Is there a way to adjust the Tiguan highline headlights?

[PDMJO]

Ah, so you think yours is low too. I wonder whether its an individual perception thing, or whether some Tiguans are incorrectly low..

Seems to be a fault in the auto levelling on startup. I’ve had mine corrected twice now.

Initially they were both low, second time round it was the left headlight which was low. The dealer couldn’t explain what the cause was.

In my experience, if you think it’s low, it’s probably because it is.

[GreyGoose_X]

weird... as in they fixed it for both headlights the first time, and then the left headlight started to misalign later?

All good now since the 2nd fix?

Seems to be a fault in the auto levelling on startup. I’ve had mine corrected twice now.

Initially they were both low, second time round it was the left headlight which was low. The dealer couldn’t explain what the cause was.

In my experience, if you think it’s low, it’s probably because it is.

[PDMJO]

weird... as in they fixed it for both headlights the first time, and then the left headlight started to misalign later?

All good now since the 2nd fix?

Spot on - 2 separate instances.

So far so good, but will have to see what happens in a few months’ time.

[GreyGoose_X]

Fingers crossed. One headlight ramdomly becoming misaligned seems very odd. Did the dealer fix this via machine/coding or manual (i.e. adjustment screws)?

Spot on - 2 separate instances.

So far so good, but will have to see what happens in a few months’ time.

[GreyGoose_X]

So just got back from the dealer. After a couple of hours of waiting (including a software update), they came back and said there was nothing they could do to adjust the headlights. They quoted the manual (which states our dynamic headlights are auto adjusted and levelling cannot be altered). They photocopied and highlighted the manual - it does actually state that.

But still driving home, I'm still not convinced its at the correct level - or maybe I'm just in the 5% that perceive headlight level as higher than industry standard...

@PDMJO I even said some folks have gone to their dealer who lifted their headlight levels via machine etc...My dealer wasn't convinced.

Spot on - 2 separate instances.

So far so good, but will have to see what happens in a few months’ time.

[MickyD]

They’re idiots. There’s a difference between adjusting and levelling. Adjusting is setting the correct base angle, and levelling is the car dynamically altering the angle according to the front/rear pitch, using sensors on the suspension.

[GreyGoose_X]

Well thats frustrating to hear. Your explanation makes sense to me. We just need to adjust the baseline parameter of which the levelling would operate within its confines..

Do you know if the adjusting is done manually then? I think some folks mentioned about using a screwdriver to manually push it upwards - but I'm hesitant to mess with it. Would prefer it done via machine/coding and not eyeball it.

They’re idiots. There’s a difference between adjusting and levelling. Adjusting is setting the correct base angle, and levelling is the car dynamically altering the angle according to the front/rear pitch, using sensors on the suspension.

[PDMJO]

Well thats frustrating to hear. Your explanation makes sense to me. We just need to adjust the baseline parameter of which the levelling would operate within its confines..

Do you know if the adjusting is done manually then? I think some folks mentioned about using a screwdriver to manually push it upwards - but I'm hesitant to mess with it. Would prefer it done via machine/coding and not eyeball it.

Did they acknowledge that your headlights are dipped too low? Or did they simply state they can't adjust it?
If they are in fact low, I'd assume they have a legal obligation to ensure you can see where you're going, as if you get into a car accident at night, surely they are at fault for negligence to maintain proper standards?
I would've thought the only instance in which they aren't obliged to adjust the headlights is if it's already compliant with your state's requirements.

My adjustments were all done via a machine. That's about as specific as I can be I'm afraid.

[Ozsko]

Have you driven another car at night to compare? I don't know if the different headlight assemblies can give a different low beam cut off so some comments might come from one or the other. My car is a fairly early one with what I call dumb LED's later cars apparently have the smarter LEDS and some other cars have halogen.

[anonymousmoose]

They quoted the manual (which states our dynamic headlights are auto adjusted and levelling cannot be altered). .

That's rubbish. Our dealer foreman also said that at first (also checked the dealer manual) but to his credit he questioned it and said let's give it a go. He took the time to test it, with me in the workshop. You can adjust it with two white screws. He even showed me how to do it.

[GreyGoose_X]

I can only compare it to my beamer but thats a coupe. Appreciate its not even close to like for like, but the feeling should be the same....i.e. the beam sufficiently lights up the road in front and is confidence inspiring.

After reading through a few different UK forums, alot of folks have complained about the insufficient level as well as dealers being clueless about it. I'll likely go down the manual route and adjust myself via headlight screws. Will apply proper lighting 'methodology' so it doesn't blind the koalas.

Have you driven another car at night to compare? I don't know if the different headlight assemblies can give a different low beam cut off so some comments might come from one or the other. My car is a fairly early one with what I call dumb LED's later cars apparently have the smarter LEDS and some other cars have halogen.

[GreyGoose_X]

Ah so the foreman just ended up adjusting via the HL screws. Yeah going to do that myself too. Pretty straightforward, I just thought there an electronic adjustment option that dealers use..I guess not.

Also - screw clockwise = raise beam? Anti-clockwise = lower beam?

That's rubbish. Our dealer foreman also said that at first (also checked the dealer manual) but to his credit he questioned it and said let's give it a go. He took the time to test it, with me in the workshop. You can adjust it with two white screws. He even showed me how to do it.

[smarty]

Car was looked at today and they found the headlights were infact set too low.
When I rang them this morning I said I know the headlights are auto leveling and move on startup but it’s like the base reference point is too low to begin with.
Eitherway I’m glad they looked at it and found it to be too low and have fixed it. I’ll update after a night drive as to whether I find it’s made a big difference or not

[smarty]

Pretty happy with the difference after a couple drives at night.

[iDiesel]

Hope someone can clear up for me what the Dynamic Cornering Light settings adjust in "Individual" drive setting?
Theres a choice or Eco, Normal and Sport, but I'm not sure what it is adjusting?



I don't think it's the speed at which the cornering lights come on. They seem to light up around <35km/hr when indicator is on regardless of which setting I choose.
This is the light assembly I have



And finally, as part of the OP's observations, I didn't think too much about the headlights being a bit low until over ANZAC weekend I was away in country NSW, and really noticed in dimly lit roads how low they were...
I need to get around to bumping them up slightly