Hi,
Is this headlight aim control worth fixing at all. The switch does nothing on the dash! What is the likely symptoms of why this is not working?
regards
Richard
Headlight aim control
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RTTBMW
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E30 325i Mtech 2 1990 (Registered in 1991)
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Cloggy Saint
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You'll be hard pushed to find any E30 with the headlight aim still functioning. I don't think there's much can be done to fix them but the entire system can be replaced or upgraded to electric adjusters as per the E36(?). I just use the manual adjusters on the back of the light units.
E30 zone - promoting adult illiteracy since 2004
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
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The system is a closed circuit hydraulic one, using an alcohol/water mix as the hydraulic fluid. It has stopped working because it has leaked.
It doesn't really have any practical use on an E30 unless you habitually put heavy loads in the rear or use the car for towing.
Unfortunately, after it has failed, the headlight aim defaults to the lowest position, which is usually too low for the UK MOT test, and certainly too low for safe night driving.
The knurled knob on the outside of the failed hydraulic cylinders at the headlamps is a fine adjuster which can raise the aim, but usually still not enough to be safe. The threaded rods that run forwards from the cylinders to the headlamp rim are a coarse aim adjustment, so first raise the beams a couple of turns with these, then set the aim accurately, to nearly as high as is allowed, by turning the fine adjustment.
It doesn't really have any practical use on an E30 unless you habitually put heavy loads in the rear or use the car for towing.
Unfortunately, after it has failed, the headlight aim defaults to the lowest position, which is usually too low for the UK MOT test, and certainly too low for safe night driving.
The knurled knob on the outside of the failed hydraulic cylinders at the headlamps is a fine adjuster which can raise the aim, but usually still not enough to be safe. The threaded rods that run forwards from the cylinders to the headlamp rim are a coarse aim adjustment, so first raise the beams a couple of turns with these, then set the aim accurately, to nearly as high as is allowed, by turning the fine adjustment.