1 hour ago, brettikivi said:

I adjusted my Octavia lights with a screwdriver about a month before selling it and was surprised to find that a half-turn was more than enough. I was intending to have an accurate piece of information to say "hey, this is where it could be and seems to work well - this is the result" rather than "just dob a screwdriver in there and mess with it, job's a good'un". Too much and you'll blind everyone - it's a very subtle process.

 

I also wanted to have a reference to say "this is what you get if it's correct" and "these are the accurate measurements for this setup". Considering most of the time you're told to find a flat floor and measure... I'm sure there's a good way to do this with simple-ish tools. 

I feel there's a lot of guesswork going on here, and the light pattern Halogen vs Xenon Auto vs Xenon Manual vs LED is going to be very different, along with the light output. I know the candles on the front of the A2, I've driven Octys with all three light sources and though the Halogen on the Octavia is better than I thought, H7 output really is limited and so the height gets to be very important. After having been through Katsastus here last week with the A2, I think that most inspectors are looking for egregious errors, not "this is optimal". 

 

I see the wife's SX4 LEDs as being "too high", but the throw is beautiful. The Superb is on the limit but has a better spread, especially at 100-120km/h, so not "highway mode". Then again, the SX4 has a better high beam pattern, Superb has a blob of light at 1 o'clock which is mostly wasted. Distance also leaves quite a lot to be desired, but they're only ref 17.5, so no real surprise. SX4 dipped beam doesn't light the next lane over as well as the Superb. Octy lights were almost as good as either, prefer the LED colour to be honest but could do with more light on high beam.

I think I've done 1000km in the darkness over the last couple of weeks in the Superb, which makes it most of my seat time in the car...  Light is life up here. When the clocks go back at the weekend, it's darkness to the office, darkness back. Most of my trips up north and back will be pure darkness with no streetlights and minimal traffic, so I like my lights to be as good as they can be, especially with moose around.

You're really overthinking this tbh. Nobody said dob in with a screwdriver etc, you've already done it with your Octavia so you know a little goes a long way, quarter of a turn made a huge difference on my xenon equipped superb and I never blinded any oncoming cars. The IV LEDs seem to be the right height but I haven't done much night driving yet, I only have it a few weeks. 

2 hours ago, j caff said:

Why get so technical about it, just raise them with a 5mm Allen key, sorted👍. If they magically reinstate themselves ( I doubt they will) you can lower them again with said Allen key. 

 

That's wat I did with mine after the car was lowered 20mm - headlight throw needed to b lifted ever so slightly.

Hi Guy's

Yet again many thanks for the advice.

 

Has anyone been subject to the 95K1 software recall for headlights and did it make any difference?

 

Where is the adjustment screen located to adjust the beam height, maybe worth a try with some better quality light bulbs.

 

Again thank you for your comments.

 

Tony

5 hours ago, Supernovas said:

Hi Guy's

Yet again many thanks for the advice.

 

Has anyone been subject to the 95K1 software recall for headlights and did it make any difference?

 

Where is the adjustment screen located to adjust the beam height, maybe worth a try with some better quality light bulbs.

 

Again thank you for your comments.

 

Tony

 

I've had the 95K1 software applied to mine, about 3.5 yrs ago.

It is purely meant to fix the headlight startup sequence, so that it (headlight dance) doesn't get "stuck" or interrupted by ignition firing up.

 

It doesn't do anything to the headlight range/performance.

 

As it's been said before - park approx. 7m from a wall, pop the bonnet, using an Allen key, make slight adjustments to the adjuster on the top of the headlight.

There r two adjusters - one for vertical throw and another for horizontal.  Adjust the vertical one. See image below.

 

If u need to make major adjustments - then u need VCDS or OBDEleven to put the headlights into Learning mode before u can make adjustments.

 

Edited 28 October, 20214 yr by JR RS

On 24/10/2021 at 22:01, Danoid said:

The software will only sort your lights out if it’s basically aimed at the floor and it wouldn’t pass MOT if it was.

 

I know it’s expensive but put on the Osram Nightbreaker Lasers.

 

Mine seems a little low but I’m sure it’s just the OE bulbs are crap like many others have said

I have looked up Osram Nightnreaker Lasers and can find many, which ones are you referring to? and do you know what type the bulbs are H7? I believe mine are bi-xenons.

