Just got Coop back yesterday from the shop, and last night I noticed that the headlight that was replaced is pointing way down. Does anyone know how to adjust the height of the headlight? I thought that the Xenon lights were auto-adjusting, and there is no listing in the manual on changing the orientation on the light. Any help would be appreciated ASAP so I can change it before tonight, I had to drive around with brights on which I really hate doing. Thanks
-Chris

 

Anyone? Bueller? HELP!!!

 

Don't know specifically, but have read that the "auto leveling" system is known to sometimes go on the fritz...resulting in behavior such as what you describe. It may be something as simple as the service person forgetting to reconnect the leveling motor on the side where the light was replaced. Or maybe something more. I'd get it checked out by the dealer anyway 'cause you probably don't have the equipment at home to re-aim your lights properly. Hope that helps.

 

Thanks, jsun, I'll give me dealer a call. Definitely not something I want to screw with if thats the case.
-Storer

 

You can adjust the xenons yourself quite easily, but you need to be aware of the self-levelers that can strip the adjusting screws. The whole topic has been discussed in some detail on mini2.com. There are several threads so the best is to go to the site and search the forums for "xenons and adjust' for the pros and cons.

The xenons on my MCS were aimed a little low (which seems quite common). I raised them by 3/4 of a turn on the adjusters and they are quite effective now. By the way, if you do adjust them yourself I'd suggest marking the original adjuster setting (I used a small paint pen to make a dot) so you have a frame of reference.

NOTE: The xenons use enough voltage to cause serious injury or worse. Be sure they are switched off when you make th eadjustments.

 

Yikes. That's just what I needed...headlights that can kill me.

 

>>Yikes. That's just what I needed...headlights that can kill me.

Yep, I believe that during ignition somewhere in the order of 30,000 Volts are involved.

 

high voltage, yummmie

Since your personal impedence is typically constant (for the sake of explanation), shorting out the headlights with your finger would smoke you **** with 9000 Watts of power (about 12 horsepower!, assuming you have a relatively low impedence of 100k Ohms). In comparison, if you shorted out a 12 volt battery with yourself, you'd absorb 0.0014 Watts, basically nothing.

Bottom Line: don't short yourself out on Xenon's!!!!!!

 

...and nobody flame me for not accounting for fuses blowing...obviously the fuse would blow at a few hundred Watts (hopefully before you do!)

 

>>
>>Yep, I believe that during ignition somewhere in the order of 30,000 Volts are involved.

Cool. With that kind of voltage available up there, someone ought to be able to kludge up a sort of death ray to zap slow pokes in the left lane. Or at least something that would create an EMF pulse that would fry the offender's electrical system.