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 +++