Lowered my car, had to adjust headlights?

kern417 · 03-27-2019, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

Not sure why you can't raise and lower headlights in iDrive, since they are auto leveling.

You have a range of adjustment with the auto leveling. All you'd do is eat into that range if that's how it was done. The range of adjustment with the screw is more than what the light does automatically.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchao

Why not just adjust the headlight using the aiming/focus screw up front?

The ride height sensor also does other things besides aiming headlights like DSC and traction control, and maybe even dabbles with DHP system. May not be wise to play with that...

If anything he would have corrected all of those things by reinstalling it in the correct orientation.

Tchao · 03-28-2019, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kern417

If anything he would have corrected all of those things by reinstalling it in the correct orientation.

Ahh I mis-read the post. It was installed wrong when dropping the control arms down. Got it.

ali820 · 07-16-2019, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryX

If you guys have
-Adaptive headlights
-Lowered the car and the headlights now aim super high.

It's likely to be your rear headlight level sensor located in the rear driver side. Refer to part 2, 6, and 7 from the diagram below.

The sensor attaches to the lower camber arm, which is also where the spring sits on. This sensor can be seated wrong during reinstallation which causes the car to think the rear is sitting very high compared to the front, therefore aims the headlight up like crazy.

The follow images are based off the E90 M3 but it is identical to our F30.

The Wrong Way

The Right Way

The Fix:
- Jack up the driver rear side
- Undo the bolt that holds the rear sensor to the lower camber arm.
- Reseat the leveling rod to the correct orientation
- Redo the bolt.
- Put your car back down and try the headlights now.
- If it doesn't work, your rear sensor is probably broken.

Hope this helps guys! Good luck!

Couldn't find the rear leveler for the longest time, but it's there! Just found it today. It's mounted forward of the left-rear (driver's side) camber arm, right behind the drive shaft. Getting it back into the right position required loosening the mount to the camber arm using a single 10mm. The post that helped me eventually locate it was this one:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1083978

Whew! Thanks all for the info.

xpro · 07-19-2019, 01:13 PM

Just as HenryX said. Very common for a sensor arm to get reinstalled in the wrong direction.

I checked my car on Hella Light align machine after installing the B8's and Eibachs and the beam was 100%..

These lights are self leveling and do not require an adjustment.

What If you had 5 heavy people onboard and their luggage, where the car will naturally compress and sit lower, you wouldn’t adjust the lights or would you ..

Fastblack · 08-12-2019, 08:47 AM

Thanks for this. Had this issue after installing my Dinan springs.

beeyar · 09-10-2020, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryX

If you guys have
-Adaptive headlights
-Lowered the car and the headlights now aim super high.

It's likely to be your rear headlight level sensor located in the rear driver side. Refer to part 2, 6, and 7 from the diagram below.

The sensor attaches to the lower camber arm, which is also where the spring sits on. This sensor can be seated wrong during reinstallation which causes the car to think the rear is sitting very high compared to the front, therefore aims the headlight up like crazy.

The follow images are based off the E90 M3 but it is identical to our F30.

The Wrong Way

The Right Way

The Fix:
- Jack up the driver rear side
- Undo the bolt that holds the rear sensor to the lower camber arm.
- Reseat the leveling rod to the correct orientation
- Redo the bolt.
- Put your car back down and try the headlights now.
- If it doesn't work, your rear sensor is probably broken.

Hope this helps guys! Good luck!

Do you still have the photos for this? I'm having this same issue but photos seem to be not available anymore.

positivfoto · 09-18-2020, 07:49 AM

headlights adjustement is a crucial thing in the road safety. Read the guides or leave it to professionals. But in any case I would not recomment ignoring headlights adjustement.

JrCidR1 · 09-03-2021, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryeeex

If you guys have
-Adaptive headlights
-Lowered the car and the headlights now aim super high.

It's likely to be your rear headlight level sensor located in the rear driver side. Refer to part 2, 6, and 7 from the diagram below.

The sensor attaches to the lower camber arm, which is also where the spring sits on. This sensor can be seated wrong during reinstallation which causes the car to think the rear is sitting very high compared to the front, therefore aims the headlight up like crazy.

The follow images are based off the E90 M3 but it is identical to our F30.

The Wrong Way

The Right Way

The Fix:
- Jack up the driver rear side
- Undo the bolt that holds the rear sensor to the lower camber arm.
- Reseat the leveling rod to the correct orientation
- Redo the bolt.
- Put your car back down and try the headlights now.
- If it doesn't work, your rear sensor is probably broken.

Hope this helps guys! Good luck!

anyone have these pictures, they no longer show on the forum and i am having the same issue after I installed my Lowering springs on my 440i

_ObiJon · 09-03-2021, 10:15 AM

I just had to do this as mine was also inverted. You'll have to remove the wheel for sure but the arm that connects directly to the sensor has to be parallel with the control arm. If not, it's rotated 90 degrees (ish) and pointed down.

