Headlamp glare

a.chappers

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Location
Manchester
Your Mercedes
E220 cdi 2008 Avantegarde
Hello, my WDB211 08 E220 headlamps are too high when on dip, dazzling oncoming drivers and vehicles in front. When I switch them on, they self adjust but too high. I can't find anything in the manual which tells how to correct this. Any help gratefully appreciated. Thanks.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
If you have Xenon lamps, this should just be a broken link on the suspension either front or rear if you look under each nearside wheel arch you will see the rod hanging down.

I normally have a link showing this but cannot for the time being
 
Last edited:

brandwooddixon

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
3,848
Reaction score
673
Location
Wolverhampton
Your Mercedes
S63 Coupe 2014
However, isn't there a manual adjuster on the headlamp for the OP to use for now?

That's what I do to mine, especially as last time it was MOTed they adjusted the aim to finish about 10 feet in front of the car.

Very important to set the angle with the engine running, so that the lamps have adjusted to their usual height.
 

Troon

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2011
Messages
917
Reaction score
3
Location
Staffordshire
Your Mercedes
A big one
There is an adjuster: there are three hex sockets on the top of each lamp. It's the middle one that does dipped beam vertical adjustment.
 
Last edited:

whitenemesis

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2006
Messages
17,978
Reaction score
40
Your Mercedes
CLS55 AMG '05
The mechanical adjusters are used to set the beams without engine or ignition on, this is then checked with engine running and any corrections done using STAR
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
The mechanical adjusters are used to set the beams without engine or ignition on, this is then checked with engine running and any corrections done using STAR

You can use the screws to adjust the beam manually with the engine running if you want to.

First if both lamps have gone upwards then a link if Xenon.
 

whitenemesis

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2006
Messages
17,978
Reaction score
40
Your Mercedes
CLS55 AMG '05
You can use the screws to adjust the beam manually with the engine running if you want to.

First if both lamps have gone upwards then a link if Xenon.

Of course one can but that's not the correct sequence
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Of course one can but that's not the correct sequence

It all depends by how much, why not check the links first on the suspension if both lamps are out
 

whitenemesis

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2006
Messages
17,978
Reaction score
40
Your Mercedes
CLS55 AMG '05
It all depends by how much, why not check the links first on the suspension if both lamps are out

Most definitely, no point in adjusting anything until one knows the system is fully functional.

My post outlined the correct sequence for adjusting the headlights.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Most definitely, no point in adjusting anything until one knows the system is fully functional.

My post outlined the correct sequence for adjusting the headlights.

Sadly all the talk of adjusting the lamps had no bearing on the fault, ant the talk of adjusting them is pointless at this stage.

Until the OP comes back and tells us what lamps he has, though they must be Xenon for if they were vacuum they would be pointing downwards if a pipe was off
 

whitenemesis

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2006
Messages
17,978
Reaction score
40
Your Mercedes
CLS55 AMG '05
Sadly all the talk of adjusting the lamps had no bearing on the fault, ant the talk of adjusting them is pointless at this stage.

Until the OP comes back and tells us what lamps he has, though they must be Xenon for if they were vacuum they would be pointing downwards if a pipe was off

Well, that's exactly what I've just said, thanks for confirming! ;)

If they were halogen the OP would have the adjuster thumb wheel by the light switch and it would be detailed in the handbook,which, apparently the OP has looked at.
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Well, that's exactly what I've just said, thanks for confirming! ;)

If they were halogen the OP would have the adjuster thumb wheel by the light switch and it would be detailed in the handbook,which, apparently the OP has looked at.

You have the last word :D
 
OP
A

a.chappers

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Location
Manchester
Your Mercedes
E220 cdi 2008 Avantegarde
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Many thanks for all these replies and observations. I am pretty sure they are xenons, it is an 08 Avantgarde. I will look for the links under the wheelarches and see what the score is there. Will report back. And thanks again.
 
OP
A

a.chappers

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Location
Manchester
Your Mercedes
E220 cdi 2008 Avantegarde
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #15
PS - there's no thumbwheel adjuster near the light switch...does this give a clue?
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
It has to be a leveling problem with both lamps out of line, you could turn do a quick check by either asking any MOT station or if you have a level piece of ground with a wall or fence at one end. just park a few feet from the wall and turn the headlamps on dipped beam, mark the height off, then reverse back about 20 feet and the beam should be lower
 
OP
A

a.chappers

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Location
Manchester
Your Mercedes
E220 cdi 2008 Avantegarde
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #18
Will do. Thanks very much for the help.
 
OP
A

a.chappers

Active Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Location
Manchester
Your Mercedes
E220 cdi 2008 Avantegarde
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #19
Headlamps fixed

Hi, finally got the headlamps problem fixed. My independent Merc specialist SPR Autos Ltd, Stockport, diagnosed and found a rear suspension levelling linkage hanger - I think that's right - had snapped, telling the sensor that the car was 'nosediving' - so it was pointing the xenons up all the time. All sorted and good service. Hope this helps someone else in future. Thanks for all the comments. :cool:
 


AMF Automotive - We are an independent Mercedes-Benz and AMG specialist located in Paddock Wood, Kent, with full Mercedes Diagnostic equipment. We offer a full portfolio of tuning options for AMGs and can cater for all your Mercedes needs.
Tel: 0203 384 4644www.amfmercedes.com/
Top Bottom