Xenon shutters misaligned?

[rcs914]

So I love the Xenon headlights with the tech package, but have noticed one really odd thing - apparently the shutter on the left headlight comes down further than the one on the right. I took a picture of this which I've attached below. When the ground is flat, this difference is magnified, and the light on the right throws at least 1-2 car lengths further than the left. If I put on my high beams, there is no difference between the throw length - it is definitely the shutters.

I was wondering if this is "on purpose" so you are less likely to blind oncoming traffic, or if it is just something that needs to be adjusted. It can be kind of annoying when going around leftward curves.

 

[MATR6]

My '14 looks exactly the same. I think it's to keep from blinding oncoming traffic since our headlights do sit pretty high.

 

[Nodnerb]

Mine is the same. It drives me nuts on the hiway when I have to have my low beams on. It's downright dangerous. No way I would see a dear coming from the left and have time to stop. It's a pretty significant drop off from the right to left beam. At hiway speed there is no way I could stop in time if I hit the brake at the exact instant something comes into the left hand beam.

 

[darekd]

That's definitely done on purpose. All lights have to follow this pattern. It's just more visible with Xenon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Low_beam_light_pattern_for_right-hand_traffic.svg

 

[rcs914]

Good to know that it isn't something defective, but I wish that the headlights that move would account for it better. When you go around a leftward curve, the drop off area is directly in front of you, rather than to the left. If the right hand light moved its beam to land in front of the car, it would be nice, but it doesn't seem to do this.

 

[WNJ]

It's so you don't blind oncoming traffic.... it would be awesome if there was a switch to change the side of the higher shutter for driving in Europe!

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

All cars are aligned like that by design.

 

[KnurledNut]

Someone posted how to adjust the driver's beam. But I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[beemer133]

It can be fixed!

Mine is the same. It drives me nuts on the hiway when I have to have my low beams on. It's downright dangerous. No way I would see a dear coming from the left and have time to stop. It's a pretty significant drop off from the right to left beam. At hiway speed there is no way I could stop in time if I hit the brake at the exact instant something comes into the left hand beam.

I have had plenty of cars with Xenon-HID lights over the years (Audi, Lexus, Nissan, and now Mazda) and never noticed an issue with the beam pattern in any of these except in my CX-5. I found when I was driving at night (I live in an area with lots of hills) that my headlights were not up to the task at all. After doing a lot of research and trying to figure out the adjustment on my own, I asked the dealership at my oil changed. In less than 5 minutes they looked it up and realigned them. They were able to fix the alignment and have them point more straightforward rather than downward. Now my night vision with the low-beams is simply incredible, probably the best headlights I've ever had.

Note: I do get "brightened" VERY occasionally, but its usually when I am coming over a hill since these headlights do not auto-level. In standard driving or highway driving it's not noticeable and I've tested it by having someone else drive my car. Absolutely worth asking the dealer, I feel a lot safer and I'm much happier having paid for the Tech Package.

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

"Fixed" implies that it is broken.

You have basically broken the car and posted on the internet that the dealer has purposefully aligned the headlights contrary to the highway traffic act.

Good way to make sure that you cover the asses of people who help you.


Brilliant First Post.

(PS. Welcome to the forum)

 

[beemer133]

"Fixed" implies that it is broken.

You have basically broken the car and posted on the internet that the dealer has purposefully aligned the headlights contrary to the highway traffic act.

Good way to make sure that you cover the asses of people who help you.


Brilliant First Post.

(PS. Welcome to the forum)

Umm thanks, I guess.

Dealer actually told me that mine were off alignment by about 6-7 inches on each side. I simply asked if there was a problem and turned out there was. I didn't ask to have them break the law and the didn't do anything against DOT regulations.

 

[darekd]

Note: I do get "brightened" VERY occasionally, but its usually when I am coming over a hill since these headlights do not auto-level. In standard driving or highway driving it's not noticeable and I've tested it by having someone else drive my car. Absolutely worth asking the dealer, I feel a lot safer and I'm much happier having paid for the Tech Package.

Every Xenon OEM headlights sold in US must have auto leveling.

 

[beemer133]

Every Xenon OEM headlights sold in US must have auto leveling.

I thought the same thing but the dealer said they don't. The have the turning feature but not auto leveling, according to them. I know my Lexus used to level the headlights each time the car turned on, but the CX5 only moves them left to right.

Either way hope my idea helps someone out there, I know just know it worked for me.

 

[rmac]

I thought the same thing but the dealer said they don't. The have the turning feature but not auto leveling, according to them. I know my Lexus used to level the headlights each time the car turned on, but the CX5 only moves them left to right.

Either way hope my idea helps someone out there, I know just know it worked for me.

They do auto level as per the owners manual. I do notice it a little on start up. It's just not as dramatic as the lexus or mercs.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

My side area is well lit; I replaced my standard parklight/flassher with switchbacks. They provide a good amount of (5k) side light and then turn orange when the flasher is on.

 

[MikeM.]

I thought the same thing but the dealer said they don't. The have the turning feature but not auto leveling, according to them.

If this is the service manager of the dealership his lack of knowledge is shameful.

If it's just a salesman then it doesn't surprise me. I've become accustomed to salespeople knowing less than I do about the product I'm interested in and this holds true from autos to motorcycles to appliances, cameras and computers.

 

[Suddueth13]

That's actually both beams. Left and right is not separated by the step. Every projector cutoff shield has this step, halogen or Xenon. If you feel your lights are aimed low then point them at a wall at 25', measure from the ground to the center of the projector, then aim your lights to 2" shorter than your measurement on the wall. This should help a little bit with distance without blinding oncoming traffic.

 

[stromdriver]

auto leveling is not based on the angle of the terrain it is based on the vehicle's loading, so that if its loaded heavy in the rear it levels the headlights to compensate, not for hills/bumps

as someone else pointed out, this is standard on projection style headlamps (particularly HID's) and both bulbs have the step up, if you pull close enough to a wall you'll see that, i have no issues with the amount of road lit up, but i came from a passat that also had projection lamps so i was used to it, if you came from a reflector (standard) style headlamp it would seem weird because there is so much bleeding of the light pattern from the reflector

 

[Suddueth13]

Most AFS systems do level based on inclination. VW GTIs for example drop the cutoff on hills, as observed in my buddies GTI.

 

[raden]

Can anyone reference the post with the adjustment? I would like to adjust mine.