Headlights

[Kief]

My headlights continue to be frustrating! I don't like to complain on these forums b/c then it gives the car a bad perception. I love my Z, but my headlights don't love me.

From the beginning, the headlights were positioned way too low. I'm not talking low b/c the car sits low, but low as only illuminating three feet in front of the car at night. Brought it in, they adjusted a few things, but basically said the headlights were up to spec. I really didn't notice anything different, so I took it upon myself to adjust them manually--perfection! But then for whatever reason, the lights resumed back to their original position. Adjusted again--perfect. But now back down and only three feet illuminated As a result, the poorly designed plastic nut/screw used to manually adjust the headlights have become stripped. I truly feel the lights have been defective since the beginning and now I'll have to bring the car in. I certainly hope they don't jerk me around b/c of the stripped nut/screw.

I know there have been a few threads about headlight adjustments and was wondering if others have experienced a similar situation.

[Silver-Bolt]

Sounds like an issue with the self leveling feature.

[cdeslandes]

^ what he said. Check the levelling sensor in the wheel well. It may be stuck or disconnected.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

^ what he said. Check the levelling sensor in the wheel well. It may be stuck or disconnected.

Thanks, but you're talking to a noob

What # is the "sensor" and how does one adjust?

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by Kief

Thanks, but you're talking to a noob

What # is the "sensor" and how does one adjust?

The front & rear sensors are #1 & #6 respectively. Not sure if there is any adjustment but one of them may have become disconnected. Check both the electrical plug in #11 & #12 or the mechanical levers #4 Frt & #9 & #10. The senors tell the computer the level of the F/R of the car, computer tells the headlights to adjust to account for any off level ride height. May also just be a faulty sensor. I head back to the dealer they should be able to trace this down.

[Silver-Bolt]

If the sensors are working properly when you turn your lights on the beam should first dip down toward the ground and then move back to a level position. The level sensors keep your lights at a constant position so you don't blind oncoming traffic. If you add weight to the trunk/boot the light automatically lower.

[cdeslandes]

Originally Posted by HerrK

The front & rear sensors are #1 & #6 respectively. Not sure if there is any adjustment but one of them may have become disconnected. Check both the electrical plug in #11 & #12 or the mechanical levers #4 Frt & #9 & #10. The senors tell the computer the level of the F/R of the car, computer tells the headlights to adjust to account for any off level ride height. May also just be a faulty sensor. I head back to the dealer they should be able to trace this down.

Correct. Check if the mechanical arms are broken or disconnected, and if the plugs are loose.

[Kief]

Well this morning I brought the Z in to have the headlights checked. I have a good rapport with the dealer/service and was allowed in the back when the car was up on the lift. The tech could not believe it, but the rear sensor arm was installed at the factory in such a manner (upside down--I believe), which prevented it from moving fully. The tech actually put an 35is up on the lift next to mine to compare and sure enough mine was installed incorrectly. They have to order the part. We were joking that my car's headlights might have been assembled right after the 2-beer break at the factory. Joking aside, makes me wonder what else might be installed hastely. I still get that "thunk" from the suspension which ironically is located near this headlight sensor

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Kief

Well this morning I brought the Z in to have the headlights checked. I have a good rapport with the dealer/service and was allowed in the back when the car was up on the lift. The tech could not believe it, but the rear sensor arm was installed at the factory in such a manner (upside down--I believe), which prevented it from moving fully. The tech actually put an 35is up on the lift next to mine to compare and sure enough mine was installed incorrectly. They have to order the part. We were joking that my car's headlights might have been assembled right after the 2-beer break at the factory. Joking aside, makes me wonder what else might be installed hastely. I still get that "thunk" from the suspension which ironically is located near this headlight sensor

Oh I do remember the 2 beer breaks at lunch when I was a 1st Year Apprentice in Germany... , mind you I was not assembling cars, I was filing keys for motor couplings (so not a joke at all). Now I have no clue what they do today, been in Canada for a long time now

Glad to hear you got your problem solved, come to think of it I should have mine checked too. During my extended road trip I did some night driving and had to have the high beams on since I found headlights not sufficient. Could it be mine are upside down as well Hmmmmm better get them checked.

[Kief]

Rolf,
When my Z was up on the lift, also found myself checking out my 19"s to see if I noticed any cracks. I wonder why.....

[unicenter]

Originally Posted by Kief

My headlights continue to be frustrating! I don't like to complain on these forums b/c then it gives the car a bad perception. I love my Z, but my headlights don't love me.

From the beginning, the headlights were positioned way too low. I'm not talking low b/c the car sits low, but low as only illuminating three feet in front of the car at night. Brought it in, they adjusted a few things, but basically said the headlights were up to spec. I really didn't notice anything different, so I took it upon myself to adjust them manually--perfection! But then for whatever reason, the lights resumed back to their original position. Adjusted again--perfect. But now back down and only three feet illuminated As a result, the poorly designed plastic nut/screw used to manually adjust the headlights have become stripped. I truly feel the lights have been defective since the beginning and now I'll have to bring the car in. I certainly hope they don't jerk me around b/c of the stripped nut/screw.

