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      05-15-2011, 10:53 PM   #1
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Anyone Else with This Weird Headlight Prob???

I am not sure if this has always done this but its the first time I have noticed this....while I was driving I could see signs in front of me and to my right light up from my headlights...and I am talking signs up 20-30 ft high...some overhead freeway signs too...noticeable when I am fairly far way from illuminated signs....but nobody has flashed me....hmm.

Two things that have changed recently are the LUX angel eye LEDS but these dont project like that...other thing I have done recently is install Ground Control coil kit so the car is quite abit lower and stiffer than before.

So I pull up to my garage door and with headlights shining the light cutoff looks normal to me...the passengers side abit flared up and slightly higher which is normal for US based cars...get eyes abit above the eye level of the headlights and no glare.

Has anyone else ever noticed this?...or perhaps my auto-leveling/dynamic units going crazy????
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      05-15-2011, 10:57 PM   #2
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I've noticed this too, and I've been flashed a couple of times. My car has been shortly after delivery, so I don't recall how OEM was like.
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      05-16-2011, 02:02 AM   #3
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Sounds like the headlamp levelling arms haven't been put back on properly after the spring install
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      05-16-2011, 08:26 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alpina527 View Post
Sounds like the headlamp levelling arms haven't been put back on properly after the spring install
I agree
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      05-16-2011, 08:36 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alpina527 View Post
Sounds like the headlamp levelling arms haven't been put back on properly after the spring install

so the headlight levelling arms are something that would routinely have to be dealt with when doing either spring or coilover kit install???...thx.
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      05-16-2011, 09:39 AM   #6
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I had no idea the auto levelling sensors are indeed attached to the suspension arm so very likely the culprit...anyone know where this sensor is exactly so I can inspect later?...also, can I just disengage the auto-levelers for right now until I can get this fixed so I dont blind people?..if so, where do I unplug the autolevellers?...thx.
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      05-16-2011, 11:06 AM   #7
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Its a little bar that attaches to your lower control arm. Its on there trust me. If you wanna stop by so we can see whats going on that would be great. It has them on the front and rear of the car. Drivers side.
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      05-16-2011, 11:06 AM   #8
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From what you're describing, this is by design. Im on mobile and can't see where you're from but in the US, part of dot approval for headlights is that they shine a certain percentage of their light at a certain angle upwards (don't remember the actual figures). This is because in the US most signs are not illuminated and the headlights must do that. Projector style lamps must either have cutouts (actual holes) punched in the beam cut off stopper or reflectors on the lower portion bouncing thenlight up. They can also use the lense refraction edge.
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      05-16-2011, 11:30 AM   #9
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Take a look at this blog. It clearly shows the arms.

http://billswebspace.com/M3HRSpringInstallation
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      05-16-2011, 11:30 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zhemel View Post
Its a little bar that attaches to your lower control arm. Its on there trust me. If you wanna stop by so we can see whats going on that would be great. It has them on the front and rear of the car. Drivers side.
sent you a PM.
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      05-16-2011, 11:34 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ramyar View Post
From what you're describing, this is by design. Im on mobile and can't see where you're from but in the US, part of dot approval for headlights is that they shine a certain percentage of their light at a certain angle upwards (don't remember the actual figures). This is because in the US most signs are not illuminated and the headlights must do that. Projector style lamps must either have cutouts (actual holes) punched in the beam cut off stopper or reflectors on the lower portion bouncing thenlight up. They can also use the lense refraction edge.

I know exactly what your talking about but that isnt my problem...I can actually see signs on freeways hanging down and above(ie-not on side of road) being illuminated by my headlights!...


Very erratic...light cutoff seems to be migrating even when I accelerate...I am positive it just started doing this recently after suspension work and angel eye LED swap...gotta be suspension.

Last edited by mact3333; 05-16-2011 at 11:44 AM..
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      05-16-2011, 11:44 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alpina527 View Post
Take a look at this blog. It clearly shows the arms.

http://billswebspace.com/M3HRSpringInstallation

Thank you...very helpful!
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      05-17-2011, 12:00 AM   #13
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ok, my sensor was pointed in wrong direction but even after I had this fixed my car still has really high cutoff so it wasnt that...I think its because the car is lowered...found this thread...anyone else that has recently lowered their car notice people flashing them or headlights aimed too high?.


http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...eadlight+level


also, just got in the MDX and drove around and the MDX cutoff much lower than my M.
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      05-17-2011, 12:02 AM   #14
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im on h&r race springs and i get flashed like 5 times a day plus my car just gave a a "adaptive headlight error"
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      05-17-2011, 06:01 AM   #15
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Get them checked again. The arm can go on 180 degrees out. I'm sure this is your problem.

Here is how they should look. (Left side of car)




Last edited by alpina527; 05-17-2011 at 06:24 AM..
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      05-17-2011, 10:26 PM   #16
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people, if you get suspension work done and your headlight/auto-levelers go crazy, look at these pics!.

There are front and rear sensors on drivers side...they look like black plastic window roller handle...they must both be going horizontal!...not down....my front was adjusted yesterday properly cause it was pointing down...didnt fix my problem...I "thought" the rear was horizontal but I guessed wrong.


Front sensor--->correct way.



rear sensor--->incorrect way.

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      05-18-2011, 03:49 AM   #17
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Glad you got it sorted
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      05-18-2011, 03:52 AM   #18
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The things one learns on this forum. Simply amazing.
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      05-18-2011, 04:14 AM   #19
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The things one learns on this forum. Simply amazing.
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      05-18-2011, 02:52 PM   #20
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Thx to all that helped me publically and with PM's!.


Just as a FYI...if you have to ever adjust the aim of your headlights, after alot of trial and error last night(this was before I fixed the sensor on rear), the perfect level for the superior cutoff(for me anyway) is 24.5-25.0 inches from ground level from exactly 48 inches away from anterior bulb of HID...I tried 24 inches, 26 inches, 25.5 inches but 24.5 inches was the best for me.
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      05-18-2011, 03:20 PM   #21
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Definitely learned something new today regarding the sensors on the suspension.
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