E class 2011 Xenons don't self adjust.

[Dav1992]

Hi all,

Today I was driving home in the night and realised the lights looked weak and could hardly see anything. I stopped the car, switched off the engine and placed myself against the wall and noticed the left light doesn't work. (You know the self adjusting dance when you switch on the car) the right light worked but left didn't. In the end the distance of the light is about 5 meters which is definitely wrong? Any ideas what could it be? Self leveling sensor? Motor? Any help much appreciated.

 

[V6Matty]

Hi all,

Today I was driving home in the night and realised the lights looked weak and could hardly see anything. I stopped the car, switched off the engine and placed myself against the wall and noticed the left light doesn't work. (You know the self adjusting dance when you switch on the car) the right light worked but left didn't. In the end the distance of the light is about 5 meters which is definitely wrong? Any ideas what could it be? Self leveling sensor? Motor? Any help much appreciated.

It would sound like the motor has failed or at least a link to it, might be worth having a good look with a mirror and the wheel liner off just to see if it’s anything obvious, after that I would say some time at an Indy to see if they can work out what it might be

 

[Dav1992]

It would sound like the motor has failed or at least a link to it, might be worth having a good look with a mirror and the wheel liner off just to see if it’s anything obvious, after that I would say some time at an Indy to see if they can work out what it might be

Thank you for the reply. I'll book it in see what they say. Could it be a sensor on the suspension? I have uploaded a short video to show exactly what's happening.

 

[Wighty]

This is what the issue was on mine , broken sensor arm , they rust .

Self levelling headlight problem ?

My E class has just passed its MOT , but the tester did say he had to adjust the headlights up as they were both pointing towards the ground . The headlights should be self levelling xenons so I'm guessing there will be some type of sensor thingy that regulates both headlights ? Can anyone point...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

Edit , just read yours is only one light ,so I’m probably totally wrong

 

[Dav1992]

This is what the issue was on mine , broken sensor arm , they rust .

Self levelling headlight problem ?

My E class has just passed its MOT , but the tester did say he had to adjust the headlights up as they were both pointing towards the ground . The headlights should be self levelling xenons so I'm guessing there will be some type of sensor thingy that regulates both headlights ? Can anyone point...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

Edit , just read yours is only one light ,so I’m probably totally wrong

The thing is the distance of the light is exactly the same. Very short. Definitely not how it use to be. Just wondering now do I need to plug it in to a genuine STAR diagnosis or any garage computer would be able to locate the fault and sort it? I want to avoid Mercedes garage or even an indy Mercedes as they quite pricey.

Youtube link to a video showing what's occurring.

 

[V6Matty]

It could be both, so a broken link on the suspension and that a motor has failed. A local garage may be able to check the mechanicals but it really is more a job to be done my an Indy with star I feel

 

[Wighty]

The thing is the distance of the light is exactly the same. Very short. Definitely not how it use to be. Just wondering now do I need to plug it in to a genuine STAR diagnosis or any garage computer would be able to locate the fault and sort it? I want to avoid Mercedes garage or even an indy Mercedes as they quite pricey.

Youtube link to a video showing what's occurring.

The icarsoft MB2 can tell you if the sensors are broken . Or a visual check of the arms is possible …see my thread

 

[Dav1992]

The icarsoft MB2 can tell you if the sensors are broken . Or a visual check of the arms is possible …see my thread

Just trying to find it any chance you can send me a link to it. Thank you

 

[alexanderfoti]

If its just one light pointing down, it will be the motor or the light not the linkage or the ride sensor

 

[Dav1992]

If its just one light pointing down, it will be the motor or the light not the linkage or the ride sensor

I see, when the car starts and the xenons adjust themselves only right one seems to be working, however when I drive at night both left and right light seem to have a very short distance? Makes it even more confusing for me. Why is that?

 

[LostKiwi]

I see, when the car starts and the xenons adjust themselves only right one seems to be working, however when I drive at night both left and right light seem to have a very short distance? Makes it even more confusing for me. Why is that?

Check the level sensor per Wighty. You could have two problems.

 

[Dav1992]

Check the level sensor per Wighty. You could have two problems.

Yep, will get it checked tomorrow. Thank you all.

 

[Dav1992]

So I had the car checked briefly. He has spotted a snapped sensor well a bracket or whatever you call it on the rear, mange to glue it together to see if it works and it's better but the left doesn't isn't working same as the right xenon. The question is can I adjust the height of the lamp manually?

 

[LostKiwi]

It can be adjusted but I'd be surprised if it will adjust that far.

 

[Dav1992]

It can be adjusted but I'd be surprised if it will adjust that far.

Why wouldn't it? What else can I do in that situation? I'm well stuck now

 

[mioba]

They are automaically adjusted which means just that - non manual intervention. They work based on the angle of the car ao. So as LK says any manual intervetion wont cut it as the system will fight against it.

 

[Dav1992]

I see, there's no way to manually adjust it then? I tried to manually adjust and the distance of light is much better after I manually adjusted it?

 

[bembo449]

so there was a snapped sensor arm but only on the rear ? i wonder if it possible to get hold of the back of the bulb holder and gently force it to a decent height where the manual adjust will have enough range ?? ive only dealt with the w211 and its usual the front sensor bracket / arm that snaps on those , youve been unlucky to have a motor fail , if that really is the fault then a 2nd lamp unit would be my suggestion

 

[Dav1992]

so there was a snapped sensor arm but only on the rear ? i wonder if it possible to get hold of the back of the bulb holder and gently force it to a decent height where the manual adjust will have enough range ?? ive only dealt with the w211 and its usual the front sensor bracket / arm that snaps on those , youve been unlucky to have a motor fail , if that really is the fault then a 2nd lamp unit would be my suggestion

Yeah the mechanic said there isn't one on the front and didn't check the front which was weird to me? I tried to manually adjust the height on the right one successfully and the range of the light was perfect then I tried the left one and the long screw thing snapped as it was really difficult to move it. So now I am pretty much stuck with left one.

The mechanic said both left and right motors working fine but I insisted they both moved intbr exact same way? And now right one move more then the left one?

 

[Blobcat]

Yeah the mechanic said there isn't one on the front and didn't check the front which was weird to me? I tried to manually adjust the height on the right one successfully and the range of the light was perfect then I tried the left one and the long screw thing snapped as it was really difficult to move it. So now I am pretty much stuck with left one.

The mechanic said both left and right motors working fine but I insisted they both moved intbr exact same way? And now right one move more then the left one?

There doesn't need to be one on the front... it's how low or high the back of the car is that affects where the headlights are pointing.
The lever snaps as the mechanism corrodes and seizes - you'll need to clean and lubricate it to keep it moving.