I did a search and couldn't find anything similar. I lent my Mini out and when it came back - being paranoid i check it thoroughly - and I noticed for the first time the right xenon light is higher than the left light? :impatient Is it normal or did they bottom it out somewhere, and it was kicked up or something?

 

I have read other threads here and in MINI2 about people that have had the auto-leveling mechanisms fail, but never associated with hitting bumps or potholes.

Could always be a coincidence

Sounds like a trip to the dealers for a diagnosis.

Before you go try this first. Park in front of a wall with the lights off and then turn them on and watch for the self-leveling function. If only one light does the down-up adjustment then there is a problem. If they both do it, then it might be just a simple adjustment. This you can do yourself ( and tell the friend who borrowed it that it cost you $$$$$$$$).

 

are you talking about the illumination pattern? if so, it's suppose to be
like that for left-hand drive cars.

 

Tried both lights. They do what they're supposed to, but one just isn't aligned. I turn them on they go up, and then down (as you said), but they aren't aligned.

 

The passenger side light is higher, so you can see oncoming road signs. The light pattern is more or less straight across from the drivers side, then gets higher as the beam gets over to the passenger side.

My front sensor got knocked while the car was in for service a while back, both lamps aimed way higher, was great from my end, I could see everything, but I was blinding everyone coming towards me. Got that fixed fast.

 

Top follow up what lot15 said, yes, this is by design.

The right light aims higher to help with road signs, and the left one aims lower to prevent too much glare on both drivers coming the other way, and drivers driving in front of you (rear view mirror glare).

I thought it was a problem with my car too, I went in and asked my SA, he explained the design was deliberate.

 

it's called illumination pattern...

 

Every forum needs a guy who knows the technical terms. Just that people may not listen. It's all good..

 

yes, that is how it is SUPPOSED to be. LHD cars have left light lower than right light for safety reasons for oncoming cars.

 

it's not that i was rolling my eyes about using the technical term.

i mentioned on my original post that it was suppose to be like that for
left hand drive cars.

 

I thought it was odd too and planned to have the headlights adjusted at my next service. Maybe it's the Xenons, or maybe it's the higher beam from the passenger side, but an rather large number of oncoming drivers flick their highbeams at me because I guess the lights are too bright.

But then someone told me that it was an European thing to have one headlight higher than the other. I dont think this is the case for most domestic cars though. Their headlamps seem to be pointed straight ahead.

 

That's changing. My 1999 Buick Century has a deliberate cut-off and the light patterns are angled similar to my MCS' Xenons. However, GM being GM, recently did a recall and replaced the bulbs with ones that are not anywhere as bright as the ones that came with the car. I don't even think they're halogens, they're so dim.

 

I didn't think it was an up and down thing. I thought that on a lhd car the lights were aimed slightly to the right to reduce glare and the opposite on a rhd car.