The pictures on the first page show the correct orientation (dotted line).

Once I inverted that middle pivot point, the headlights adjust to the proper level.

damack · 09-11-2021, 03:43 PM

I just had to do this as well. I had the Eibach springs installed in April but I guess I don't drive that much at night. The last couple of times I've been getting flashed by angry cars coming at me so I figured something was up.

It was super easy. After removing the wheel and locating the sensor arm, I just gave it a light pull and it came into place. I didn't need to take anything off. The sensor is mounted on a light metal bracket that has a fair bit of flex.

Onizukachan · 09-13-2021, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by positivfoto

headlights adjustement is a crucial thing in the road safety. Read the guides or leave it to professionals. But in any case I would not recomment ignoring headlights adjustement.

As soon as I read this I knew you were a subject of her majesty.

Ayamazin · 10-12-2021, 01:18 AM

Strange mine feel like they're pointing lower after lowering.

robmeister1969 · 04-03-2023, 03:12 PM

After fitting my Eibachs, I found the headlights to be aiming downwards. Had fitted them myself but didn’t disconnect the headlight mechanisms and may have caused a bit of damage/ misalignment. Following this post, I took a look at the sensors (passenger side on RHD car). At the front, my wheel lining had come away a little bit and looked to be fouling the sensor mechanism. At the rear, the sensor looked to be a little twisted and the bracket itself looked to be a bit twisted. Straightened the bracket although not sure if I’ve straightened enough. Headlights now are better positioned. Now that I’m focusing on them, not sure if they are still a fraction lower than before lowering. Will see how it goes.

07-19-2019, 01:13 PM	#26
xpro Lieutenant 170 Rep 468 Posts Drives: 335XD Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Emerald iTrader: (0)	Just as HenryX said. Very common for a sensor arm to get reinstalled in the wrong direction. I checked my car on Hella Light align machine after installing the B8's and Eibachs and the beam was 100%.. These lights are self leveling and do not require an adjustment. What If you had 5 heavy people onboard and their luggage, where the car will naturally compress and sit lower, you wouldn’t adjust the lights or would you ..
	Appreciate 1 shiftdnb376.50 Quote

08-12-2019, 08:47 AM	#27
Fastblack New Member 3 Rep 21 Posts Drives: BMW 340i Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Thanks for this. Had this issue after installing my Dinan springs.
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09-18-2020, 07:49 AM	#29
positivfoto Registered 2 Rep 4 Posts Drives: m5 Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: London iTrader: (0)	headlights adjustement is a crucial thing in the road safety. Read the guides or leave it to professionals. But in any case I would not recomment ignoring headlights adjustement.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-03-2021, 10:15 AM	#31
_ObiJon Second Lieutenant 197 Rep 298 Posts Drives: 2015 428i xDrive Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Ashburn, VA iTrader: (0)	I just had to do this as mine was also inverted. You'll have to remove the wheel for sure but the arm that connects directly to the sensor has to be parallel with the control arm. If not, it's rotated 90 degrees (ish) and pointed down. The pictures on the first page show the correct orientation (dotted line). Once I inverted that middle pivot point, the headlights adjust to the proper level.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-11-2021, 03:43 PM	#32
damack Private First Class 189 Rep 145 Posts Drives: 2017 F31 330xi Join Date: May 2019 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW 330i Touring [10.00]	I just had to do this as well. I had the Eibach springs installed in April but I guess I don't drive that much at night. The last couple of times I've been getting flashed by angry cars coming at me so I figured something was up. It was super easy. After removing the wheel and locating the sensor arm, I just gave it a light pull and it came into place. I didn't need to take anything off. The sensor is mounted on a light metal bracket that has a fair bit of flex.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2021, 01:18 AM	#34
Ayamazin Private 7 Rep 54 Posts Drives: BMW 435i Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Woodbridge, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [0.00]	Strange mine feel like they're pointing lower after lowering.
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04-03-2023, 03:12 PM	#35
robmeister1969 New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: BMW 335D; AUDI SQ5; MAZDA MX-5 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (0)	After fitting my Eibachs, I found the headlights to be aiming downwards. Had fitted them myself but didn’t disconnect the headlight mechanisms and may have caused a bit of damage/ misalignment. Following this post, I took a look at the sensors (passenger side on RHD car). At the front, my wheel lining had come away a little bit and looked to be fouling the sensor mechanism. At the rear, the sensor looked to be a little twisted and the bracket itself looked to be a bit twisted. Straightened the bracket although not sure if I’ve straightened enough. Headlights now are better positioned. Now that I’m focusing on them, not sure if they are still a fraction lower than before lowering. Will see how it goes.
	Appreciate 0 Quote