Why is it, the guy always following me has one headlight out of adjustment and it's inevitably brighter than hell?? Anyone else have this problem? It's getting to be uncanny the number of out of alignment headlights there are...what is causing this? Cheap plastic parts or what?? I have 3 vehicles and all the headlights are in adjustment!

John

 

Dunno, but it seems they are either right behind you, or sitting directly opposite you during a long light. Invariably they are trucks or SUVs, so their lights are right on your eye level. Maybe no-one knows how to put a screw driver or hex head into their little adjustment screws anymore, or maybe with the newer headlights, they are getting enough light on the road in front of them (vs the old headlamps), that they dont even know they are out of adjustment? :impatient

 

Actually, since the headlight intentionally don't point the same way, one should look brighter than the other, viewed straight on. Maybe you just aren't used to them being at window height in your MINI. On the other hand, I have seen quite a few with one headlight bobbing up and down.

 

Some of it is clowns who added a 4x4 lift kit to their vehicle, and forgot to readjust their lights.

I was walking through my parking lot one day, and a young couple was attempting to replace a headlight. Instead of unscrewing the correct fastener that would release the securing ring on the light, they were backing out the adjustment screw. I pointed out their problem, and explained how to get it back into adjustment, and went on my way.

 

And how would one get it back to proper adjustment, I think my headlights (non-xenon) might be outta whack.

 

Find a level place to park, and shine the head lights on a convenient wall or fence from about ten feet. You'll see which way you need to adjust. A garage has special equipment that can do it also.

 

but that only makes sure they are level, i know mine are level, but it feels like they are pointing rather low (i can only see about 3-4 dashed lines ahead without the aid of street lights)

 

Jeremy 1026 if you have Xenon headlights they are kept deliberately low because of their brightness.

 

More then that. If one light is shining higher or off to one side, it will show you that, and you turn the adjnusting screws while watching the light on the wall move to where it needs to be.