Guys,

New to the forum, it's my first post so be gentle with me!

I've been really stressed out over the past week trying to convert my headlamps to allow me to drive in France next week.

The model is an 04, Octavia 2, halogens rather than Xenon Lamps.

After numerous calls to Skoda and a plank at my local dealer I decended on their workshops on saturday. Various conversations took place about working out how to mark the headlamps for realignment until I kept mentioning the mythical switch.

At which point one of the engineers realised what I was talking about. After 30 mins of fumbling we worked out how it operates. Here's how to do it:

1) Unscrew the plastic retaining nut holding the passenger side headlamp in place.

2) Don't undo drivers side as there is no switch as the headlamp doesn't need re-alignment apparently

3) Pull the metal lever out beneath the headlamp unit

4) The headlamp unit should pop forward, you can now disconnect all leads and the headlamp is out

5) Unclip both large metal springs holding the black dust cover in place and remove the dust cover

6) You should now have access to the bulb. just to the right of the switch you will see a small brown lever, don't touch it just yet

7) Remove the bulb by releasing the clip and pulling off the connector, don't touch the glass on the bulb

8) As you look into the now empty headlamp you will see a semi-circular piece of metal this is basically the back of the lense and what needs to be moved in order to correct the alignment. You will also see a small metal arm touching it, this is what the lever operates.

9) The movement of the lever is tiny, and should be turned to the right, for confidence I found it easier to have the bulb out to ensure that the action was working. As you turn the switch, the arm moves and hey presto the back of the deflector has moved.

10) All of this is refered to in the garage manual which I saw but really wasn't clear hence the dealer confusion.

It really is a 2 minute job and after loads of grief I felt that I needed to share it to help any other unfortunate soul!

Again apologies if this is posted elsewhere.

MrMajestyk.

Any idea if its as easy for a car with Xenons ? I would assume it was mentioned beside the procedure for the halogens in the manual

After reading your post I have spent an hour adjusting the headlights on my Octavia as you indicated. If you put a screwdriver through the hole where the bulb was you can move the internal lever without bothering with the external lever. There is a similar setup on the driver's side but the external lever (switch as you call it) is hidden behind some kind of terminal block (possibly headlight adjustment device). This makes it very difficult to alter unless you do as I have just said. I wonder if that is why they said it didn't need adjusting??

Any idea if its as easy for a car with Xenons ? I would assume it was mentioned beside the procedure for the halogens in the manual

yes.

Remove the headlamp from the car. With a T8 torx screwdriver undo the retaining bolts for the back of the light casing as if you were changing a lightbulb. once open, look inside and you will see a small black lever on the right hand side of the headlamp. with a small flat bladed screwdriver push it in and turn it what ever way it goes (can't remember whether it is left or right for lhd lights) till it stops (not much, 20 degrees or so). repace and repeat with the other side.

you're going to trax aren't you? I'll show you then if you like.

Hi all,

In the workshop manual so no mention of Xenon adjustment, but I would assume very similar from my digging around on other VAG owner forums. The dealer confirmed that the Xenons do need to be adjusted by switch.

Just in response John, if you didn't pop the headlamp out I can understand why it would be a fag. The lamp does remove as per Jeff's post.

Wish I'd taken photos

Thats brilliant Mr Majestyk.

Ive been asking this for months.

Tried about 5 dealers, not a clue except to say bring it in and pay us to do it.

Skoda customer service, after about four goes and three months eventually sent me some unreadable fax copies which were totally useless.

As I live about 5 hours drive from a channel port I dont want to be driving at night dazzling everyone here.

The sticky on things dont seem to work so well to me and as we go to France four or five times a year works out expensive and messy.

If its that easy I can do it at the port.

Thanks for the info.

:thumbup:

you're going to trax aren't you? I'll show you then if you like.

unfortunately No, I stupidly arranged a holiday with SWMBO, I don't mind goind going on holiday but the timing sucks :( . And the worst thing about it is that I booked it .

maybe you could show BPM and he could pass on the valuable info (those Xenons are tooooooo expensive to break )

:thumbup:

unfortunately No' date=' I stupidly arranged a holiday with SWMBO, I don't mind goind going on holiday but the timing sucks :( . And the worst thing about it is that I booked it .

maybe you could show BPM and he could pass on the valuable info (those Xenons are tooooooo expensive to break )[/quote']

a photo guided approach it is.

Did this when we went to France last week. I can confirm that there is no adjustment on the drivers' side. (1.9TDI '06' Octavia Estate Elegance)

If you put some WD 40 on the headlight location mechanism, subsequent removing and replacement (aligning) the headlight unit is so much easier!

hello all

i.ve been reading your words on changing lights for continental driving does this mean i didn't have to bur new light for driving in germany(in the army over there) and can move the lense :confused: if so iv'e just wasted a hundred quid on german headlight if any one can give a definitive answer it would be very appreciated:thumbup:

As I mentioned when you asked in the other thread operating the lever does not make the light legal on the continent. It knocks the high point of the beam off so it doesnt dazzle on coming drivers. You dont get the propper beam pattern and thus lighting effect.

For example if you were to have a euro spec car here, flick the lever over it would fail an MOT.

Hi guys.

On the hatchback (2004-08) 2.0 tdi, there is definitely adjustment to both lamps (halogen). Just had the adjustment demonstrated on the drivers side by Skoda dealer, came home and did the passanger side myself using MrMajestyk's post as a checklist (cheers for that). It really is pretty easy.

The service manager insists that this is legal on the continent. However, if you ever encounter a French traffic cop you will need to be able to explain (in French) that the adjustment has been done cos they tend to look for stuck on beam deflectors. I am going to carry a card stating that the change has been done cos my language skills don't run to technical discussions with cops!