 

Thanks

 

Tony

16 minutes ago, Supernovas said:

I have looked up Osram Nightnreaker Lasers and can find many, which ones are you referring to? and do you know what type the bulbs are H7? I believe mine are bi-xenons.

 

Thanks

 

Tony

They're D3s. I have a set I never installed I bought from powerbulbs. I'm selling them for €100 plus postage if you're interested. 

2 hours ago, Supernovas said:

I have looked up Osram Nightnreaker Do you know what type the bulbs are H7?

The Nightbreaker H7's are excellent bulbs, but they are halogen, not xenon.

So my range was short aswell and I've just used OBD11 and activated basic settings in the control module and that has seems to have worked! 

 

1 hour ago, Awesam said:

So my range was short aswell and I've just used OBD11 and activated basic settings in the control module and that has seems to have worked! 

 

Great result. 

So, today I took the car to a local VW/Audi independent for diagnosis....and they could find nothing wrong with it!

There are no error codes and they took it to an MOT tester who confirmed that the lights were correctly aligned.

 

What they did point out was that the headlight glass was dirty, and by cleaning the outside, the headlights "sprung to life".

I know the HID lights need to be clean (hence the built-in washers jets), but I really can't see that being the sole cause.

To be fair they didn't charge me for their work, but I'm no further forward.

 

Looks like it will have to be the country road and Allan key solution for me.

it amazes me how these mobs get away with anything.

 

Service Centre - no errors were found during the scan.  everything is good.
MOT centre - the lights turn on and shines in front of the car without dazzling oncoming drivers.  everything is good.

 

"there is nothing wrong with your car sir"

esshhh!!!

 

at least they didn't charge u for it.

 

not sure if this helps but I'll in Glasgow at the end of month and could bring my laptop and vcds cable to sort it.

 

I did the basic settings within 2 minutes after reading it on the obd11 forum

 

or go back to the Indy and get them to do it via the control module, I can send over the steps, max they should charge is an hours labour at most!

Edited 3 November, 20214 yr by Awesam

9 hours ago, cardo said:

So, today I took the car to a local VW/Audi independent for diagnosis....and they could find nothing wrong with it!

There are no error codes and they took it to an MOT tester who confirmed that the lights were correctly aligned.

 

What they did point out was that the headlight glass was dirty, and by cleaning the outside, the headlights "sprung to life".

I know the HID lights need to be clean (hence the built-in washers jets), but I really can't see that being the sole cause.

To be fair they didn't charge me for their work, but I'm no further forward.

 

Looks like it will have to be the country road and Allan key solution for me.

Definitely try the basic settings first before adjusting anything. I certainly noticed a huge improvement in light output from my xenon's if they were given a quick clean, the washers didn't seem to get them clean enough sometimes. 

15 hours ago, Awesam said:

not sure if this helps but I'll in Glasgow at the end of month and could bring my laptop and vcds cable to sort it.

 

I did the basic settings within 2 minutes after reading it on the obd11 forum

 

or go back to the Indy and get them to do it via the control module, I can send over the steps, max they should charge is an hours labour at most!

 

Awesam - that's a very generous offer and I might take you up on it, if it's not too much trouble.

 

However, a gent on the other headlight thread has described the distance his lights throw and that gives me a figure to test mine against.

I'll have a go at that and see if my (suitably clean) lights measure up before troubling you.

 

13 hours ago, j caff said:

Definitely try the basic settings first before adjusting anything. I certainly noticed a huge improvement in light output from my xenon's if they were given a quick clean, the washers didn't seem to get them clean enough sometimes. 

The main times I've noticed the rubbish lights is while I've been a couple of hundred miles away from home so the lens were probably quite dirty from the trip.

I will definitely make sure they are sparkling before I try the distance test mentioned above.

 

Thanks to all posters for their useful contributions,

From what I’ve read on here in the past, you only need to adjust the screws ever so slightly to get the correct distance.

 

You’d use the software if it was way out.

 

This is what I’ll be doing at some point, buying new osram d3s laser bulbs.

