Self levelling Xenon lights DIS warning
 

This has cropped up before, and it was on my new car.

Comes up in the DIS showing as a headlight warning. Annoyingly, I forgot to photo the warning, before I fixed it <doh> +++

Ths history is that Xenons are that much brighter, that pointing them in the right vertical plane seems more important. I'm not sure whether its a regulatatory requirement, or just a nice thing to do, but D2's in the UK have a sensor on the n/s front suspensioon arm and n/s rear suspension arm so that can compute the pitch of the car, and adjust the headlight accordingly so as not to blind anyone.

Spiffing. Until it breaks that is. The system has two very simple looking connecting rods connectod to the two nearside suspension arms which go to a servo-looking device, which measures the angle and in simple terms feeds it back to the self levelling module (bottom of drivers side B pillar in UK) which in turn moves the headlights up and down.

If that warning is coming up, its most likely 1 of your 2 sensors is broken, followed by the control module itself.

I changed the control module as that was easiest, and it wasnt that +++

So, dug a bit deeper, and Vagcom has measuring blocks available for the levelling module that gives voltage readings for the sensors. My errors logged indicated a short to plus on the front sensor, which was reading 4.67v, where the rear one on level ground read 1.97v.

So, I robbed a the whole module off the s8 on my drive, swapped it over and performed the calibation routine detailed here:

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...(Dynamic_Light)

Basically - you goto basic settings and select 001 - This puts the lights in level position - Then you do any manual changes requried on the headlight lenses themselves - Then do a 002 basic changes and it saves it....

Heres a photo of the sensor in place on the front n/s suspension. The red circle is where the clip disconnects from the lower arm, the green circles are the two allen bolts that hold the bracket on.... Really easy change over +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1337464658

UN-ECE regulation 98 covers gas discharge headlights themselves and mentions the requirement for ensuring no distraction to oncoming traffic without being prescriptive on how that's achieved

There's a separate reg for headlight washers, which can be fitted for any class of headlight but covers how effective they should be, size of reservoir etc.

From memory (and I never covered lighting in any detail) the requirement for self levelling and headlight washers together for gas discharge headlights is covered by EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval, which will list applicable Directives under EU law and in most instances the identically worded UN-ECE Regulation. The general distinction is that UN-ECE regs usually cover a much wider range of countries for approval purposes.

Think that covers it lol

Adrian

sound right to me never looked for the regs, all I know is discharge lamps have by law (due to type approval) to have washers (to prevent lens flare) and headlamp levelling. So all those god awful D.I.Y fitted kits on all the chav'd up wonders that sear out your retinas are frankly an accident looking for a place to happen. It's a personal pet hate of mine, ignorant so'n'so's happily driving around blinding everyone else whilst thinking there car has lovely lights. In theory MOT should pick them out but the kits can be easily bypassed for mot time. Soapbox back in cupboard. Again.

The recent changes to the MOT test 'should' make it a testable item that HID lights have functional self levelling and wash, but I get the feeling VOSA, who operate the MOT scheme, aren't being quite as bullish about the interpretation as they could be.....suggestion seems to be if they're not blindingly bad to the tester then err on the lenient side!

I think you'll find that the above comments are not accurate, things are somewhat laxer (except in Northern Ireland).

Firstly, this type of lighting isn't even covered by the UK regulations. The regs were drafted before and haven't been updated adequately. But HID lights have been accepted de Facto due to the EC type approval process.

I've been following discussions on other Forums where a LOT of people have updated their headlights and it's an interesting and debatable topic.

Basically if you have "aftermarket" HID's without suitable adjustement/levelling and cleaning you "may" be at risk from a VOSA roadside check as they probably (almost certainly) don't comply with C&U regs.
There's a vague possibilty of the Police stopping you, especially if badly-adjusted and blinding oncoming traffic - just under general lighting regulations.
And (except in NI) there's NO requirement to have levelling or washers to pass an MOT. BUT that doesn't make them legal.

I believe, but cant easily check - That the Late, Prefacelift S8 had xenons, but no self levelling......

My late PF has Xenons (dipped only) and the little levelling sensor units are definitely there too.
(and the manual describes the levelling system too)

Cool, was hoping someone would verify one way or the other.. +++

Just to be contrary, my late pf, although not equipped with HID's :( , checked my manual and there's no mention of self levelling in it although there's mention of xenons, HP's must be really really late 98 (mine's August)

There were a number of versions of the handbooks, and then addendums often came into play inbetween too +++

October 98, one of the very last PF's I believe. ;)
But I have seen the levelling sensors myself and had a garage techie tell me what they are.

The changing requirements for MOT result from changes to minimum standards for EU Directives regarding roadworthiness inspection

The requirement for factory fit systems is that if fitted with self levelling and washers at manufacture they should function and not produce a fault code.

Where it's less clear is whether just having HID bulbs fitted in filament compatible headlights will mean an automatic fail without levelling/wash or not, if the beam pattern isn't too horrific (most are)

The AA cover it in simple form:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice...nges-2012.html

C&U regs haven't been updated in over 20 years, bar a few minor amendments, and for construction purposes are now entirely redundant as any ECWVTA approved vehicle must be accepted for use in the UK under the Vienna Convention in any case. For use, they're the lowest standard a vehicle that can be used on UK roads must meet. Obviously there is then an enforcement issue and for the most part we've not had substantial change to the annual test since the introduction of emissions testing until this year. Generally you were OK to do what you like unless the catch-all section of C&U about causing danger to other road users could be applied - it was a pretty wide definition!

Is that for all vehicles or just after a certain date? My Land8 will struggle with some of those and to be fair would have from new, like:

Visible wiring that is insecure, inadequately supported or likely to cause a short will also result in a failure as will wires bared by damaged insulation.

Seats
It must be possible to secure the driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism in two or three different positions. On electric seats the motors must move the seat fore and aft.

Doors must be easy to open and close – hinges, catches and pillars will be inspected.

I think there's an element of common sense supposed to be applied for vehicles built in a different era - this is about stuff that shouldn't go unfixed rather than things that left the factory in a 1970s British leyland style of build quality lol

My pre-facelift S8 (March '98) had HID (dipped only) and self-levelling. My father-in-law's '97 BMW 530i (E39) has HID (dipped only) and definitely has self-levelling too.

:ROFL: 1965 Adrian and i'm sure BL never had the "that'll do" attitude :D

You're right about the common sense thing too or discretion of the tester the but that works both ways especially if the tester is an idiot. I have had the Landy fail on middle seat belt missing and passenger door not opening :mad:
The fix was to pick up the middle seat cushion to find belt that was there all the time and to unlock the passenger door because a 45 year old Land Rover doesn't have central locking :Confused:
Then wanted me to pay for a retest. I told him that wouldn't be happening but all this done was seemingly put an extra couple of inches on the end of his penis as he said (after breathing in and pushing his chest out) "Well you won't be leaving here with an MOT then mate"
Needless to say i don't use them anymore, and have found someone that does have common sense.

So when you're dealing with a retarded monkey these common sense things go right out the window.

Know where you're coming from - I had a Mk2 Cortina fail an MOT for having 'a worn steering rack' - to which I asked him to point out where there might be a steering rack fitted.......for those that don't know, they had a steering box which had about 3" of play in it at the steering wheel when it left the factory!