C5 facelift dipped beam lamp fitment problem?

[MikeT]

When I bought my C5, I noticed the N/S dipped beam was illuminating distant roadsigns much better than my old xantia.
Due to a later failure of the O/S lamp, I recently got both bulbs replaced and voila! I was no longer searching for aerial bombers and oncoming traffic was flashing me less.

However, the flashing from oncoming traffic still occurs (though not as often) and I wonder if the bulb has some "play" in it's fitment or worse, a tab is broken and is allowing it to slowly work it's way upwards. Curious, I looked into the headlamp glass and noticed the bulbs are "blinkered" within a sort of cone/shroud and the bulbs are not absolutely central withing this cone.

I'm loathe to mess around with the bulb fitments due to limited space (it took me way too long just to fit sidelights) and wonder if I'm worrying about nothing? I'd apprecaite other C5 facelift owners to have a quick gander at their headlamps and tell me if they too observer a not-so-perfectly centred bulb within said cone/shroud? Or other suggestions welcome.

[hamster99]

Do you have the xenon directional headlight units? If so then the beam direction is adjusted by electric motors controlled by the car (BSI?) and relates to the ride height sensors.
If you have the standard halogen headlight units then I think the beam height can be manually adjusted with a thumb wheel to the right of the steering wheel I think.

[MikeT]

Fixed Halogens and adjustment is on the back of the light cluster. It's obvious the last bulb wasn't located correctly as the replacement has highlighted but due to other drivers occasionally flashing me, I wonder if the new bulb has been jarred out of position by the many potholes I've fallen foul of recently or some other reason.

[Paul-R]

It could still be the bulb or it might not.

If you park pointing towards a wall about 5 - 10 yards away and put your dipped beam on (you'll need an internal wall or late afternoon for an outside one to see the beam pattern) check the pattern for levelness between the left and right lamps. Now put the main beam on and see where that points.

I had possibly the same problem as you. I bought my car a month ago and was flashed mightily by oncoming drivers when driving it home that evening. Against a wall you could see that the driver's side was way too high. The previous owner told me that he replaced that bulb a few months ago so I changed it again and this brought it massively down but, like yours, it's still a bit high. The clincher is that the main beam is also a bit high so, unless both main and dip bulbs are faulty (not impossible), the lamp now needs adjustment.

[MikeT]

It's the N/S that I'm concerned about but looking at the pattern, it seems fine against close objects but at further distance shows it's marginal/high, hence why I wonder if it's possible for the bulbs to "creep" up, given enough incentive!

[RichardW]

I had to wind down the OS light on our Picasso as it was too high - thought perhaps it was because the bumper has been knocked. However, on fitting a new bulb it was too low again, so had to wind it back up again! Obviously the bulb was at fault. If you think it's too high it probably is - give it half a turn down and see what happens.

[Paul-R]

But check your main beam position first!

[Stickyfinger]

I had Halfords fit a bulb (once), they did it so the bulb was pointing up.....

[hirsty]

I have recently had new headlight bulbs fitted to my Mk1 C5 and now find I have what appears to be a stray beam pointing level rather than down. The dipped headlights look normal apart from this stray. Is it possible the bulb has not been fitted correctly and should I try rotating the bulb to see if it helps. Is it possible to fit the bulb "upside down".

hirsty

[Stickyfinger]

Yes and ,,,it is

[MikeT]

Has anyone got an exploded diagram of the headliight bulb fitment and recess - failing that, clear close-up pictures of them? I looked on DocBackup but it only shows the headlamp from the front.
I find it absurd in this day and age that the design allows for improper fitment, hence why I wonder if mine could be damaged allowing excessive movement.

[myglaren]

Is it H4 Mike? -


Shouldn't be possible to get it wrong as there ate three locating 'wings'.

[Paul-R]

If it's the same as the earlier and later cars then dipped beam will be an H7. Thus it's possible for dip to be misaligned while main isn't.

I think that main is half of an H4 on the earlier car and an H1 on the later car but I stand to be corrected.

[myglaren]

I can never remember which is which until I actually have to change one.
I think you are right about the H1 though.

[Hell Razor5543]

I think that the fog light is the H1, but main and dipped are the H4 bulb.