Help with Model 3 Headlights Adjustment Settings

[CygnusX1]

Read quite a few times now how to adjust the height of the lights. But I noticed that they also can be adjusted horizontally by pressing the scroll wheel horizontally. Any thoughts on the correct horizontal position?

I have to change the (vertical) adjustment every once in a while (twice since February) because it seems to reset for no obvious reason. The reset position is way too high what oncoming drivers tell me quite clearly...

 

[ALSETJC]

Read quite a few times now how to adjust the height of the lights. But I noticed that they also can be adjusted horizontally by pressing the scroll wheel horizontally. Any thoughts on the correct horizontal position?

I have to change the (vertical) adjustment every once in a while (twice since February) because it seems to reset for no obvious reason. The reset position is way too high what oncoming drivers tell me quite clearly...

I agree I was getting flashed a few times , so I moved both sides 2 notches lower.not much but I figure it's good enough. Haven't really been flashed since .

 

[CygnusX1]

No ideas about the horizontal adjustment?

 

[Nicholas4]

Why are you adjusting the headlights?

I have met at least 3-5 driver blink their headlight to show my model 3 bother his driving. One guys even stop by tell me I need switch off my high beam actually I didn’t.

 

[CurtisVL]

I have met at least 3-5 driver blink their headlight to show my model 3 bother his driving. One guys even stop by tell me I need switch off my high beam actually I didn’t.

It seems like in the UK our beams are way off from the factory, it seems to be extremely common here.

Funnily enough, the beams are 'level', as the American's described previously in this post. I guess in Europe they're supposed to point down a bit? Not really sure, need to book mine in for a headlight alignment some time. I don't drive much at night so it's not a huge issue.

 

[holmgang]

It seems like in the UK our beams are way off from the factory, it seems to be extremely common here.

Funnily enough, the beams are 'level', as the American's described previously in this post. I guess in Europe they're supposed to point down a bit? Not really sure, need to book mine in for a headlight alignment some time. I don't drive much at night so it's not a huge issue.

im annoyed i cant find the headlight parameters published anywhere, for any jurisdiction.

i sorta understand the argument that headlight adjustment should be left for specialists and professionals -- rather than let punters tweak it randomly at home -- but the fact that any person has access to the controls whether by some screws on the headlight assembly, or digital controls like the tesla, smashes that argument altogether.

 

[CurtisVL]

im annoyed i cant find the headlight parameters published anywhere, for any jurisdiction.

i sorta understand the argument that headlight adjustment should be left for specialists and professionals -- rather than let punters tweak it randomly at home -- but the fact that any person has access to the controls whether by some screws on the headlight assembly, or digital controls like the tesla, smashes that argument altogether.

Yeah, exactly.

What I think the most common cause of the issues we see is a difference between US and EU headlight alignment. It's possible in the US, which has many high vehicles such as SUVs, pickup trucks, etc. that a perfectly aligned headlight is one facing perfectly straight forward. In their country that wouldn't blind most road users.

Whereas in Europe, with lots of small, low vehicles, we have 'dipped beam' as an actual... Well... Dipped beam, not level beam. Very noticable when you watch other cars and their headlights are basically lighting up the ground only a car length in front of them.
Obviously it'll just be regulations, not specific reasons like that, but it's possible that contributes to a difference in those regulations between the EU and US.

 

[AxlxA]

Did you guys check the service manual? @holmgang @CurtisVL

Note: EU vehicles require a 1 to 1.5 degree downward inclination in the headlight beam. For example, a vehicle parked 10 m from the wall would have 10 cm beam drop, from 70cm height at the lens to 60cm height at the wall.
​

Anyone need to see this from service manual? i can screen shot

 

[CurtisVL]

Did you guys check the service manual? @holmgang @CurtisVL

Note: EU vehicles require a 1 to 1.5 degree downward inclination in the headlight beam. For example, a vehicle parked 10 m from the wall would have 10 cm beam drop, from 70cm height at the lens to 60cm height at the wall.
​

Anyone need to see this from service manual? i can screen shot

That's really interesting! I mean... I never looked at the manual because... Well, you assume it'd come with that as the default position when sold in Europe...?

Very useful info though, much appereciated! Guess I gotta' find a car park and a tape measure!
I'm just glad I'm not going crazy and it is some EU-specific regulation!

 

[AxlxA]

@CurtisVL

 

[holmgang]

@CurtisVL
View attachment 578302 View attachment 578303

ultra cool. ddint have access to this. thanks for posting

 

[AxlxA]

ultra cool. ddint have access to this. thanks for posting

Ya it's like $300/hr from Tesla service access. It's worth it when you have a big project. Or Google-fu

 

[Gasaraki]

Yeah, but what I mean is a motorized mechanism. Typically, you adjust them with a screwdriver. Why add the motor and a signal pathway to the MCU so that it can be controlled by software? It just seems like a waste of parts and added complexity if no one is expected to use the mechanism, except for techs. I'd rather have a powered trunk than adjustable headlights.

If you haven't noticed EVERYTHING is controlled via software in the Tesla.

 

[CurtisVL]

Yeah, but what I mean is a motorized mechanism. Typically, you adjust them with a screwdriver. Why add the motor and a signal pathway to the MCU so that it can be controlled by software? It just seems like a waste of parts and added complexity if no one is expected to use the mechanism, except for techs. I'd rather have a powered trunk than adjustable headlights.

Also worth noting headlights in Europe are required to have auto-leveling now, thus requiring the motor like every other European car already has, though it doesn't seem Tesla has this functionality in the software yet.

Headlight regulations are far stricter in Europe than in the US, the Model 3's lights aren't really that good in Europe. The beam has way too much spread compared to even cheap French cars.

 

[MP3Mike]

Headlight regulations are far stricter in Europe than in the US, the Model 3's lights aren't really that good in Europe. The beam has way too much spread compared to even cheap French cars.

Or you could say that they are much stricter in the US as in the US you can't have adaptive headlights. (So all of those great headlights in Europe are illegal in the US.)

 

[DrHouseDK]

Or you could say that they are much stricter in the US as in the US you can't have adaptive headlights. (So all of those great headlights in Europe are illegal in the US.)

Old thread, granted, but I really beg to differ.

My former car, an i3, had regular LED headlights - not the Adaptive ones. The light pattern is HEAPS better than the TM3, to a point where I don't feel comfortable driving at night. And the i3 is a car that came out back in 2013...

 

[Pyre]

No ideas about the horizontal adjustment?

Not to bring back the dead post, but my Model 3 does not have any horizontal adjustment, solely vertical.