Headlight adjustment

Correctly adjusted headlights are the basis of safe driving in the dark and in poor weather. If the lights point too low, your field of vision is significantly shortened, making it impossible to spot obstacles and pedestrians in time. If they point too high, they dazzle oncoming drivers and create life-threatening situations in traffic. At Carstop workshops we check and adjust headlights using dedicated optical alignment equipment, ensuring the beam height, angle and focus meet both factory and roadworthiness test requirements.

Carstop workshops include the following among their maintenance services

Adjusting the beam height and direction of dipped, main and fog lights on an alignment rig
Checking halogen, xenon and LED headlamps and replacing bulbs
Checking and calibrating automatic levelling sensors and cornering light systems

How to recognise when you should bring your car in for a check

Poor visibility when driving in the dark, oncoming cars flash their lights, or a headlight bulb has been changed
If you notice the headlight beam lighting only a few metres in front of the car, or oncoming vehicles flashing their lights at you because of dazzle, the adjustment is out. Headlights should also always be rechecked after replacing a headlamp or bulb, as a new bulb may not sit in the holder at exactly the same angle, and after chassis repairs or a change in ride height (for example new shock absorbers or springs), which alters the whole position of the body relative to the road.

Read more about the service

Why must headlights not be adjusted "by eye" against a wall, and why is a faulty automatic leveller dangerous?
The beam of a modern headlight is engineered to a fraction of a degree to deliver maximum visibility without dazzling others — this simply cannot be set without dedicated optical headlight alignment equipment. In addition, many xenon and LED headlights have a mandatory automatic levelling system that adjusts the lights according to the car's load. If this system's sensor (usually mounted on the axle) is damaged or seizes with rust, the lights are automatically directed to their lowest position for safety, pointing at the ground just in front of the car — and this can only be put right with diagnostics and the help of a specialist.

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