Xenon beam adjustment...help please

I left the bella into the local stealer to have a sidelight bulb replaced, but when I got it back the dipped beam on that side was pointing far too low. Previously it was "just right". Is there any easy way to adjust the beam alignment (says he not very hopefully)? Preferably one that does not involve dismantling the whole front of the car!!

shine onto a wall at night and then adjust as required....

Originally Posted by mikebrown

shine onto a wall at night and then adjust as required....

Yes I figured that bit out!

But where is the adjuster? Is it the white plastic screw that is visible through a hole when you lift the bonnet and look straight down on to the top of the light unit? If so, mine must be broken because turning it doesn't seem to affect the beam height.

Originally Posted by mikebrown

shine onto a wall at night and then adjust as required....

D'oh 166 Xenons, not standard lights.

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See loads of other threads - the beam angle adjuster motor needs to be plugged into the bulb holder properly.

Twist off the motor, hold the main beam bulb holder & wiggle the motor until it settles properly into the xenon bulb holder & then twist in to secure.

You can do this with the lights on, so you know you are doing it right..............................just remember that there are about 20 million volts ready to pulse through your hands, arms, torso, feet and shoes if you touch the wrong bit


I ought to write a training manual for the dealers for this - they achieve their usual standards when they attempt this.

Out of interest - which dealer, and how much did they charge you for the bulb & labour.

The book labour time is 12 mins, so £15 plus parts approx.
This time is realistic if you know what you are doing

Autoworld of Chesterfield tried to charge me £150 labour when they did mine. Then they told me the whole headlight needed replacing because the beam was too low and couldn't be adjusted

I don't go there now


I learned a lot about how the headlights fit together shortly after that visit

Yeah Howard is right 90% of stealers don't have a clue about the Xenon headlights (come to think of it they don't have a clue about 90% of the 166 in general....)
You must ensure that the ball end of the motorised actuator rod is located PROPERLY onto the socket within the socket on the internals of the light unit. You have to maintain a firm downward pressure on the tiltable part of the bulb assembly while you push it firmly in, then twist to lock. Its not quite as knuckle grazing as the bulb replacement itself but nearly.

When you've mastered it can I suggest you go down to the stealer and show them how its done (and charge them £65/hour )?

HowardA.,

Belive it or not, we have had the same fate regarding the xenon lights. exactly the same as discribed in ``alfabaz´´ thread. The alfa dealer changed the small light bulb, and when i came back that evening i noticed that the beam was very low on that side, took it back to Alfa and they tell me that the motor on that side has gone bad, and it is not possible to adjust useing the white height screw. they have sugested that i need to purchase a hole front light assembly for the righthand side( cost 1000€uros + ).
Reading your discription is a bit difficult for me to understand as i do not understand some of the tech words used.( i am Portuguese)
is there any drawings or pictures that i can have a better idea of what to do,

Thks
Kovi
Alfa 166 2.4 V6 2002

Right Guys here is the cure! You do not need to adjust them as such as they are self-leveling

So:

You will notice a hex key on top of the xenon motor!

Turn the hex key so the light moves upwards slightly.
(you will find that the xenon it is not flush with the silver mirror)

Take the moter out AND turn the hex key to push the pin outwards.

Insert the moter again AND then tuen the hex key so the light moves further upwards. (The xenon should be flush now, maybe)

If you try and take the moter out, it should be hard to take out, resistance shoule be their......if no resistance and the moter comes out............push the pin out again, put the moter in and turn the hex hex so the light come up!

And their you go! You can now drive safe!

Repeat the steps for the other light!

Tell me how you get on....i actually found this method by accident....guess taking physics did pay off!

If you still stuck: 07793718190 im more then happy to talk you threw it! But is an easy job to do!

PS i wouldnt do it with the lights on! Like the above said! 20,000V threw you ass, im guessing wouldnt feel that good! Although in the event it does happen, anyone fancy giving me a 166?