View Full Version : The secret to lower E36 headlights?


crisko
10-14-2007, 09:54 AM
What's the secret of properly lowering headlights? I find when I lower mine too much using the various knobs on the top and bottom of the lights, that the housing/lense gets too high and far out towards the front of the car and pretty much hits the hood when I close it. There's also a horrible looking gap that develops under the light, not to mention the fact that you can see most of the top of the lense popping out past the hood as well. It looks stupid, but the light is shining where it should be. Is there any special way to get around this so the light shines where I want it, but that the headlight assembly doesn't look like somekind of freak of nature popping out of the car in such a weird way? thanks!

sixcyl320i
10-14-2007, 10:10 AM
adjust the mounting nuts so the lights fit the grille and hood, if the hoods outa whack, adjust that first. there are adjusters that move the inside of the light so the outside dosent move. i believe a 6 or 7mm allen.. find a level area and a flat wall or door, get the car 25 ft from the flat area and make sure its square. turn on the low beams...measure center to center on the lbeams. remember that number, and then measure height to the center of the lbeams. remember that number too... go over to the wall and find the approximate center of the car. put some tape vert. there...split the width distance on this line and put tape vert there on each side. then do the height.

adjust the low beams so the drivers side is inside and under the tape, but just barley. and on the pass side the same. i prefer my lights a little higher, but some people get irritated at them...i just dont want to hit anything, you know? good luck and i hope this helps! if you cant get them adjusted with the adjusters on the light, its either broken or needs a small ammount of lube. if they are A/M lights they might be no good to begin with:(

crisko
10-14-2007, 11:58 AM
there are adjusters that move the inside of the light so the outside dosent move. i believe a 6 or 7mm allen..

Where is this allen key location? I believe this is what might be out of wack on my car.. If I can lower this without moving the entire assembly, that would be great.

habbie
10-15-2007, 01:28 AM
Where is this allen key location? I believe this is what might be out of wack on my car.. If I can lower this without moving the entire assembly, that would be great.

up and down is behind the high beams.
side to side behind the low beams.