 

If it still seems like it’s a little low, get a thin marker pen and on the screw draw a straight line making sure to draw a line onto the plastics as well.

 

That way when you adjust the screw you have a reference point to turn it back to if not happy and want it to go back where it started, as you just have to get the lines straight again

Hi,

Update so far.

 

Tried a full anticlockwise turn of the headlight adjusters, couldn't see too much movement when watching the light beam on my garage door, so I need a dark country lane where I can measure the beam length.

Alternatively need an OBD 11 to investigate settings or spend £130 quid or Osram light bulbs, can't afford much more expenditure on the car after timing belt, insurance excess, 5 tyres, oil service and MOT.

This is proving to be a real pain and a dangerous one at that.

Thanks for all your support

Tony

20 hours ago, Supernovas said:

Hi,

Update so far.

 

Tried a full anticlockwise turn of the headlight adjusters, couldn't see too much movement when watching the light beam on my garage door, so I need a dark country lane where I can measure the beam length.

Alternatively need an OBD 11 to investigate settings or spend £130 quid or Osram light bulbs, can't afford much more expenditure on the car after timing belt, insurance excess, 5 tyres, oil service and MOT.

This is proving to be a real pain and a dangerous one at that.

Thanks for all your support

Tony

Tony, if i find myself around your way I'll give you a shout as I may have a meeting in MK in the next few weeks 

I had to make at least three full turns on my car, to get them to the right height. If you are close to the garage door, the changes will be hardly visible.

On 11/11/2021 at 18:43, Supernovas said:

Hi,

Update so far.

 

Tried a full anticlockwise turn of the headlight adjusters, couldn't see too much movement when watching the light beam on my garage door, so I need a dark country lane where I can measure the beam length.

Alternatively need an OBD 11 to investigate settings or spend £130 quid or Osram light bulbs, can't afford much more expenditure on the car after timing belt, insurance excess, 5 tyres, oil service and MOT.

This is proving to be a real pain and a dangerous one at that.

Thanks for all your support

Tony

I had to make at least three full turns on my car, to get them to the right height. If you are close to the garage door, the changes will be hardly visible.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. 3 turns seems excessive to correct a poor headlight range when nothing has changed on the car.  I still suspect its a software issue, only noticed the problem a few weeks after a service and code update.

Regards

Tony

3 hours ago, Supernovas said:

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. 3 turns seems excessive to correct a poor headlight range when nothing has changed on the car.  I still suspect its a software issue, only noticed the problem a few weeks after a service and code update.

Regards

Tony

Definitely, less than a half turn was all my lights needed. 

I think mine took about 2 turns.

I can only assume the previous owner was happy driving around without being able to see properly in the dark.

Hi Shugmo,

 

I have had the car since new and the problem only became apparent a while after a service?? so not sure why I need to adjust the light adjusters but it seems the only way to solve the issue.

 

Regards

 

Tony

Given that turning the adjusters is making no difference, it sounds like ur car has a fault somewhere - either with a levelling sensor, or the AFS module.

Has it been scanned for errors?

 

As a follow-up to my moans on this subject, I took the car for it's annual MOT test today.

I asked the (ex-VW) mechanic doing the test to pay particular attention to the headlight aim and to adjust it if necessary.

 

The car passed OK and the examiner told me that the lights were EXACTLY spot-on to where they should be.

In fact, as he put it, "they couldn't be better aimed than they are".

 

So....it seems that I need to get my eyes tested, then!

52 minutes ago, cardo said:

As a follow-up to my moans on this subject, I took the car for it's annual MOT test today.

I asked the (ex-VW) mechanic doing the test to pay particular attention to the headlight aim and to adjust it if necessary.

 

The car passed OK and the examiner told me that the lights were EXACTLY spot-on to where they should be.

In fact, as he put it, "they couldn't be better aimed than they are".

 

So....it seems that I need to get my eyes tested, then!

I’ll admit I don’t know how the height is tested at MOT’s, but I’m going to assume there’s a perfect height say 0, then too low -10, too high +10. I wonder if we all want it to be +5?

 

I feel like I want to height to be at the very top end but obviously still within MOT limits. Only problem with that though is you’ll need to have brand new tyres on first.

 

When I can I’ll get new osram night breaker lasers first then see what’s what