Headlights bouncing

[Thief]

Hey all, been driving my new 330i bimmer for about 4 weeks, and am finding that when driving at night, it seems like my headlights are bouncing. Being new to BMW (and loving it) I find the lights low on the car in front of me (bumper level) which I don't mind, but I do notice that every little bump in the road the cars lights bounce up down (more than usual).

Not complaining buy any stretch of the imagination, just trying to see if it normal.

Thanks

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

The headlights don't bounce.... It's your cars suspension "raising and lowering the car" to provide you a soft ride over the bumps. Maybe they're aimed a little low so it might be annoying, you do have the Xenons right? (they auto-level)

 

[Thief]

Thank you, I knew there was a good explanation. Yes I do have the Xenons.

 

[MyHarley]

My 2003 has Xenons too, but the lights do not bounce anywhere near like the many 2004 loaner cars I have had.......actually the 2004 lights drive me crazy at night......it has to be that cars without the sports package have a "looser" suspension.......I have the sports package and most of the loaners do not have the sport package...... [???1]

 

[Thief]

But I do have the sports package thats the funny thing, its just a little weird.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Why is this an issue.... all cars have bouncing headlights.

 

[Thief]

First off its not an issue, I am just looking for some feedback, and secondly not all cars have bouncing headlights, this is new to me so I thought I would check it out. If its normal fine, if not, I will get them fixed.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I'm pretty sure if the road is bumpy or "up and down hilly" your car will respond to the environment and since the headlights are stationary will appear to "bounce". I have noticed in every car that the headlights bounce, just not exactly to the extent in the BMW.

Another thing, getting stuff fixed by the dealer on a new BMW isn't a good idea. They almost always create new problems. If it's liveable and isn't a major defect or problem it's better to leave it alone. BMWNA has wonderful customer service, and even better service departments.

 

[bmwrocks]

Your auto-leveling '04 xenons will definitely bounce over bumps. Mine do for sure. You will get used to it. It is the auto-leveling feature that is doing the bouncing.

BTW I have adjusted my xenons up from their factory angle. I found the factory angle way too low and it felt as if the lights were shining on the ground in front of me too much. I am still below the side mirrors of cars in front of me at all distances and have never been flashed, but I can see so much better than when I first brought the car home. What I did was raise them equal amounts (left and right) in my garage then went and test drove it. After 5 or 6 trial and error runs, I finally got them just right (raising and lowering them multiple times). Also, I found the passenger side lamp should be slightly higher than the driver side for the best results. Aren't steerable xenons the best?

 

[Thief]

Thanks for your input bmwrocks, I was pretty sure I was not crazy. I think I will take you up on your advice and raise them up a bit, because I do find my lights shining under the bumper of the car in front of me.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Thanks for your input bmwrocks, I was pretty sure I was not crazy. I think I will take you up on your advice and raise them up a bit, because I do find my lights shining under the bumper of the car in front of me.

If they were shining on the floor in front of you, you should have said that and brought it right back to the dealer and asked him what the heck he was thinking... Cars with headlights aimed too low... dealers these days

 

[epj3]

Actually, the reason you see bouncing is because the lights are focused so sharply, that you can actually see the line of where the light ends. On most cars, the headlights aren't focused as well or nearly as sharply as your car. I never notice it with my high beams on -- but when the low beams -- focused lights (ellipsoids) -- are on, I can definitely see it. It's gotten more noticeable when I installed the stiffer bilstein HD shocks.

I HIGHLY doubt the auto aim feature will make adjustments every second. The auto-leveling will simply adjust the lights when you first start the car. It's like the auto-leveling suspension used on many cars, especially those that tow other vehicles.

 

[bmwrocks]

Actually, the reason you see bouncing is because the lights are focused so sharply, that you can actually see the line of where the light ends. On most cars, the headlights aren't focused as well or nearly as sharply as your car. I never notice it with my high beams on -- but when the low beams -- focused lights (ellipsoids) -- are on, I can definitely see it. It's gotten more noticeable when I installed the stiffer bilstein HD shocks.

I HIGHLY doubt the auto aim feature will make adjustments every second. The auto-leveling will simply adjust the lights when you first start the car. It's like the auto-leveling suspension used on many cars, especially those that tow other vehicles.

 

[bmwrocks]

Actually, the reason you see bouncing is because the lights are focused so sharply, that you can actually see the line of where the light ends. On most cars, the headlights aren't focused as well or nearly as sharply as your car. I never notice it with my high beams on -- but when the low beams -- focused lights (ellipsoids) -- are on, I can definitely see it. It's gotten more noticeable when I installed the stiffer bilstein HD shocks.

