MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: micaerin on November 13, 2013, 12:22:14 pm

Title: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: micaerin on November 13, 2013, 12:22:14 pm
I recently have had the suspension changed on my car, which has lowered the car by 10-15mm. but now the self levelling xenon headlights must think it has loads of weight in the back of the car, as the headlights are really low. How do you adjust these?
Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 13, 2013, 12:52:22 pm
You need VCDS.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: micaerin on November 13, 2013, 12:57:50 pm
Thanks looks like a trip to the dealers
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 13, 2013, 01:51:26 pm
Well ideally just take a laptop down to your friendly MOT center and pay £10 to borrow their headlight alignment machine with someone from the forum with VCDs
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: mortygttdi on November 13, 2013, 11:03:32 pm
Make sure when you put the car back down that the arm on the sensor has not gone the wrong way? it will cause the problem you have. but yes you'll also have to reset the level sensors back to 0 on the basic setting.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 13, 2013, 11:29:32 pm
Yeah sometimes you can knock them or something. Within VCDS as well, you can log/measure the position of the sensor (in terms of it's travel) which can also help spot if one's broken... they should all be roughly (give or take) the same.
When I'm fully aired out mine read -88% or something. At drive height they are like -60%
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: micaerin on November 13, 2013, 11:32:40 pm
Thanks for the replies guy's got a local Seat dealer to look at it tomorrow.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: G40will on November 14, 2013, 10:21:54 am
Mines lowered on eibach's and I've not noticed any problems with the headlights.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 14, 2013, 10:53:20 am
You don't have OEM xenons though Will, they have height sensors which detect the loading on the car to adjust the headlights.
If they are compressed (especially the rear sensors) the car thinks it's on a bump or is heavily loaded on the rear and adjusts the headlights down.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: micaerin on November 14, 2013, 11:16:12 am
get them adjusted today guys, but he did notice the rear sensor was in the wrong position, and the front sensor has snaped. luckily lights are in the right position. does anyone have a part number for the broken sensor. they quoted me £180 to replace, the part is £105 plus vat.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: G40will on November 14, 2013, 09:32:01 pm
You don't have OEM xenons though Will, they have height sensors which detect the loading on the car to adjust the headlights.
If they are compressed (especially the rear sensors) the car thinks it's on a bump or is heavily loaded on the rear and adjusts the headlights down.

I do have OEM xenons... Level sensors, the lot. :signLOL:

Maybe I should get you to check the hights of them on vcds next time i see you?



Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 14, 2013, 09:57:29 pm
You do?? I swear you said they were retrofits..
Yeah can do  :happy2:
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: G40will on November 14, 2013, 09:59:56 pm
Yup, I remember you calling me a lucky boy when I told you they were factory.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: mortygttdi on November 14, 2013, 11:10:41 pm
Xjay1337 the xenons can be retrofitted with the washers and level sensors...your pockets need to be deep but it's possible.

Check EBay if it's just the arms that are damaged then just by any VW/Audi sensor and take the arms off.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 14, 2013, 11:54:39 pm
I know they can be retrofitted.
I'm just thinking what a monumental waste of money it would be to have the WHOLE system retrofitted...

 Wills were OEM as it turns out (and I do remember that conversation, on my driveway I believe!  :signLOL:

Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: micaerin on November 16, 2013, 11:56:30 am
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fqq272%2Fmicaerin%2FScreenShot2013-11-15at135106.png&hash=eb2cc51b027f3869f3494f2a6228ffcc1101bb6b)

Do the arms come off? that would make it a lot easier
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 18, 2013, 05:14:05 pm
Buy a whole new sensor mate.
Similar thing happened with one of my e-level ride height sensors.
I bodged the arm back together but the sensor inside had broken I presume due to the snapping impact.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: mortygttdi on November 18, 2013, 11:53:55 pm
I know they can be retrofitted.
I'm just thinking what a monumental waste of money it would be to have the WHOLE system retrofitted...

 Wills were OEM as it turns out (and I do remember that conversation, on my driveway I believe!  :signLOL:



Why a waste of money? to have xenons legally you need to have auto levelling and headlight washers on the car, it's been debated far too many times so I won't go into it, but I think I total up about 6-7 retrofits myself not including my own golf.
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: xjay1337 on November 19, 2013, 12:21:37 am
Weeelll, in terms of "legal" when manufactured yes. For MOT you do not. (and I  have this in writing from VOSA) - Hence once you adjust them correctly for the purposes of the MOT (what most people care about) there is no "legal" issue. I ran HIDs in quality aftermarket Hella projector headlights on my TDI for 2 years, no issues with police and passed all the MOTs . Why complicate things.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Adjusting Xenon headlight sensor?
Post by: micaerin on November 20, 2013, 08:43:31 pm
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fqq272%2Fmicaerin%2FScreenShot2013-11-20at203623.png&hash=d84da5b8c84ccc7447c8a33ad693d24157774352)


Is the part arrowed meant to be directly in line with the broken arm, because if you look side on the lower part is about an inch forward  from broken arm. which would make sense to why its broken. i have a new sensor coming and i don't want to break it trying to get it to bolt on.
Thanks in advance