washer system mind as I was told it was needed for the MOT (which I believe now is not entirely true). I have not had any bulbs go in any of these cars although the current car (factory fit) did have a headlamp adjust mechanism fail in the highest position so I changed it.

The auto adjust comes from two sensors on the front and rear suspension. If not looked after the brackets are probably well and truly corroded and the arms will be seized. I have changed the sensor arms on my current car.

I would not be without Xenons I think they look superb on these cars.

[suzublu]

Fitted my factory Xenons 8 years ago, never had any mot issues in all that time, no self levelling, no wash I did change the burners from oem 4300K to 6000K though

[Rick-sta]

Originally Posted by Les4048

I’ve had Xenon on every car I’ve owned since 2003, three cars in total and never even changed a bulb

it's not the burners that are the problem, generally they last the lift of the car, only come across a handful of instances where a burner began to fail. It's the self leveling on factory fitted models which is a pain as the sensors fail causing your headlights to point at the floor lol.

[rab60bit]

Originally Posted by jonc3725

Had Xenons on three cars. 2 x factory fit with auto adjust and one car I fitted them without the auto adjust. I did fit the washer system mind as I was told it was needed for the MOT (which I believe now is not entirely true). I have not had any bulbs go in any of these cars although the current car (factory fit) did have a headlamp adjust mechanism fail in the highest position so I changed it.

The auto adjust comes from two sensors on the front and rear suspension. If not looked after the brackets are probably well and truly corroded and the arms will be seized. I have changed the sensor arms on my current car.

I would not be without Xenons I think they look superb on these cars.

'What he said'. Mostly correct but I believe the (is it IE regulation?) which must go back about 15 years stipulates xenons should have self levelling to compensate for 'nominal loading height setting' since these improved performance lights will significantly dazzle oncoming drivers if aimed too high. That means some sort of electrical feedback to automatically lower the pre-set beam angle should the car have eg 4/5 weighty adults and 4 suitcases in the boot (for a saloon). The same regulation thought it a good idea to automatically wash the headlights too.