I HIGHLY doubt the auto aim feature will make adjustments every second. The auto-leveling will simply adjust the lights when you first start the car. It's like the auto-leveling suspension used on many cars, especially those that tow other vehicles.

Actually I can see my lights ato-leveling while I am driving. They auto-level all the time, not just at startup. Also, BMW auto adj suspension does so constantly. You would be shocked at how sophisticated BMWs systems are. Have you ever read the BMW technology publications?

The "line" we see on the top of the beam with the low beam is the shutter used to produce the low-beam on our bi-xenons. The unshuttered high beams are well focused, but the shutter line is gone and the beam is quite dispersed.

 

[epj3]

Actually I can see my lights ato-leveling while I am driving. They auto-level all the time, not just at startup. Also, BMW auto adj suspension does so constantly. You would be shocked at how sophisticated BMWs systems are. Have you ever read the BMW technology publications?

The "line" we see on the top of the beam with the low beam is the shutter used to produce the low-beam on our bi-xenons. The unshuttered high beams are well focused, but the shutter line is gone and the beam is quite dispersed.

I have read them -- don't remember it saying they adjust constantly... but I'll take your word. I see a 'line' with my headlights (low beams), and they are not bi-xenon's. It's a simple fixed lense with a halogen bulb (ellipsoids).

 

[codex57]

Mine seem to "bounce" I have an 03 with Sports Package too. I got used to it. After a while, the bouncing doesn't bother you. I've moved on to trying to determine conclusively if my car really is actively adjusting the angles on the fly. Cuz, whether I'm far away or close to the car in front of me (up to a certain point of course), my headlight cutoff always seems to stay at the same level on the car in front of me.

 

[bmwrocks]

Mine seem to "bounce" I have an 03 with Sports Package too. I got used to it. After a while, the bouncing doesn't bother you. I've moved on to trying to determine conclusively if my car really is actively adjusting the angles on the fly. Cuz, whether I'm far away or close to the car in front of me (up to a certain point of course), my headlight cutoff always seems to stay at the same level on the car in front of me.

The easiest way to see the active adjustment is when you are behind another car at a stoplight. Watch your light line on the bumper of the car in front of you. As you accelerate when the light turns green, watch the light line. It will ratchet down as you accelerate and your car squats. As you level out when you reach constant velocity, you will see them ratchet back up.

 

[codex57]

yeah, gonna have to try that. I just don't get a chance to drive my car out at night that much, particularly now that the sun doesn't seem to set until like 8:00 or so now

 

[topazblue]

Your auto-leveling '04 xenons will definitely bounce over bumps. Mine do for sure. You will get used to it. It is the auto-leveling feature that is doing the bouncing.

BTW I have adjusted my xenons up from their factory angle. I found the factory angle way too low and it felt as if the lights were shining on the ground in front of me too much. I am still below the side mirrors of cars in front of me at all distances and have never been flashed, but I can see so much better than when I first brought the car home. What I did was raise them equal amounts (left and right) in my garage then went and test drove it. After 5 or 6 trial and error runs, I finally got them just right (raising and lowering them multiple times). Also, I found the passenger side lamp should be slightly higher than the driver side for the best results. Aren't steerable xenons the best?

I had the same problem with my 02 with xenons - I have taken it back to the dealer 3 times asking to raise the angle. The first 2 times they said that there was nothing wrong and finally the 3rd time they raised them a fraction. It is still a driving hazard with the xenons - how do you adjust them? I have looked at them and it doesn't jump out me what to adjust.

 

[bmwrocks]

I had the same problem with my 02 with xenons - I have taken it back to the dealer 3 times asking to raise the angle. The first 2 times they said that there was nothing wrong and finally the 3rd time they raised them a fraction. It is still a driving hazard with the xenons - how do you adjust them? I have looked at them and it doesn't jump out me what to adjust.

You can use a #2 phillips head screwdriver to adjust them up and down. There is a hole on top of the unit that you can stick the screwdriver in and turn. Facing the passenger side unit, it is on the upper right. That would be upper left for the driver unit.

I have found thet the screwdriver sometimes slips in there, so use your finger on the unit while turning and it will move easily. I raised them just high enough so they shine below the side mirrors of an average car in front of me, so as not to blind anyone. With trial and error you should be able to find that point.