[Jon TDI]

Recently had the headlights adjusted by the local garage as the beams were set too high.
Everything was fine until a couple of days ago.
Had a boot full of luggage, kids in the back seat plus a bike on the tow bar bike carrier. Driving at night & was getting flashed by on-coming traffic.

I believe there is a headlight levelling sensor on the rear axle somewhere.
Could it be faulty? If so, how can I find out?

[xenon]

There's a level sensor on both front and rear offside suspension arms - there has to be front and back so as the pitch of the car can be determined, not just the height. It's the car being lower at the back relative to the front that will dazzle other drivers. The sensors have a plastic arm on a little ball-and-socket with the arm being attached to the potentiometer. In my experience, the arm can "pop off" the ball and you need to clip it back on. You'll need to jack and remove wheels.

[3-GT]

Not all cars with LED headlights have auto leveling.

Some cars with LED headlights have an adjustment wheel (like halogen headlights).

I had a 21 plate 1 series as a courtesy car from BMW. It had LED headlights with an adjustment wheel.

Does your car have one?

[xenon]

Originally Posted by 3-GT

Not all cars with LED headlights have auto leveling.

Some cars with LED headlights have an adjustment wheel (like halogen headlights).

Interesting, I didn't know that.

[Jon TDI]

Originally Posted by 3-GT

Not all cars with LED headlights have auto leveling.

Some cars with LED headlights have an adjustment wheel (like halogen headlights).

I had a 21 plate 1 series as a courtesy car from BMW. It had LED headlights with an adjustment wheel.

Does your car have one?

No manual adjustment on mine.

[Jon TDI]

Originally Posted by xenon

There's a level sensor on both front and rear offside suspension arms - there has to be front and back so as the pitch of the car can be determined, not just the height. It's the car being lower at the back relative to the front that will dazzle other drivers. The sensors have a plastic arm on a little ball-and-socket with the arm being attached to the potentiometer. In my experience, the arm can "pop off" the ball and you need to clip it back on. You'll need to jack and remove wheels.

Thanks. I’ll check them once I get back home.

[Jon TDI]

I think I’ve found the problem.
Somehow the tie bar has come off the bracket on the control arm.

[Jon TDI]

It seems the ball part has sheared off the bracket.
I’ve Araldited the ball back on to the bracket, but not confident it will stay there.

So ordered a complete new adjustment arm with bracket from eBay.

[xenon]

Yes that’s the part I meant, replacing it will solve the issue.

[jbeer]

That could the reason you needed your head lights adjusting in the first place as well

[Jon TDI]

Today was “fix the car day”!

[Daveymoon]

Nice work...

[Jon TDI]

Originally Posted by Daveymoon

Nice work...

Thanks, but tbf it was fairly easy to fit.
Hardest part was trying to clip the bracket together!

[Siebren]

Originally Posted by xenon

There's a level sensor on both front and rear offside suspension arms - there has to be front and back so as the pitch of the car can be determined, not just the height. It's the car being lower at the back relative to the front that will dazzle other drivers. The sensors have a plastic arm on a little ball-and-socket with the arm being attached to the potentiometer. In my experience, the arm can "pop off" the ball and you need to clip it back on. You'll need to jack and remove wheels.

By offside you mean the passenger side? I see you're from England so that's the left side?

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Siebren

By offside you mean the passenger side? I see you're from England so that's the left side?

No in the U.K. offside refers to the driver’s side of the car.