raising headlights?

With Package #8 you have HID headlights. They are probably aimed correctly unless you have noticed a sudden lowering of the aimpoints.

HID headlamps have a very sharp cutoff of the vertical spill to keep oncoming drivers from being dazzled by their brightness. In fact, the HID lamps put just as much light down the road. The problem is that they don't provide the spill that normally illuminates overhead signs and everyone has gotten use to. So... they look like they are pointed low.

There is some adjustment but the results could be that oncoming drivers will start to "flash" you for dims.

The one exception is if the auto-leveling sensor has become non-functional. WHen this happens the computer protects the oncoming driver and points the lamps low.

I've checked my lights (wall method) and they are right even though its hard to see overhead signs. BTW, when you do a wall check you will see the very sharp cutoff.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mehrenst @ Nov 10 2006, 03:48 PM) [snapback]347081[/snapback]</div>

Could you point to/describe the "wall check". Thanks.

 

Drive up to a wall with about 25 feet of clear flat ground behind you, the ground must be very flat and the car at right angles to the wall.
Switch onyour headlights on low beam, with chalk mark the point where the top of the light beam bends, you will see it goes up om the right (left in AU & UK) Once you have marked the point where the top of the beam bends reverse the car dead straight about 25 feet or so back. Now look at the light pattern on the wall. Dead straight means find a point exactly behind the car and reverse towrd it without turning the wheel at all.
The point where the top of the beam bends should be on your chalk mark or a millimetre or two under it and directly below or a little to the right (left in AU & UK). You dealer will have a box they shine the light into to adjust it, easier and more accurate to go there, it's a 5 minute job.

Look here for more detail.
http://www.coolbulbs.com/HID-VISUAL-HEADLI...G-PROCEDURE.pdf

 

If the purpose of headlight adjustment is to get the maximum amount of light down the road without bothering oncoming drivers, you can use my method. It takes awhile to do but when you are finished, the light output is incredible. The road directly in front of the car is actually rather dark (no bright spot in front of the bumper), but you can see things way out there.

Simply adjust the lights upward by ½ turn (or ¼ turn or some small set amount). Drive at night and see if anyone flashes you. If not, go up another set amount and drive. Do this until folks flash to indicate the lights are too high. (They will only be a bit too high so nobody is blinded.) Back off one set amount. You will be amazed at how far you can see.

If you live where they test your headlight aim, remember how far you went and set it back for the inspection.

The problem with aiming against the garage door is if the car is just a bit out of level, it has a large effect on the adjustment.