How to adjust Auto leveling headlights on B8.5 A4?

[BoostedJoe]

Hello all,
I installed lowering springs and noticed that the headlights are not as high as they used to be. Is it possible to adjust them or raise them so they are back at the angle of where they used to aim at?
Would I need to program it with VCDS?

Is there already a thread regarding this? Anyone with the same problem or had the same problem in the past please share your knowledge, Thanks !

[Theiceman]

I took my lights out when I did my engine build so I might be interested too ,. Not sure if I got them back in the right spot. I wonder if they can self level and adjust with VCDS ?/ I did pay a lot of money for that program , I really should get it out and start playing.

[BoostedJoe]

I took my lights out when I did my engine build so I might be interested too ,. Not sure if I got them back in the right spot. I wonder if they can self level and adjust with VCDS ?/ I did pay a lot of money for that program , I really should get it out and start playing.

I was doing some reading and they have a bracket for the auto leveling sensor on ECS tuning for when you lower your car. In my case that's what I did.

Then I also saw that you can also adjust them with the leveling screw on the headlights then with the VCDS you will have to confirm it and save it or something like that so I'm not sure which route to try.... I want to see what other people have to say about this before doing anything

[Theiceman]

yeah I saw the screw , but its pointless if you don't know where you are supposed to be
so I just lined up the green paint marks.

[BoostedJoe]

yeah I saw the screw , but its pointless if you don't know where you are supposed to be
so I just lined up the green paint marks.

ECS has a guide on how to adjust them, I'll link it.
Page 11-12 shows how high they're supposed to be but I can tell that mine are way lower than that.

Im trying to find it on their website but I cant find it lol. The post I saw it from was from 2016.

http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3...11162016_22477

[Quattro420]

yeah I saw the screw , but its pointless if you don't know where you are supposed to be
so I just lined up the green paint marks.

You use the scann tool basic setting of headlight adjuster, it will ask you to adjust the headlights you grab the headlight Aimer set it up and the adjust the lights so it is in spec in the headlight adjust machine and then do the same to the other side, continue basic setting of lights and your done. (Specs are on the headlights)
Or
Aim your low beams at a wall 4ft or so away so you can see the “J” in the headlight reflection on the wall raise it or lower it with the adjuster screw and then do the basic setting without shutting the headlights of between adjusting and basic setting. Hope it makes sense if not I’ll try and explain better

[BoostedJoe]

You use the scann tool basic setting of headlight adjuster, it will ask you to adjust the headlights you grab the headlight Aimer set it up and the adjust the lights so it is in spec in the headlight adjust machine and then do the same to the other side, continue basic setting of lights and your done. (Specs are on the headlights)
Or
Aim your low beams at a wall 4ft or so away so you can see the “J” in the headlight reflection on the wall raise it or lower it with the adjuster screw and then do the basic setting without shutting the headlights of between adjusting and basic setting. Hope it makes sense if not I’ll try and explain better

Scan tool as in VCDS?


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[BoostedJoe]

Update: Found a video on youtube that explains it briefly. You can use the ODB Eleven which I have so I will be trying it shortly..
He also states not to adjust the leveling screw too much on the headlights or you will f*** them up and most likely have to replace them so be aware of that!!

[BoostedJoe]

Update: It worked. Thank you Quattro420 for your input, it helped !
Used the OBD Eleven>Central Electrics>Basic Settings>Channel 011>Hold Check-mark to go into adaptation mode>Let them adjust>Hold check-mark again once adjusted to save>Finished!

I got the footage of them adjusting from my dashcam lol, you can clearly see they went up quite a bit and at the end they slowly raise to leveled height

[Theiceman]

I have vcds so looks like i need to try something like this


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[Theiceman]

You use the scann tool basic setting of headlight adjuster, it will ask you to adjust the headlights you grab the headlight Aimer set it up and the adjust the lights so it is in spec in the headlight adjust machine and then do the same to the other side, continue basic setting of lights and your done. (Specs are on the headlights)
Or
Aim your low beams at a wall 4ft or so away so you can see the “J” in the headlight reflection on the wall raise it or lower it with the adjuster screw and then do the basic setting without shutting the headlights of between adjusting and basic setting. Hope it makes sense if not I’ll try and explain better

I think i. Understand . But raise it or lower it to what ? What is the reference point
I don’t have a headlight aiming machine so how far you are from a wall i would think has to be exact. This J that shows up on the wall. Where is it suppose to sit exactly and does it show for both headlights ?
Thanks


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[BoostedJoe]

I think i. Understand . But raise it or lower it to what ? What is the reference point
I don’t have a headlight aiming machine so how far you are from a wall i would think has to be exact. This J that shows up on the wall. Where is it suppose to sit exactly and does it show for both headlights ?
Thanks


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You should check out the link I posted to the ECS tuning instructions (#5 post). It shows how far you’re supposed to be and how to measure it .

[Smac770]

On the headlight is a marking, 1.0 degrees on the top of my headlamps. So the drop is to be 1%. The gas tank should be full, no non-original cargo loading, and you in the drivers seat (or equivalent weights), parking brake off. Mark the bulb centers (height and horizontal) on a wall. Back the car up on level ground (and of course the wall is perpendicular) and determine the distance from the bulbs to the wall. The hot spot of the light pattern should be 1% of that distance below your wall marks. Regarding horizontal, the break point where the light pattern jumps up from the shorter left half to the taller right half should be on your wall mark, as I understand it.

