MOT Failure - Headlamp aim too low

BlackMagic · 16th April 2007, 21:27

My beloved ZT had it's MOT today and initially failed because both the 'nearside and offside headlamp aim too low' (?). It's a ZT 190+ with Xenons I thought these levelled themselves? The garage 'adjusted them' and needless to say it passed.

Can anyone shed any light (pardon the pun!) on this?

Simon · 16th April 2007, 21:51

Although they are self-levelling there are beam-adjusters to set the horizontal and vertical alignment. This means if you travel abroad, you can adjust the beam to suit those countries who drive on the wrong side.

Once the beam is aligned correctly, the self-levelling part adjust for variations in load in the car that may alter this default level (Self levels on the verticle plane only, I should add)

Keith · 17th April 2007, 10:51

Two things
Do they both nod up and down when you switch them on if not the leveling motors may be remaining in the down position.
Secondly when they adjusted them did you have a full tank of fuel?

BlackMagic · 17th April 2007, 12:09

I'll need to check whether they nod or not - didn't know 'til now they did that.

The tank was a little over 3/4 full.

This was it's first MOT so my assumption is if there was something wrong with the aim it has been like that since it left the factory(?)

Keith · 17th April 2007, 12:34

Yep could have been set up wrong, mine are self levelling but personally I think they are pointing to high

andyw · 17th April 2007, 22:29

Is it easy to adjust? I've always thought mine are too low although they did pass the MOT OK

BlackMagic · 18th April 2007, 11:47

I guess they must be easy to adjust - 1 hour labour (£15) to fix the lamps and unblock the washer bottle - you can't argue with value like that!

JohnDotCom · 18th April 2007, 22:02

£15 Labour my God! I pay between £45 and if in London around £70 per Hour!
Think I will come to Scotland, that even beats Lates if your Labour Price Correct.

Lates · 18th April 2007, 22:23

Mmmmmmmm £15/hour means lots and lots of cars to pay the rent.

JohnDotCom · 18th April 2007, 22:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lates

Mmmmmmmm £15/hour means lots and lots of cars to pay the rent.

Wouldn't cover Overheads and Commercial rates in most Garages.
More so in London.

16th April 2007, 21:27	#1
BlackMagic Loves to post Used to have: MG ZT 190 SE+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow Posts: 320 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	MOT Failure - Headlamp aim too low My beloved ZT had it's MOT today and initially failed because both the 'nearside and offside headlamp aim too low' (?). It's a ZT 190+ with Xenons I thought these levelled themselves? The garage 'adjusted them' and needless to say it passed. Can anyone shed any light (pardon the pun!) on this?

16th April 2007, 21:51	#2
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Although they are self-levelling there are beam-adjusters to set the horizontal and vertical alignment. This means if you travel abroad, you can adjust the beam to suit those countries who drive on the wrong side. Once the beam is aligned correctly, the self-levelling part adjust for variations in load in the car that may alter this default level (Self levels on the verticle plane only, I should add) Last edited by Simon; 16th April 2007 at 21:52.. Reason: Added extra info

17th April 2007, 10:51	#3
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	Two things Do they both nod up and down when you switch them on if not the leveling motors may be remaining in the down position. Secondly when they adjusted them did you have a full tank of fuel?

17th April 2007, 12:09	#4
BlackMagic Loves to post Used to have: MG ZT 190 SE+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow Posts: 320 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'll need to check whether they nod or not - didn't know 'til now they did that. The tank was a little over 3/4 full. This was it's first MOT so my assumption is if there was something wrong with the aim it has been like that since it left the factory(?)

17th April 2007, 12:34	#5
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	Yep could have been set up wrong, mine are self levelling but personally I think they are pointing to high

17th April 2007, 22:29	#6
andyw Avid contributor MG ZT CDTi (departed to pastures new) MGTF, MGC, Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Altrincham, Cheshire Posts: 214 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is it easy to adjust? I've always thought mine are too low although they did pass the MOT OK

18th April 2007, 11:47	#7
BlackMagic Loves to post Used to have: MG ZT 190 SE+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Glasgow Posts: 320 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I guess they must be easy to adjust - 1 hour labour (£15) to fix the lamps and unblock the washer bottle - you can't argue with value like that!

18th April 2007, 22:02	#8
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	£15 Labour my God! I pay between £45 and if in London around £70 per Hour! Think I will come to Scotland, that even beats Lates if your Labour Price Correct.

18th April 2007, 22:23	#9
Lates This is my second home Jaguar XE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coventry Posts: 4,321 Thanks: 56 Thanked 59 Times in 55 Posts	Mmmmmmmm £15/hour means lots and lots of cars to pay the rent.