I have had a look in the forums, but I can't find an answer.  I have a Superb TDI Estate, with self-levelling headlamps that do the 'dance' on start.  We recently put the car through a car wash (might be unrelated) and the lights seem to have self-leveled at their lowest possible level leaving driving at night difficult.  They don't move on start up (but I can hear a whirring from that area like something is trying to work) and, weirdly, the lighting options - the tourist mode - has disappeared from the dot matrix display menu completely.  We last used the dot matrix display to change the lights the last time we went to the continent and so I can't guarantee that the two issues are linked.

I'm going to have a prod around tonight, but I'm guessing that I can manually set the headlights to a fixed level if the leveling motors have gone?  The car is at 170 000 m and this would be an acceptable fix.  

 

Any suggestions welcomed.

1 hour ago, julietbravo said:

I'm going to have a prod around tonight, but I'm guessing that I can manually set the headlights to a fixed level if the leveling motors have gone?  The car is at 170 000 m and this would be an acceptable fix.  

 

Only if you want a car that's not road legal... The levelling system is there for a reason

 

The mostly likely cause is water ingress to the control modules on the headlight.

 

A scan with VCDS or similar would be useful to see what error codes are logged. Otherwise, you can try checking the connections between the headlight and it's modules but I think on a Superb it's a bumper off job.

Thank you.  I'll have a look this weekend.

Lots of complaints of water ingress into the electronic module fixed to the underside of each headlight.

 

Once water gets in and kills the module the headlights drop to their lowest setting for safety reasons (not yours, but the other road users).

Solved.  Thank you for your input.  Given that the car has done 170 000 miles and is being changed when we get through the winter, I decided that rather than remove the bumper and change the modules, I would just get a T45 into the Torx bolts and wind then up manually.  Took less than 30 seconds - the bolts are really easy to locate and turn really easily.  Now they are set to an MOT pass and the car is functioning again, I have just lost the self leveling function, but we only ever put a couple of bags of shopping and a wet dog in the back. 

The levelling system doesn't just adjust for the load in the boot, it'll also change the headlight aim based on acceleration, deceleration and even over bumps to some extent. Assuming they are set at the correct height when unloaded, you will almost certainly be causing glare when accelerating, even more so when you've got shopping and the dog in the boot.

 

In short, you've now hidden the problem and knowingly intend to drive around with unroadworthy lights (MOT fail) at the time of year when they are used most...

Why do people get so bent out of shape on forums nowadays the self levelling headlights are an optional extra adjusting them manually may not be the best option but it’s better then driving around with them pointing at the floor illegal may be may be not but there are thousands of cars on the road with fixed aim headlights are they all illegal I think people need to take a chill pill 

.

 

Edited 9 December, 20187 yr by julietbravo

@Andy4572 I don't think I'm bent out of shape? Just trying to help the OP fix the problem and understand their car isn't road legal.

 

The 'Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989' do not allow any xenon/LED headlights. These have been superseded by the ECE regulations which currently state that xenon/HID headlight systems (above 2000 lm) require self levelling systems. If the self levelling no longer works, then the car doesn't meet it's original type approval making it no longer road legal. It's that simple.

 

Just because other people may have headlights that are badly aligned, broken or fitted with illegal conversion kits, doesn't mean that you (or the OP) should.

 

@julietbravo I have no problem with you disagreeing with me. I've been wrong in the past and I'm happy to change my views if there is good evidence

 

There are plenty of cars that don't require self levelling headlights such as:

-  halogen headlights

-  xenon/HID headlights producing 2000 lm or less

-  high end cars with self levelling suspension

-  some sports cars depending on suspension design

Unfortunately, none of these apply to your Superb so it's still a requirement that the self levelling works. It's all in the ECE regs so if you can find a loophole, please post it as it may help others.

 

The MOT currently states "Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge HID or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system. Where such systems are fitted, they must work" therefore your car should fail an MOT as it's fitted and doesn't work. I'm not saying all MOT testers will fail your car but they should based on that. Removing the system isn't a solution as you'll loose type approval as above unless you also fit halogen headlights.

