63 10 ... Test requirements for headlight vertical aim adjustment

• Car parked on level ground.
• Replace faulty glass and mirrors and blackened light bulbs.
• Check tire pressure and correct if necessary.
• Apply load equivalent to one person on driver's seat (approx. 75 kg).
• Vehicle with full fuel tank or appropriate additional weight in luggage compartment.
• Correct adjustment of headlights in relation to engine hood (gap dimensions).
• Manual headlight vertical aim control: Turn handwheel to 0 position.
• Automatic headlight vertical aim control: Wait approx. 30 seconds after switching on lights.
• Version with xenon headlights: Wait 80 seconds after switching on lights. During this time, do not move the vehicle and avoid vibrations.
• Align headlight aimer with vehicle longitudinal axis and parallel to parking surface. Set marking line (M) on aimer to distance (e). Scale graduations on aimer are equal to a gradient in cm at a distance of 10 meters.

Fig 1: Headlight Aiming

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Light/dark limit of headlights in headlight aimer 

e Adjustment dimension, headlights:

• as per type plate on headlight housing in % (e.g.: 1.0 % = 10 cm / 10 m = 10 on headlight aimer).

  Adjustment dimension, fog lights:

• all vehicles 2.0 % = 20 cm / 10 m = 20 on headlight aimer.

H Height of center of headlight above parking surface.

h H - e = height of marking line above parking surface

+ Central mark = center point of high-beam headlight.

M Marking line of headlamp aimer

S Parking surface of vehicle and headlight aimer

Adjustment dimension (e) is only valid for EUR. Observe differing national regulations.