Gti+ LED headlights seem low

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Chris Ro
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Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by Chris Ro »

Anyone else have the auto adjusting LED headlights? The main beam seams pretty low and can't get it higher, dodgey at speed in dark, the full beam is great but can't use that with oncoming :roll:

Can the dealer raise them? Even though they won't want too..

Anyone else finding this problem?
Andy Beats
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by Andy Beats »

Haven't got LED headlights, but my Polo lights are way too low too.
I'm going to fiddle about with the manual adjusters sometime soon.
If you look at the headlights under the bonnet, you can see light grey plastic adjusters that need a torx head screwdriver or allen key (can't remember).
Trial and error will show you which ones do which.
Seperate adjusters for low, main and side to side.
RUM4MO
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by RUM4MO »

I would have thought that all cars only had a basic "head light cluster" to cover range (height) and direction (left<>right), not separate basic adjustment for dip and main beam, that relationship will be built into the design of the head light cluster?
Andy Beats
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by Andy Beats »

RUM4MO wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 2:07 pm I would have thought that all cars only had a basic "head light cluster" to cover range (height) and direction (left<>right), not separate basic adjustment for dip and main beam, that relationship will be built into the design of the head light cluster?
No, the stuff I found online suggested the height of dip and main can be adjusted seperately.
Let me see if I can find the link again.
Really, if you just want to crudely adjust 'everything' in one go, then just loosen the headlight bolts (there's only two torx head bolts hold the headlights in) and push the whole unit back at the top.
There's quite a bit of free play available in the bolts/mountings.
That improved matters for me, especially on the left unit, but the right unit is still way too low.
Andy Beats
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by Andy Beats »

Here we are.

viewtopic.php?t=68100

I know this is for an older Polo, but the headlights look the same and I can't find one specifically for the latest one.
As you can see, dip and main have seperate up/down adjustment.
RUM4MO
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by RUM4MO »

Oh, that to me seems weird, but there you go iichel usually knows his stuff!

I have removed both LED headlights from my wife's car - just to see how to do it, so yes, the retaining screws don't guarantee that they end up back in exactly the same position.
Andy Beats
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by Andy Beats »

I'm note sure what the best method is for adjusting.
Park against the garage door to see which way they go, then drive around and repeat until sorted?
Or take a torch and the right tools to a dark road and adjust there?
Honestly, this is just a pain in the ass.
Funnily enough, the last car I had to manually adjust the lights on was a Golf Driver, no other makes of car have needed it. :cry:
RUM4MO
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by RUM4MO »

I'd think the "against the garage door" might be the better bet as you know where you started and can return there is need be.

I've not tried this but you might be able to cover one light and mark the cut-off horizontal and vertical on one then the other with masking tape on the garage door, then adjust and repeat etc.
Andy Beats
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Re: Gti+ LED headlights seem low

Post by Andy Beats »

RUM4MO wrote: Tue Nov 27, 2018 4:49 pm I'd think the "against the garage door" might be the better bet as you know where you started and can return there is need be.

I've not tried this but you might be able to cover one light and mark the cut-off horizontal and vertical on one then the other with masking tape on the garage door, then adjust and repeat etc.
I'm afraid I won't be using anything technical at all. :)
I'll just be adjusting until I'm happy and not dazzling anyone.
I won't have to worry about headlight alignment technicalities/illegalities until the MOT in three years.
if it fails at that point, I'll just pay to have them done properly and hope they don't go back to their current abysmally low level.
I'd hate to drive over a mountain pass in the rain just now, you'd have to go down to stupidly slow speeds, you'd be a hazard. :evil:
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