Headlight Adjustment

I've nearly finished 'Trophyising' my head lights and have just realised that when I put them back on the alignment will be all over the place, as I had to screw the adjusters to get the reflectors off :ohmy:

Is there a DIY method that will allow me to adjust them back to where they should be or am I going to have to get them done at an MOT centre?

Thanks

Laz1957 wrote: I've nearly finished 'Trophyising' my head lights and have just realised that when I put them back on the alignment will be all over the place, as I had to screw the adjusters to get the reflectors off :ohmy:

Is there a DIY method that will allow me to adjust them back to where they should be or am I going to have to get them done at an MOT centre?

Thanks

If you have a flat area and a wall you can set them pretty well.
Drive right up to the wall/garage door, switch on the dipped headlights and mark the top of the cut off of the dipped beams on the vertical surface. (I put a cross where the flat top changes to the angled top) Reverse straight back about 10 feet and check the positions of the top of the dipped beam. Adjust them so that they are vertically below the marked positions by two inches.
Road test.

Thanks for that

I am picking up the splitter tomorrow, so the headlights will be going on once the splitter is fitted to the bumper and ready to go back on.

I was told that the spliter is easier to fit with the bumper off, is there anything I need to keep in mind when I fit it?

The underside of the bumper will be much stiffer after it has been fitted and bolted back on the car, i would fit the splitter, after painting, with the bumper on. It will be much easier to centre and make it look right with the bumper on. What do Motobuild reccomend?? :shrug: :whistle:

Strangely enough he told me it was easier with the bumper off, but what you say makes a lot of sense

As the splitter is black I wasn't going to paint it.

The car is a flame red Mk1 (back windscreen surround). I have fitted black Lexus style rear lights, black trophy style headlights go on tomorrow, and I have black scoops coming for the side vents with the splitter, so I thought the black splitter would keep the theme going. I was told that it can be fitted unpainted by the guy at Moto-Build.

Laz1957 wrote: Strangely enough he told me it was easier with the bumper off, but what you say makes a lot of sense

As the splitter is black I wasn't going to paint it.

The car is a flame red Mk1 (back windscreen surround). I have fitted black Lexus style rear lights, black trophy style headlights go on tomorrow, and I have black scoops coming for the side vents with the splitter, so I thought the black splitter would keep the theme going. I was told that it can be fitted unpainted by the guy at Moto-Build.

Black will look good, just that i thought it would be in primer ready for painting, i am going to do a black one on mine (BRG ~ HAM) with the black windscreen surround it will look right. :whistle:

Well the one from Moto-Build should do the trick for you - I'll post pics when it's on

Quick update:

Black satin 'trophy' lights both on and bumper back on complete with splitter :woohoo:

FYI, after a bit of deliberation, my son and I decided to fit the splitter onto the bumper while it was still off and it was quite an easy job, so the Moto-Build guy's advice was good

My vent scoops came with the splitter and the Xsara washers also arrived today. It was getting dark by the time we got the bumper on, so they can wait until tomorrow, and I still have to put the 'flag' badges on the front wings

I will post some pics as well.

Not a bad couple of weeks for the Mk1:

52mm alloy throttle body
Pipercross Viper induction
'Trophy' headlights
Front splitter
Vent scoops
Misting washers
Flag badges

That just leaves the reconditioned AP Racing front calipers to go on and all the current external mods will be completed.

Only other external mod I am thinking of is a stainless steel exhaust - but that can wait for a bit, but not too long

looking forward to photo evidence.:yesnod:

Sorry no pics yet, as we got stuck in again...

Washers on - took a bit of time as the connector wouldn't fit the nozzle, so we had to re-plumb part of the system
Flag Badges on.

Then we remembered a couple more 'to dos':

Silicone tube inserted on door seals.
Carbon fibre heater vents installed.

We then spent some time playing with the vent scoops, but did't get it finished.

I am now on the look for a carbon fibre console for the Mk 1 - any ideas anyone?

Pics will be taken tomorrow (honest) :blush:

OK - here's the piccies:

Comparison between old reflector and replacement from'donor' headlights. Notice the sidelight hole is different. When I took off the N/S assembley it matched the donor. I think the N/S must have been replaced at some time, hence only problem with O/S.


The original surround:


Repainted surround:


Surround and reflector reassembled:


Lamps (and splitter) installed :woohoo:

Laz1957 wrote:

Wow! You can really see the difference between them. No wonder the light output was rubbish!:nonod:

Notice the different part numbers as well, I wonder when they changed to the newer better reflector.