Hi, sorry its another xenon question. The light pattern of my lights look ok, its \__ \__ but when passing cars on the n/s, say on a dual carriageway/motorway, the n/s light illuminates the o/s side of the car I'm passing. The problem is that the edge of the beam seems a bit too high as it lights the interior and rear view mirror of the car I'm passing and seems to annoy some people, is this correct. Ok so perhaps I should stay in the slow lane or get a car without xenons

Stating the obvious but I assume they are OEM Xenons?

If so it's time to get the lights reangled at a main dealer or using a test centre with VAG-COM.

Seems the beam pattern on the Octy can be a bit too wide. Mine is all over the shop and similar to how you describe.

I've had two different MOT stations check this and both of them gave a clean bill of health which stikes me as odd.

I recently tried aftermarket HID's and there was no difference in beam pattern from the Halogens just a more defined cutoff which is to be expected.

Sorry, yes its standard fit, so it looks like a trip to the dealers is in order. To be honest they've always been like it but I don't tend to do a lot of night driving, is only this time of year really that I've noticed it. Many thanks for the input guys, much appreciated.

Looks like they might not have been set during PDI then :(

SWMBO's vRS is the same, the nearside beam 'kick' is way too high IMO, it lights the road signs - and I mean the huge ones - big time. It also dazzles drivers when passing on a motorway. I get dazzled to feck if a VAG car with OEM xenons passes on the offside. They were set up on PDI and checked again after a complaint.

I also have OEM xenons and I was getting sick of the problem on mine. I altered the cutoff so the beam is flatter, I also raised the general beam height so it isn't dazzling other drivers but illuminates as much road as possible. I could get away with this as the nearside 'kick' has now disappeared.

It could be an issue come MOT time and if it is I will have them adjusted, simple as that.

In the meantime, I haven't been flashed once and the beam pattern is more than adequate for my needs.

SWMBO's vRS is the same, the nearside beam 'kick' is way too high IMO, it lights the road signs - and I mean the huge ones - big time. It also dazzles drivers when passing on a motorway. I get dazzled to feck if a VAG car with OEM xenons passes on the offside. They were set up on PDI and checked again after a complaint.

I also have OEM xenons and I was getting sick of the problem on mine. I altered the cutoff so the beam is flatter, I also raised the general beam height so it isn't dazzling other drivers but illuminates as much road as possible. I could get away with this as the nearside 'kick' has now disappeared.

It could be an issue come MOT time and if it is I will have them adjusted, simple as that.

In the meantime, I haven't been flashed once and the beam pattern is more than adequate for my needs.

How did you alter the cutoff so the beam is flatter?

Deep in the bowels of the headlight fitting there is a movable section that blocks part of the beam cutoff element, as the beam profile flips via the lens this means it eliminates the beam 'kick' to the nearside, its primarily for continental driving but I fettled it so that most of the beam is flat.

I completely removed the fittings, removed the plastic rear cover, removed the lamp and accessed the small strip of metal that can be tilted up or down as desired.

It suits me fine but might not be to everyone's taste

The excessive nearside illumination was getting embarrassing - even more so with the occasional 'wayne-kerr' gestures from people driving in the nearside lane

Mine also kick up but I have never been flashed or 'Wayne-kerred' my opinion is they are less likley to pull out on you because they knoow you are there.

Also be a bit more considerate and drop back a bit or overtake.

I have flipped mine for the continent on a recent trip to France and they were fine.

Also be a bit more considerate and drop back a bit or overtake.

Thanks for that but I don't think I need to alter my driving style for poorly designed headlights.

Normal as remember the cut off is more defined on Xenons rather than a fade with Halogens.

The issue I'm having is despite being checked 4 times, the drivers side seems to make oncoming traffic flash. Parking in front of a glass building, and seeing other VAG cars, the drivers side always seems brighter/aligned more forwards. :confused:

I suggest you whip out the nearside light and adjust the beam deflector but put it back for the MOT (or you could leave it to see if it passed).

It will take about 5 min's, this should reduce the kick-up effect on nearside lane but keep some kick-up from the drivers side.

There is a thread on how to do this. Cheers