 

There certainly are older levelling systems that don't constantly adjust but your Superb isn't one of them. The headlight range dynamically adjusts to the conditions and I've previously done data logging to confirm it. There are obviously limits how quickly the projector can move and the system reacts but it's trying to level at all times. Here's a graph I made a couple of years ago, the green and pink(ish) lines are showing the up/down adjustment of each xenon projector. It's pretty clear they are dynamically adjusting at all times and given the biggest adjustments match speed changes, it does at least try to level during acceleration and braking.

 

As for fixing the problem, it could be as simple as cleaning the connection between the headlight and control module. If the control module has become damaged beyond repair, a used one is about £50 on eBay, that's less than a full tank of fuel. This is an example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223273582905

 

It's your car and if you don't want to fix it, that's completely your call but don't be ignorant to the fact it's not road legal and could cause other drivers issues...

11 hours ago, Andy4572 said:

Why do people get so bent out of shape on forums nowadays the self levelling headlights are an optional extra adjusting them manually may not be the best option but it’s better then driving around with them pointing at the floor illegal may be may be not but there are thousands of cars on the road with fixed aim headlights are they all illegal I think people need to take a chill pill 

 

It seems no one is bent out of shape, apart from you.

 

What you've posted is incorrect.

 

 

Point made I didn’t say it was wronge and I didn’t say it was right I just love it when the forum know it alls start getting bent out of shape that some one doesn’t agree with them it’s even better when they start quoting rules and regs and the law 

 

you all have have a nice day 

2 hours ago, Andy4572 said:

Point made I didn’t say it was wronge and I didn’t say it was right I just love it when the forum know it alls start getting bent out of shape that some one doesn’t agree with them it’s even better when they start quoting rules and regs and the law 

 

you all have have a nice day 

Its the good old fix or bodge scenario and langers2k  was just stating the correct and proper way to fix it 
What sort of forum would it be if all the Op got was the wrong advise 
He even took the time to link to a spare part on eBay for him and stating the price

You have a nice day now Oh and welcome to the forum 

On 09/12/2018 at 00:01, Andy4572 said:

Why do people get so bent out of shape on forums nowadays the self levelling headlights are an optional extra adjusting them manually may not be the best option but it’s better then driving around with them pointing at the floor illegal may be may be not but there are thousands of cars on the road with fixed aim headlights are they all illegal I think people need to take a chill pill 

 

The MOT includes a headlight alignment test and I'm pleased it's been tightened up this year to fail cars fitted with illegal HID (& LED) conversions. They need to be original equipment properly designed with headlight auto levellers that also have a suspension height sensor - usually at the rear - to keep the headlights at a constant level.  This (and headlight washers) has been a requirement of having HID due to the light intensity  - HID = High Intensity (gas)Discharge .  I have a longish commute along a slow unlit but busy 'A' road where my retinas recognise a couple of cars each night that clearly have been fitted with illegal conversion

 

@julietbravo The original fault could be to do with the height sensor on the rear suspension. Sometimes it becomes disturbed especially if the car has been jacked up.

18 hours ago, bigjohn said:

 

The MOT includes a headlight alignment test and I'm pleased it's been tightened up this year to fail cars fitted with illegal HID (& LED) conversions. They need to be original equipment properly designed with headlight auto levellers that also have a suspension height sensor - usually at the rear - to keep the headlights at a constant level.  This (and headlight washers) has been a requirement of having HID due to the light intensity  - HID = High Intensity (gas)Discharge .  I have a longish commute along a slow unlit but busy 'A' road where my retinas recognise a couple of cars each night that clearly have been fitted with illegal conversion

 

@julietbravo The original fault could be to do with the height sensor on the rear suspension. Sometimes it becomes disturbed especially if the car has been jacked up.

It is feasible to do an aftermarket conversion, but it must be done to the same standard and regulations as OE. More often than not the legal aftermarket conversion becomes too expensive for a lot of people to bother with it and they end up doing illegal conversions or abandoning the idea.