headlight aim control - hoses.... not working

Post Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:40 pm

hi- recently someone told me i left a pool of power steering fluid after me when i drove off after being parked- i checked the tank but it was fine and thought nothing off it...
then i realise the two lights that illuminate my headlight aim control dont work any more - then upon inspection i realise that one of the headlight aim control hoses is missing fluid- whats gone wrong! - does anyone know how it works? all i see is the pipes dissapearing into unreachable parts of the car so am unsure about how to go about fixing it.
any advice welcomed
thanks
liam

Post Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:09 pm

It's not worth the hastle of fixing them.
iirc BMW still sell the whole lot as a kit (at around 90 quid)
if you realy want them to work, consider fitting E36 electric ones.

your lucky your headlight aim worked for so long. Most peoples have failed.

Post Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:14 pm

You were obviously one of the lucky ones that had a system that still worked!!

Aparantly it is pretty much expected that these systems are dud by now and i'm pretty sure they cannot be repaired. They are a sealed system and you would need to fit a complete new one.

Needless to say everyone just forgets about it and adjusts it manually. I have the same problem and you will probably notice that the headlight aim has dropped and will need adjusting back up if you want to see where you are going at night or pass an MOT.

I'm not expert, so perhaps some else will confirm any of this for you.

Post Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:26 pm

geez
while i dont have alot of money, that actually pains me - i'll lo0ok into the e36 conversion if its as cheap
don't want to start letting her fall apart at the edges and its a nice touch,
thanks for the info
liam

Post Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:08 pm

How do you go about adjusting them manually? Dipped beam is an interesting experience at the moment....

Post Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:03 am

If it's just the hydraulics then there is an adjuster in the form of the big knurled outside ring of the hydraulic cylinder, and if that doesn't have enough range, then the metal threaded centre rod is adjustable as well by a cross head slot in the ball at the front.

Hope this helps.

Post Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:10 am

Ceeman - On the subject of hydraulic headlamp adjusters at least, you are an expert.

Post Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:21 am

Brianmoooore wrote:Ceeman - On the subject of hydraulic headlamp adjusters at least, you are an expert.

I thought you would post sooner or later.

It's all that information i have gleaned from you

Post Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:53 am

Thanks, I'll go and have a look as soon as it stops raining!