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X5M (X6) headlight aim

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speedy_un
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X5M (X6) headlight aim

Post by speedy_un » Sun Jan 26, 2014 8:37 am

My o/s headlight is aimed a little too high, and I'm getting flashed by oncoming drivers. I'm sure bmw will cover this as car was only bought a few weeks back, however always been a DIY job on previous cars.
X5M has an X6 front end, so anyone know how to do this - have searched but can't find anything - probably because rear of headlight is buried in the wing.
Pictures and clockwise/anti-clockwise directions for any adjustments most appreciated!

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X5Sport
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Re: X5M (X6) headlight aim

Post by X5Sport » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:39 am

What's an X5M doing with an X6 front?  They look completely different!  Unless it's for the upper bumper and wings?  There's nothing in my manual about adjusters.  It's weeping down here at present, but I can have a look to see if there is anything.  I have HIDs which may have adjusters on the motors - but that's only a guess.

X5M....
Image

X6.....
Image
Last edited by X5Sport on Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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speedy_un
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Re: X5M (X6) headlight aim

Post by speedy_un » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:03 pm

Thanks - if it's anything like mine there's not much to see, but you never know!
They really are X6 headlights and the bumper is the same for both X6M and X5M.

From the press pack (US English):

E70 M
Front Fenders
The front fender is a newly designed component which resembles the E71 fender at the front and the E70 at the rear (near the doors). The headlights are adopted from the E71. The headlight washer system is fitted as standard (also taken from the E71).
The front wheel arch cover and front brake air ducts are adopted from the E71 xDrive50i.

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Re: X5M (X6) headlight aim

Post by X5Sport » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:30 pm

Well, well..... :)

OK, on mine there is a white cap about 3/4 inch diameter and dished, well inside each front wing with a tool head moulded in it.  There is the same designed head just below and towards the outer edge of the car by the light cover on the inner projector.  The sidelight/Angel eye bulb is behind that cover.  Both light units have the same attachments on either side of the car so one adjuster in each wing and one low outer edge of the inner unit below the light cover.

At a guess, one must be height and the other left/right.  The one in the wing is well back.

Richard
Last edited by X5Sport on Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: X5M (X6) headlight aim

Post by 535dboy » Sun Jan 26, 2014 3:58 pm

that pink one looks gay !
Currently :
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2012 Porsche Boxster S (981)
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Re: X5M (X6) headlight aim

Post by speedy_un » Sun Jan 26, 2014 8:23 pm

Thanks Richard - ill have a closer look in mine when it stops raining, but there seems to be too many engine bits in the way! It may be a job for bmw.

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Re: X5M (X6) headlight aim

Post by X5Sport » Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:06 pm

No prob.  The adjusters are right at the light units and a long posidrive, or possible a star drive (can't remember which it was now) may give you the required adjusting stick.... :)

They are both angled for easy access.  One is almost straight down vertically (inboard one) and the other towards the centre of the car but nearly horizontal in a vertical plane in the wing so you go in sideways and not fore/aft as on many older cars.

R
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