Have spent ages looking for info on here about this subject and have found loads of answers but not what I need to know.

The question is, are the Xenon dip beam units adjustable left to right as well as up and down, by that I mean phsically with the use of adjuster screws?

The reason I ask is that last year I was shunted in the rear and unfortunately pushed into the car in front and hence smashed the drivers side wing, light etc.

When car came back from repair, I felt that the spread of light on dip was no where as good as it had been before the shunt, it didn't seem to go as far up the road and also appeared to be a dark area on the drivers side, and the kickups from the lights seemed very close together almost as if the drivers side light needed moving towardsthe middle of the road slightly.

However, after numerous efforts to get them sorted, both by Skoda dealers and VW dealers, still the same and when the car was in for a recall job 2 weeks ago at a Skoda dealer and asked them to check the alignment again, to which the reply was that they were fine, explained what I thought only to be told that the unts could not be adjusted left and right, only up and down.

So, does anyone know whether this is correct or whether they can be adjusted sideways?

Also, any one got any ideas on what I can now do.

Any help or advice would be most gratefull as it is driving me mad. :confused:

The xenon projector lens can be moved left/right and up/down via 2 hexagonal screws fitted on the inboard side of the headlight module, open the bonnet and look at the exposed side of the headlight near the headlight release hook. You need a 10mm socket on an extension bar to do it. Be careful and don't go mad as it only takes the lightest amount of torque to adjust them.

Ideally you would put the headlights into 'adjustment mode' via VCDS but there is no reason why you cant make small adjustments to the beam relative to the other one that is adjusted correctly.

Left-right adjustments should not need adjustment mode. For up-down you have to use adjustment mode as otherwise it will just put the lights back IIRC

Left-right adjustments should not need adjustment mode. For up-down you have to use adjustment mode as otherwise it will just put the lights back IIRC

So what you are saying is that I can adjust the left/ right myself without the need to have the light center point (if you know what I mean) reset on a computer at a dealer without too much problem.

Why would a main dealer tell me that they cannot be adjusted left and right?

I suppose he didn't actually know, only guessing.

The question is whom did you ask? A technician? Or a service advisor?

So what you are saying is that I can adjust the left/ right myself without the need to have the light center point (if you know what I mean) reset on a computer at a dealer without too much problem.

Why would a main dealer tell me that they cannot be adjusted left and right?

I suppose he didn't actually know, only guessing.

Every cars beams should be set up on the PDI so a techie should know that if that's who you spoke to. The dynamic levelling is goverened by data from the suspension level sensors, not the beam aiming screws.

FYI: the main beam 'aim' is also adjustable, lots of people have compained that it's way too high.

Edited 19 January, 200917 yr by dstev2000

The question is whom did you ask? A technician? Or a service advisor?

Not sure, but not a technician although it was the workshop manager that had supposedley checked the alignment in the first place.

Saying that, the person I asked did answer a couple of other questions I had so had no reason not belive him, until now that is when I have answers off of people that seem to know their stuff.

FYI: the main beam 'aim' is also adjustable, lots of people have compained that it's way too high.

Mine was but adjusted that one myself little by little then taking the car out in the dark and trying it until I found a setting that I liked.

Mine was but adjusted that one myself little by little then taking the car out in the dark and trying it until I found a setting that I liked.

Same here, they did a great job of lighting up the trees :thumbdwn:

So, looks like a little job for the coming weekend is to get me a 10m/m socket and extension and try to find the left/right adjuster on the drivers side light and try to move it myself.

Still just a little worried though that I might affect the whole system and need to take it to a dealer to reset everything and so cost me even more money to put right than it already has. :mecry:

I've adjusted my beams before and everything is ok.

If you do ever have problems there are loads of people on here with the VCDS system that can reset and re adapt the entire system.

Be carefull if adjusting things without using VCDS.

You have regular adjustment screws with a positioning motor. This motor has a basic setting. A base level if you like and then it winds up and down to alter the height of the Xenon according to the level sensors. If you move the adjuster without it being in a basic setting mode all that will happen is the motor will try and wind it back again to the last set level. If you happened to have wound it a fair way allready the motor will over compensate and the rod pops off the back of the refector and/or breaks. then you really are in for a headache.

Be carefull if adjusting things without using VCDS.

You have regular adjustment screws with a positioning motor. This motor has a basic setting. A base level if you like and then it winds up and down to alter the height of the Xenon according to the level sensors. If you move the adjuster without it being in a basic setting mode all that will happen is the motor will try and wind it back again to the last set level. If you happened to have wound it a fair way allready the motor will over compensate and the rod pops off the back of the refector and/or breaks. then you really are in for a headache.

I only want to move the drivers side slightly to the right, not up or down, to see if that helps so could I have the problem that you warn against or should I be ok.

If still not satisfied, then will have to find someone fairly close that has the VCDS system and try to get them to sort it for me.

Maybe I should go straight to some one with the VCDS system and have them do it before I do some real damage.

I live in Wrexham, North Wales if any one knows of some one with the VCDS system that is not too far away that is willing to help me?

how can i adjust the main beam, need to bring it down about 10 degrees.

how can i adjust the main beam, need to bring it down about 10 degrees.

I'm pretty sure this has been described a number of times on this forum. Try a search and see what you find (IIRC it was pretty simple).

The xenon projector lens can be moved left/right and up/down via 2 hexagonal screws fitted on the inboard side of the headlight module, open the bonnet and look at the exposed side of the headlight near the headlight release hook. You need a 10mm socket on an extension bar to do it. Be careful and don't go mad as it only takes the lightest amount of torque to adjust them.

Can any one tell me which hexagonal screw does the up/down and which one does the left/right, please, as I don't want to adjust the wrong one. :confused:

IIRC the top one does up/down. It wont matter if you do the wrong one as long as the initial adjustment is very small. Dont forget the adjustment will be more noticeable if you shine the beams on a target a good distance away. If you adjust it against the back wall of the garage (<1 metre away) you wont notice much change.