I know there have been a few threads about headlight adjustments and was wondering if others have experienced a similar situation.

Same problem here

[richard in NC]

Oddly they were very low one dark morning but they seem fine lately.

[gtrek79]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

^ what he said. Check the levelling sensor in the wheel well. It may be stuck or disconnected.

For those of you still having problems with your low beam headlights pointing down, you might want to check your rear leveling sensor as suggested. It is located on the right rear suspension (in USA), not the left as the diagram above indicates.

Before fix: Not going to work too well like this...


After fix:


I removed the 2 torx screws (parts 3) and let the lever flip over to the correct position and then remounted the sensor body. The top screw was difficult to get back in because the lever is partially in the way so if I have to do this again, I will remove the screws (part 8) holding the bracket to the suspension instead. By the way, the connecting rod (part 9) and the sensor lever are plastic.

I have no idea what would cause the lever to be pushed over backward past center like this but it seems like it would be most likely to happen if the suspension were to go to full downward travel as it would when the car is on a lift. But mine screwed up overnight. A mystery I guess...

[gtrek79]

After thinking about it, I remembered that the day before I had the headlight problem, I had driven a little fast over several speed humps. This would cause the suspension to either get to or close to its full negative travel. I've had this headlight problem on 2 other occations and the problem went away after a few days. I travel this road fairly often so I would be willing to bet that it flips backward on one trip over the speed humps and flips back around on another trip. Nothing else I can think of would explain why it comes and goes. A pretty bad design if this is the case.

[rking117]

Originally Posted by gtrek79

After thinking about it, I remembered that the day before I had the headlight problem, I had driven a little fast over several speed humps. This would cause the suspension to either get to or close to its full negative travel. I've had this headlight problem on 2 other occations and the problem went away after a few days. I travel this road fairly often so I would be willing to bet that it flips backward on one trip over the speed humps and flips back around on another trip. Nothing else I can think of would explain why it comes and goes. A pretty bad design if this is the case.

I am wondering then if the extreme travel in the arm broke the sensor when you hit those speed humps. (A term which should never be used for a pavement accessory). Interested in finding out what exactly is causing these issues so that the rest of us now what to stay away from.

[gtrek79]

Originally Posted by gtrek79

After thinking about it, I remembered that the day before I had the headlight problem, I had driven a little fast over several speed humps. This would cause the suspension to either get to or close to its full negative travel. I've had this headlight problem on 2 other occations and the problem went away after a few days. I travel this road fairly often so I would be willing to bet that it flips backward on one trip over the speed humps and flips back around on another trip. Nothing else I can think of would explain why it comes and goes. A pretty bad design if this is the case.

Well, I confirmed that speed bumps or dips in the road are what is causing the arm to flip over backwards. I had it wrong though, it is when the suspension compresses that allows the arm to flip backwards.

I had it flip over backwards on the way to eat this evening by going over speed bumps. The headlights immediately aimed downward. I wasn't going very fast at all either. On the way back home later, I conciously hit the bumps a little hard and the arm flipped back over to normal. I'm not talking about bottoming the suspension hard either, just a tad faster than you would normally go over a speed bump in a sports car. The arm then flipped back over again when I went over a dip in the road! I put the car up on ramps when I got home and sure enough, the arm was flipped over backwards again. I just can't believe how flimsy the entire mechanism is. The sensor arm and connecting rod are made out of very rubbery plastic and can be moved at least 30 degrees just by lightly pushing on the arm.

BMW should issue a recall on this issue because it is definitely a safety concern.

[fre2bpowerless]

Mine does that sometimes, can anyone point me to the nut to manually adjust the beam? I'd like to give it a go before 'trying' to replicate the problem with BMW service.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by gtrek79

Well, I confirmed that speed bumps or dips in the road are what is causing the arm to flip over backwards. I had it wrong though, it is when the suspension compresses that allows the arm to flip backwards.

Nice find. thanks for posting. This happened to me once randomly while I was driving on a road with no street lights and I was wondering why I suddenly couldn't see...

At least I now know what to look out for in the future.

Yet another reason for me to be paranoid about dips and bumps in the road...

[ecasirhc]

Thanks!! At first I scheduled an appointment with my dealer but was told it was a simple headlight adjustment. I kept stressing to them that it's not. Finally, checked out my rear right wheel well and found the lever was flipped too! Easy fix too, just removed the (Bolt 8), flipped it back and reinstalled. Lights are back to normal

Thanks again gtrek79

[Baxbmw1]

Thanks for the info on this thread. Same thing happened to me. The Lever connector is rubber/ plastic so no disassembly is needed , just grab it and flip back to normal position. Bmw should have had a spring on the lever to keep it in the correct position. I might install one myself if this continues to happen.

[Jetmex]

I posted this on the NHTSA site today. I have fixed it and the link keeps flipping through normal operation. Must be a design defect. I will take it in as its still under warranty. Anyone else have this issue should probably do the same because when it happens, you aren't going to be able to see much down the road.

Greg

[impulsE89]

Do all models have this feature. I have a 2009 35I. The headlights steer around corners which works very well but I never saw them go up or down. I will have a look in the wheel well.