[AbuQutaita]

Originally Posted by JeffreyZ

Would it be possible to recode to the EU version?

There's two ways:
1. Update your VO and remove 5AP and 8S4. Then just update coding on FEM_BODY.
2. Leave your VO alone, and manually update the coding for FEM_BODY. You can see what settings need to change under Headlights: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwv...hKSWdRTDg/edit.

Upside for #1 is that even if your dealer updates your car, you'll keep the EU settings. Downside is that you're modifying your VO, and I suppose there's a chance that your dealership will ask questions if you have issues with your car and they compare your car's current VO with the original order.

[Killramos]

^ Yea you can.

[Rayscott]

My 228ix was in for a recall so the tech raised the headlights as they were too low. Much better now.

[BEM-S4]

Need a 5mm Allen key to change very easy

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Need a 5mm Allen key to change very easy

??? On the 235/240 at least it is a philips screw driver, no Allen key necessary. Raised my 240s last week. Huge difference.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Joe240

??? On the 235/240 at least it is a philips screw driver, no Allen key necessary. Raised my 240s last week. Huge difference.

Service did mine while I watched. They said people use Phillips usually fine but sometimes strip. It's actually the 5mm alen wrench. Mine is a 2016 235.

[Kolyan2k]

I raised mine and euro coded as well. Visibility is excellent

[Joe240]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Service did mine while I watched. They said people use Phillips usually fine but sometimes strip. It's actually the 5mm alen wrench. Mine is a 2016 235.

Do you have the halogens or the xenons? Wonder if that's the difference. Mine is definitely a philips but I have xenons.

[vh2720]

I had the dealer aim the (xenon) headlights higher and now they are great - for me at least, but maybe not for oncoming traffic because people will occasionally flash their brights at me. Low headlight aiming seems to be a common BMW problem.

[Rayscott]

Got mine reset when I went on for other service. Now I can see deer from a farther distance on some of the dark roads down here although I do switch to high beams when driving on them.

[1gkek]

What a great old thread. It only took me 2 years to finally adjust my headlights up to what I thought was correct. Settled on 1 1/2 turns of the adjustment screw up and it's just right now. Started with 2 turns but that seemed too high.

[Joe240]

I'm at 2 turns and sometimes I think it's too high for on coming traffic. No one has flashed me yet though and when I'm behind someone on the road, the light stops right below their rear window

[Colonel Butler]

Two full turns CCW on the adjusters solved the poor distance illumination on my 2016 M235i. Now my wife will drive it at night

[bob78h]

Originally Posted by Killramos

I think the problem is that for those of use who have the anti dazzle lights disabled ( ie North America ) the cars get stuck in the urban driving setting or some generic lighting setting.

With the euro coding the highway beam lengths are enabled which throws the light much further but because our cars cant use those settings they just get aimed to short. Just a matter of we can't use the lights the way they were designed to work which is why they appear to be poor. Blame the US DOT.

I saw an article on this somewhere that explains it pretty well.

Interesting, I did not know this. I always thought the low height was a design feature along with the dip on the drivers side to prevent blinding oncoming traffic. In town/freeways it is ok but when I'm driving rural roads I definitely have to use my high beams.

Anyone tried coding this and can have a passenger take a picture of the difference on the highway? I'd think it may be a more desirable option than changing the actual aim of the lights...

[esp260]

I have a question about adjusting the headlights. I tried to do this the other day and I'm not sure if I am doing it correctly. When I went to turn the screw, I noticed that there was a white plastic piece that was spinning (screwdriver I used was not able to reach the screw). Does spinning the plastic piece affect anything, do I need to turn the actual screws the adjust the headlights?

[Joe240]

It's a white plastic screw that you turn. If that's what you're talking about, then yes it adjusts the headlights. Do you have a picture of what you're talking about?

[esp260]

Originally Posted by Joe240

It's a white plastic screw that you turn. If that's what you're talking about, then yes it adjusts the headlights. Do you have a picture of what you're talking about?

In the photo, the circled piece is what I see spinning. I put the screwdriver to where the arrow is pointing (there is a screw there with a white, plastic piece above it). Should I be turning the actual screw or just the white piece above?

So when I was doing this, I thought that it was supposed to be the actual screw (not just the plastic piece) so I did not count how many times I turned it. How to I return it to the default "stock" height so I can readjust the headlights properly?

[Joe240]

So where your arrow is pointing at the screw, that's what you turn. I didn't notice if the back plastic piece turned when I did it because I did the adjustment at night.

My suggestion is to find a flat, level surface with a solid wall ahead of you. Park about 50ft back from it and adjust from there at night so you can actually see how high it is. With the hood closed, you should be able to see light hit the wall about 6-12 inches above the car when sitting in the driver seat. You can always drive around with it for a little and readjust from there if you don't like the current height. Adjusting against the wall will allow you to make sure they both are level as well. I noticed a distinct line on the ground where the lights hit and used that to make sure both sides were set the same.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Joe240

So where your arrow is pointing at the screw, that's what you turn. I didn't notice if the back plastic piece turned when I did it because I did the adjustment at night.

My suggestion is to find a flat, level surface with a solid wall ahead of you. Park about 50ft back from it and adjust from there at night so you can actually see how high it is. With the hood closed, you should be able to see light hit the wall about 6-12 inches above the car when sitting in the driver seat. You can always drive around with it for a little and readjust from there if you don't like the current height. Adjusting against the wall will allow you to make sure they both are level as well. I noticed a distinct line on the ground where the lights hit and used that to make sure both sides were set the same.

That's how service did mine, but they were closer than 50 feet. They had a line on the wall that they used as a target for the top of the beam. I can ask them for specific measurements if helpful. Think if you park the appropriate distance away and the top of your lights hits the line on the wall you are maxed out for what won't blind oncoming traffic.

[MadOzodi]

Originally Posted by esp260

How to I return it to the default "stock" height so I can readjust the headlights properly?

Quick Google search, then chose one of the more recent articles: How to Aim and Adjust Headlights

25ft is the distance you want to be from the wall...

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I raised mine and euro coded as well. Visibility is excellent

Do you have adaptive headlights? If so, are they working as it should ... as in the way they work over in Europe?

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by crabu2

Do you have adaptive headlights? If so, are they working as it should ... as in the way they work over in Europe?

yes and yes, expect for automatic high beams which we dont get in USA (at least not on 228/235s)