Clarification of headlight adjustment issues

[dgerstel]

As a follow up on the "Headlights post." One of the requests made at the last WRV Focus group meeting, was for brighter headlights. The real problem, in my opinion was the installation of the headlight assemblies. The BMW headlight assemblies used, have a face that is sloped slightly back at the top, to match the front of the BMW. The area of our coaches, where the headlight is mounted, is flat to sloped slightly in at the bottom. With the assemblies mounted so that the light face is even with the front of the coach, the assembly has to be mounted so that it is angled down in the front.

This is my headlight after being adjusted so that the beams can be adjusted. You will note the headlight no longer fits the front cap as delivered. I had to have this done on both of my coaches to be able to have proper headlight adjustment.


This is how the assembly is mounted and you can see the new mounting holes WRV made to level the assembly.

[dgerstel]

As a follow up on the "Headlights post." One of the requests made at the last WRV Focus group meeting, was for brighter headlights. The real problem, in my opinion was the installation of the headlight assemblies. The BMW headlight assemblies used, have a face that is sloped slightly back at the top, to match the front of the BMW. The area of our coaches, where the headlight is mounted, is flat to sloped slightly in at the bottom. With the assemblies mounted so that the light face is even with the front of the coach, the assembly has to be mounted so that it is angled down in the front.

This is my headlight after being adjusted so that the beams can be adjusted. You will note the headlight no longer fits the front cap as delivered. I had to have this done on both of my coaches to be able to have proper headlight adjustment.


This is how the assembly is mounted and you can see the new mounting holes WRV made to level the assembly.

[Tom and Patty]

Dale,

Thank you for the post.

I have removed mine for polishing and was looking at the mounting to see if I could pull the top of the lens higher. Our headlamps are adjusted as high as they can go. I thought maybe I could shim it. Now I may drill some new holes.

[takepride]

Dale:

Don't you mean that the assembly needs to be angled upward (tilted back) so the light is cast further out? Mine are pointing at the ground. Even on high-beam they are still too low (but bright).

[takepride]

Dale:

The drilling of new holes completely escaped me. DUH!!! It's only fiberglass. The answer is so obvious now; I am hanging my head in shame and humiliation.....

[dgerstel]

takepride,

The tilted down in the front, was meant to refer to how the factory was installing them, to make the front lens fit the front cap of the coach.

[takepride]

Dale:

Of course. Read from that perspective it makes perfect sense.

Thanks!

[Lindenberg]

Tom,

How did you polish your headlights? My lights look like they were clear coated and the coating has come off where the light shines through it.

[Tom and Patty]

Tom, Here is the link to the page where I described how I cleaned up the lenses. They were pretty bad, and now are crystal clear.

Polishing Headlamps

[D & D Rich]

Tom Lindenberg,
Your post "How did you polish your headlights?"

I was watching a hot rod show called "Two Guys Garage" yesterday and they did a sigment on polishing headlights on an older Ford. The product they used was made by 3-M. It was in kit form and had soft sponge drill attachment with velcro sanding disc and polishers. Did a wet sand with 500, 800, then 3000. Put a buffing disc and polishing compound last. On TV it looked really great! Not sure where to purchase a 3-M kit. You might try an Auto Paint Supplier which has 3-M products.

Good luck.

Dan

[F&D ABQ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by D & D Rich Tom Lindenberg, Your post "How did you polish your headlights?" I was watching a hot rod show called "Two Guys Garage" yesterday and they did a sigment on polishing headlights on an older Ford. The product they used was made by 3-M. It was in kit form and had soft sponge drill attachment with velcro sanding disc and polishers. Did a wet sand with 500, 800, then 3000. Put a buffing disc and polishing compound last. On TV it looked really great! Not sure where to purchase a 3-M kit. You might try an Auto Paint Supplier which has 3-M products. Good luck. Dan

I got mine at Auto Zone.