DIY: How to Properly Aim 06+ Coupe Projectors
Can someone please tell me what the hell is wrong with my cut off beam?
My passanger side beam has a big yellow round on top of the beam. The driver side has yellow at the bottom.
I tried adjusting it but had no luck getting rid of the yellow blotches everywhere.
These are Philips 6000k D2S bulbs and looked fine on my 05 headlights.
Below are the pics (ignore the two pieces of masking tape, I used it to try to align them).
My passanger side beam has a big yellow round on top of the beam. The driver side has yellow at the bottom.
I tried adjusting it but had no luck getting rid of the yellow blotches everywhere.
These are Philips 6000k D2S bulbs and looked fine on my 05 headlights.
Below are the pics (ignore the two pieces of masking tape, I used it to try to align them).
Last edited by Black Acc; Dec 9, 2009 at 12:58 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5
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From: Vancouver, BC
Black Acc, just a thought, are your lower bulbs on too? I know mine come on when I turn on my lights and they are pretty yellowish... Maybe its one of those bulbs aimed too high and one too low. If they are in fact on, try holding your hand in front of just the lower bulb and see if that cures it.
Black Acc, just a thought, are your lower bulbs on too? I know mine come on when I turn on my lights and they are pretty yellowish... Maybe its one of those bulbs aimed too high and one too low. If they are in fact on, try holding your hand in front of just the lower bulb and see if that cures it.
Thanks anyway
Is the adjustment screw only used to adjust the low beams? My drivers seems a tad high but my fog/high beam on that side is extremely bright.
Also I didnt read in the post if 03-05 are the same adjustment screws as the 06+.....?
Also I didnt read in the post if 03-05 are the same adjustment screws as the 06+.....?
You'll have to open them up to fix that.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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aftermarket
Since so many people have been picking up the recalled 06 headlights and installing them on their cars without doing any sort of aiming, I figured it was about time this was posted so you don't go around blinding all the other drivers on the road. Improper aiming leads to all sorts of beam issues and glare for other drivers and is extremely inconsiderate. If you have ever removed your projector headlights, or even had the recall work done, check your cutoff using this guide, as none of the dealerships seem to be performing any type of aiming at all.
Tools:
Long thin phillips head screwdriver
Tape measure
Masking tape
Find a location with a flat wall and level ground that you can use as your measurement surface. Aiming is done at a distance of 25ft from the wall, so the area needs to be decently sized. Warehouse/industrial areas are usually good places, find somewhere at night with little ambient light so the contrast is better.
Park your car on level ground 25ft from the wall measured from the front of the projectors, leaving the lights on. Pop the hood to locate the adjustment screw for the projectors. Pics below show how to adjust them. I don't remember if clockwise is up or down, but its pretty easy to figure out by just turning the screw and seeing which direction the lights go.
Below is the alignment guideline for how to aim your headlight cutoff.
A.
This is your reference line, it is the distance between the ground and the middle of the projectors. Measure this distance with the tape measure, and transfer this to the wall, making a straight line parallel to the ground at this height with the masking tape. All your aiming is based off this line, so make sure it is straight and the right height
B. This is the amount of slope the headlights have to meet DOT specs. At 25ft, the lower step of the cutoff should be 2.1-2.5" below the middle of the projector, which is the reference line in red that you marked using the masking tape previously. Check each headlight seperately to make sure the lower step falls on this line.
C.
This is the distance between the projectors, and is measured between the centers of the two projectors. This distance on the wall is measured between the slopes of the two projector cutoffs. This measurement is to make sure the projectors are actually pointed straight ahead. Another way to make sure is to drive towards and away from the wall and see if the two angled slopes move left and right. If they aren't pointed straight, either loosen the headlight bolts and adjust them until they are straight, or remove the headlights and adjust the two 8mm bolts on the rear which adjust the horizontal alignment. This is a tedious process and will require multiple removal/reinstalls
D. This is the distance from the projectors to the wall as mentioned before, 25ft. This is the standard distance for measurement performed to meet DOT specs.
Make sure that the lower and upper cutoffs are even with each other and that they are parallel to the ground. If they are rotated/angled, its likely the way the headlights were installed, and you need to loosen the bolts and adjust them around until they are level.
Hopefully now at least we can limit the amount issues with people installing recalled headlights, or those who have removed/ installed 06+ headlights. This needs to be done EACH TIME the headlights are removed and reinstalled as slight alignment issues can wreak havoc on cutoffs.
Tools:
Long thin phillips head screwdriver
Tape measure
Masking tape
Find a location with a flat wall and level ground that you can use as your measurement surface. Aiming is done at a distance of 25ft from the wall, so the area needs to be decently sized. Warehouse/industrial areas are usually good places, find somewhere at night with little ambient light so the contrast is better.
Park your car on level ground 25ft from the wall measured from the front of the projectors, leaving the lights on. Pop the hood to locate the adjustment screw for the projectors. Pics below show how to adjust them. I don't remember if clockwise is up or down, but its pretty easy to figure out by just turning the screw and seeing which direction the lights go.
Below is the alignment guideline for how to aim your headlight cutoff.
A.
This is your reference line, it is the distance between the ground and the middle of the projectors. Measure this distance with the tape measure, and transfer this to the wall, making a straight line parallel to the ground at this height with the masking tape. All your aiming is based off this line, so make sure it is straight and the right height
B. This is the amount of slope the headlights have to meet DOT specs. At 25ft, the lower step of the cutoff should be 2.1-2.5" below the middle of the projector, which is the reference line in red that you marked using the masking tape previously. Check each headlight seperately to make sure the lower step falls on this line.
C.
This is the distance between the projectors, and is measured between the centers of the two projectors. This distance on the wall is measured between the slopes of the two projector cutoffs. This measurement is to make sure the projectors are actually pointed straight ahead. Another way to make sure is to drive towards and away from the wall and see if the two angled slopes move left and right. If they aren't pointed straight, either loosen the headlight bolts and adjust them until they are straight, or remove the headlights and adjust the two 8mm bolts on the rear which adjust the horizontal alignment. This is a tedious process and will require multiple removal/reinstalls
D. This is the distance from the projectors to the wall as mentioned before, 25ft. This is the standard distance for measurement performed to meet DOT specs.
Make sure that the lower and upper cutoffs are even with each other and that they are parallel to the ground. If they are rotated/angled, its likely the way the headlights were installed, and you need to loosen the bolts and adjust them around until they are level.
Hopefully now at least we can limit the amount issues with people installing recalled headlights, or those who have removed/ installed 06+ headlights. This needs to be done EACH TIME the headlights are removed and reinstalled as slight alignment issues can wreak havoc on cutoffs.
