SMAX - Xenon Headlight adjustment 2013 Titanium

[snab80]

Hi

I've had a look through the forum and can't see anything definitive relating to the adjustment of the xenons on an smax.

I'm off to France in a few weeks and am looking to flatten the beam mechanically rather than using beam deflectors. For a couple of reasons - 1) my previous car still had the goo on the headlight long after I took them off last time, it just would not come off and 2) Although I do subscribe to the 'sod it no one that visits here does anything about their lights' brigade I can't really be bothered with the grief should I get stopped and I know that the xenons are bright enough as it is without having the beam kicking up into oncoming traffic. 3) Only 1 place I can find on the internet says that the deflectors definitely won't cause damage and that's the site that sells them!

So, I see that there is a masking method but again that comes under reason 3 above as far as i can see.
I also see there is a thread about the galaxy headlamp switch but nothing on one in the smax.

I've had the headlight unit off and can't see anything obvious inside that would be a switch, there is a funny looking bit of metal but that won't move.
Further to that there is the 2 yellow screw adjusters on the outside of the light but I assume these are for up down adjustment rather than left/ right or beam flattening.

Can anyone provide a clue as to what I'm looking for inside the unit, where would the switch live? Does it definitely have one? (The guy in the dealership reckoned all xenons would have them and also didn't think masking was a good idea.

Cheers in advance.

[gregers]

 
im surprised a car that new hasnt got a lever to adjust the beam patterns?
but apparently eurolites have tested there patterns on post 10 plate smax's you need 114 pattern?

think you may find them on ebay?

[Mirez]

C'mon guys it's the digital era

Xenon lights on nearly all new cars have a flat mode which will be controlled by software. On the new Alhambra/Sharan it's called "Tourist Mode" and VCDS can enable it. On the S-Max I'm not so sure but I'd be surprised if it can't be done via Ford's equivalent software system

[gregers]

well from my research on what i have read not 1 bit of info has suggested this,all suggest buying the correct covers.
but knowing you and your posts mirez your probably correct when it comes to the ecu's etc.

[snab80]

Well currently waiting  for Ford UK to answer the question. Presumably the flat beam is legal here as you'd need to be road legal to get to the departure port!

[snab80]

Ford have now replied to say that the lamps are adjustable. They just don't say how except that the info is available in etis.
I've had a look in there and its not obvious but looks like I need to buy a subscription and check the docs. I'll update later for others in the same predicament.

[Mirez]

Yes please do!!!

The flat beam is indeed legal here, its also technically possible to pass an MoT with it left flat (although most stations would probably argue the point) - the only requirement is that IF the headlight's "kicks up" then it is to the left side and not the right.

[snab80]

Grrrrrr. NO further forward.

Etis subscription for an hour paid for, nothing that I haven't seen elsewhere.
Documents for headlamp masking, headlamp masking with cornering lamps, headlight masking with HIDs.
All different solutions!

The HID solution looks as though its a mechanic job (unless you have beam setting tool) where the lights are adjusted from 1% to 2.8%. The other 2 are black tape and a degree in algebra to work out the actual sizes.

I do however have all the etis docs relating to the headlights (HID & halogen) copied into word as it won't let me print to pdf or the printer

[snab80]

Upshot of all this is that no one knows if the lights cab be 'switched' or not.
I haven't found anything inside the light that's movable.
The self masking is different depending on which type of lights you have (halogen/ projector/ with or without cornering lamps).
The eurolites claim to work with projector lights so I'm trying them and someone's for the high jump if they don't do what they say on the tin or come off cleanly.
If anyone does want any of the docs from etis let me know and I'll post them if I can.

[gregers]

yes plz snab,even if its just for info for the forum,im sure it will help others.

[snab80]

is there any way to upload a file?

[Chrispb]

What sort of file is it.
Ideally JPEG or PDF
If its a Word document saved on your computer I would scan the document and save it as a JPEG or PDF you can then use the Attachment and other options to attach your file

See below for help with attaching files to the forum.
https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/site-suggestions-and-problems/uploading-pictures-to-the-forum/

[snab80]

What sort of file is it.
Ideally JPEG or PDF
If its a Word document saved on your computer I would scan the document and save it as a JPEG or PDF you can then use the Attachment and other options to attach your file

See below for help with attaching files to the forum.
https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/site-suggestions-and-problems/uploading-pictures-to-the-forum/

I'll get the docs up some point soon.
However the eurolites appear to have worked, no one flashed or got upset and the kick up was mostly gone from the left.
They even removed completely which was my highest concern.
You just need to make sure you get the sticky film which doesn't always come off with the main piece.
A scrub with a baby wipe takes the remaining residue off.

On a slight aside, there are some quite thick people out there. Met one guy at Dover who couldn't work out how to remove the 'tail'  to leave the circle as per his instructions. So he just stuck the whole thing on in a random place on each light!