Xenon adjustment for Clubman... too low

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Sep 13, 2008 | 07:30 PM
  #1  
My xenons are way too low on low beam.... can hardly see 5 feet in front of the car!

I've read posts which seem to be about older models and for the life of me I can't find any screws that look like what others have turned.

Can anyone give me a detailed description/photo of what to look for?
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Sep 13, 2008 | 07:37 PM
  #2  
I agree, I find myself using the high beams way too much. I thought maybe I was getting old and needed glasses.

My Rolls Royce Phantom isn't like this, what gives MINI?
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Sep 13, 2008 | 07:39 PM
  #3  
Quote: My Rolls Royce Phantom isn't like this, what gives MINI?
Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?
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Sep 13, 2008 | 07:43 PM
  #4  
Don't they self adjust?
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Sep 13, 2008 | 07:45 PM
  #5  
Quote: Don't they self adjust?
They self adjust to an extent....but if their initial position is wrong, that self adjuster won't help. It is just used for situations such as bumps.

The adjustment screws are outlined in your owners manual. Those pictures will probably be the most helpful diagram for you.
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Sep 13, 2008 | 07:46 PM
  #6  
Quote: Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?
Why yes, yes I do. I keep the trunk full of it.
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Sep 13, 2008 | 07:50 PM
  #7  
Quote: They self adjust to an extent....but if their initial position is wrong, that self adjuster won't help. It is just used for situations such as bumps.

The adjustment screws are outlined in your owners manual. Those pictures will probably be the most helpful diagram for you.
Ah that makes sense. My lights are fine so I never even thought much about it.
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Sep 13, 2008 | 08:40 PM
  #8  
I did look in the owner's manual, but for the xenons, it says that they are dangerous and should only be changed etc by the dealership. Didn't see anything about adjustment.

BUT I did manage to figure it out, it is a white plastic screw straight down when you look on top of the headlamp. You turn it clockwise to raise. Raised them up a little and WOW what a change. Only did about 1/2 turn and then drove around our dark country lanes in our neighborhood. I can actually see the road.

I may need to tweak them a little bit, but want to aim at my husband on the road first to be sure that I'm not going too high and blinding oncoming cars.

They were downright dangerous the way they came from the factory.
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Sep 14, 2008 | 02:19 AM
  #9  
Now that you have found out how to adjust the lights, try this:
1) Find a nice flat parking lot with at least 25 feet of space to a wall. (I use a public lot beside my local fire house)
2) When it is dark enough to see where the light beams hit the wall, you can use that setup to adjust the aim of the lights. I think that at 25 feet, the 'hot spot' should be half way between the lights and the ground. (Fog lamps should have hot spot at ground level) Of course, the specifications for how the lights are aimed may differ in your state.

Lots of luck + don't forget to wave.
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Sep 15, 2008 | 05:14 PM
  #10  
Quote: My xenons are way too low on low beam.... can hardly see 5 feet in front of the car!
wonder if this is why consumer reports and i think one other review site i read marked the mini's down for poor headlights?
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Sep 15, 2008 | 05:29 PM
  #11  
Here are standard aiming procedures for all lights. You must jsut make sure you are aiming the lights when they are on low beams.

http://www.coolbulbs.com/HID-VISUAL-...-PROCEDURE.pdf

BTW the lens cover on the mini has a cross hair marked on the cover at teh center point of the type of lights you have so it is easier to figure the center point of the light in step 2.
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Sep 15, 2008 | 05:50 PM
  #12  
Quote: wonder if this is why consumer reports and i think one other review site i read marked the mini's down for poor headlights?
Might be! The factory adjustment on my lights were aimed as low as they could be it was impossible to lower them more. Horribly unsafe on dark country roads.
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Sep 15, 2008 | 06:07 PM
  #13  
Wow... I'm glad this thread was started. I have been slightly annoyed these lights, and I didn't even thing to check for an adjustment.
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