[Smac770]

I scrolled down and saw the B8.5 has a different entry. Oddly, it has an additional adjustment at the end of the physical alignment during the adaptation process. Not sure if anyone can comment on it.
So aim the light pattern as for the B8.0, but then the repair manual says to turn the horizontal screw 6.5 turns to move the light pattern to the outside (left for left, right for right). So setting a horizontal angle of 3.1% outward. Curious.

[Theiceman]

I think my lights move as I turn the corner so i think the additional adjustment might have something to do with that.

[Theiceman]

You should check out the link I posted to the ECS tuning instructions (#5 post). It shows how far you’re supposed to be and how to measure it .

Thanks Joe I am on my computer now so was able to see the pdf.

Yeah looks like 20ft and one inch lower. Think I will just check that and call it a day ... no one is flashing me as I go by them so I'm thinking it cant be off too bad. Besides I'm pretty sure the car re- levels itself every time you urn it on . I see them going up and down briefly.

[BoostedJoe]

Thanks Joe I am on my computer now so was able to see the pdf.

Yeah looks like 20ft and one inch lower. Think I will just check that and call it a day ... no one is flashing me as I go by them so I'm thinking it cant be off too bad. Besides I'm pretty sure the car re- levels itself every time you urn it on . I see them going up and down briefly.

No problem. I would notice before I lowered my car that the headlights were aiming at the top of a normal sedans rear bumper at a stop light. Then when I lowered it they were under the bumper which I noticed right away. For me I needed them higher because I couldn't see far enough on the freeway but if yours are a bit higher I wouldn't be worried about it unless you cant see at night.

I also read that on start up, when they move up and down, its testing the auto leveling so I don't believe they adjust themselves.

Not sure why they can't adjust themselves on start up every time instead of having to go through the scan tool and manually doing it.

[Theiceman]

No problem. I would notice before I lowered my car that the headlights were aiming at the top of a normal sedans rear bumper at a stop light. Then when I lowered it they were under the bumper which I noticed right away. For me I needed them higher because I couldn't see far enough on the freeway but if yours are a bit higher I wouldn't be worried about it unless you cant see at night.

I also read that on start up, when they move up and down, its testing the auto leveling so I don't believe they adjust themselves.

Not sure why they can't adjust themselves on start up every time instead of having to go through the scan tool and manually doing it.

my thoughts exactly , you would think they would calibrate every time you start the car for fuel load , passengers, cargo etc.

[miketweedie]

I am also struggling with this. I hooked up VCDS (which technically should work as well, or better than OBD11), and it couldn't find the headlight module. I've been told many times that adjusting without module reset can lead to problems, but yet other people claim they just adjusted the screws and problem solved. my dealer wants an hour labor to adjust, plus .5 for assessment, which is ridiculous.

2015 AR, Premium, Sport. any insights? anyone else failing to connect?

[BoostedJoe]

I am also struggling with this. I hooked up VCDS (which technically should work as well, or better than OBD11), and it couldn't find the headlight module. I've been told many times that adjusting without module reset can lead to problems, but yet other people claim they just adjusted the screws and problem solved. my dealer wants an hour labor to adjust, plus .5 for assessment, which is ridiculous.

2015 AR, Premium, Sport. any insights? anyone else failing to connect?

Yeah I wouldn't adjust them just by doing the screw. It can f*** up the auto leveling system. I think I found how to do it with VCDS, try this out .
When doing this they should adjust themselves automatically and you shouldn’t have to adjust the screws but if they don’t and they are the same you would need to adjust them with the screws .
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/car...alignment.html

[miketweedie]

Yeah I wouldn't adjust them just by doing the screw. It can f*** up the auto leveling system. I think I found how to do it with VCDS, try this out
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/car...alignment.html

worth a try, thanks!

[BoostedJoe]

worth a try, thanks!

No problem ! Good luck

[Depthcharge]

Let me know if you get this to work. After I swapped out the xenon's it feels like my car is starting to look like Forest Whitaker.

[BoostedJoe]

Let me know if you get this to work. After I swapped out the xenon's it feels like my car is starting to look like Forest Whitaker.

LMAO, swapped them out as in bulbs?
If you have the OBD eleven you should try the steps I posted earlier (#9)

[Depthcharge]

I've got Vag-com, but should probably do the full level sweet. Everytime I idle behind someone at a light, it looks like the passenger side light is higher than the driver side.

[BoostedJoe]

I've got Vag-com, but should probably do the full level sweet. Everytime I idle behind someone at a light, it looks like the passenger side light is higher than the driver side.

yea you might need to set it to the adaption mode then use the screw to lower it then save the setting

[Theiceman]

yea you might need to set it to the adaption mode then use the screw to lower it then save the setting

yeah record and you tube it for us :)

good news for me is i never ever touched that white screw while pulling my lights, just the back ones around it so i think im okay
.. but still gonna do the wall test when it warms up a bit at the local school with some chalk at night

[BoostedJoe]

yeah record and you tube it for us :)

I don't have the VCDS lol, I'll try to find something

[BoostedJoe]

I've got Vag-com, but should probably do the full level sweet. Everytime I idle behind someone at a light, it looks like the passenger side light is higher than the driver side.

yeah record and you tube it for us :) good news for me is i never ever touched that white screw while pulling my lights, just the back ones around it so i think im okay .. but still gonna do the wall test when it warms up a bit at the local school with some chalk at night

Try this out, should be the same thing

[Depthcharge]

I likely just need to back out the vertical leveling screw a bit since the plastic screw (left / right) is fine.