Hi all.

Have had both headlamps off of my Stilo today. Put the nightbraker bulbs in and as headlamp motors were both US'ed I canabalised the motors from a defunct set of headlamps from my sisters 2004 Panda that use the same motors.

Got the motors switched, and they work great (will come in handy when I've a full car load).

Have refitted units to car and everything and I've had to adjust the level of both units manualy as the were way to low.

I've now got them at a ok level (still slightly to low), but the beam pattern doesn't seem right (although not in a way thats dazzling oncoming people). The beam pattern has never seemed right on my Stilo for the record. Left (N/S) headlamp seems very direct, and O/S lamps seems better but not perfect.

So questions and favours time.

Questions, the knoobs on the back of the headlamps, I'm assuming one adjusts height and the other pattern? Ones nearest rad on both units seems to do height, so I'm assuming the other (almost under the wing) does the beam pattern, or does this also do the height at the other end of the unit (as they are long units in compairson to some).

Favours. Could some members please take a pic of their headlamps (dipped beam) on and pointing against a wall from a distance of about 10meters please? I want to see what your beams look like. Doesn't matter if you've a LHD Stilo, as they'll just be beams pointing the other way.

Many thanks in advanced

Jon.

P.s, I'm fully aware that adjustment of the beam pattern needs doing properly, but I'm just want to see if mine are actually wrong, and if the other adjuster does the pattern or if I can use it also to raise the level slightly more and evenly.

The 2 white plastic adjuster knobs on the back of each lamp..... One is for adjusting the height of the beam and the other is to adjust the beam left or right. (not to convert for driving in Europe). I can't remember which is which.

Dave.

Davren said:

The 2 white plastic adjuster knobs on the back of each lamp..... One is for adjusting the height of the beam and the other is to adjust the beam left or right. (not to convert for driving in Europe). I can't remember which is which.

Dave.

Click to expand...

Many thanks.

Funny enough when looking at the units close up when changing the adjustment motors I was looking at the 2nd and thinking, well looks more like it does left - right rather than beam pattern. But then thought I was going a bit funny, so ta for confirming that

I assume the beam can't be adjusted then, which I suppose is a good thing, because if my bulb is in correctly (which I'm 99.9% sure it is) then it's me being funny.

I believe that the one I haven't adjusted is the left to right. I'll have a play tomorrow night, as I believe that in hind sight that perhaps one unit (O/S I think) needs adjusting slightly, as the beams both concentrate onto the same point, and not 2 points (with the kick up towards curb side) like they should.

Hope this makes sence.

Jon.

The only thing that would alter the actual pattern of the beam is if the bulbs are not seated correctly.

If the bulbs are manufactured correctly (and fitted correctly), there shouldn't be any difference to where the light is projected or to the beam pattern.

Dave.

Davren said:

If the bulbs are manufactured correctly (and fitted correctly), there shouldn't be any difference to where the light is projected or to the beam pattern.

Click to expand...

Thats what I thought

Must be the left to right adjuster on one of them then. As they're both 'level' and not point upwards at random angles, but just don't seem right so to speak.

Will try and take a pic tomorrow night

Yup the bulbs only go in 1 way, and if you put them in any other way then they won't be seated properly. I see so many cars on the road with at least 1 light like this. You've all probably see it two, 1 light seems normal and the other unbelievable bright shining into your interior rather than on the road and blinding the hell out of you in the process.

The light patern of the Stilo is a bit mince to be honest. Its not much better than my mini and that 50 year old tech lol. My girlfriends 207 has a very well defined light patern on the road, you can definately see the line then flick at the left part of the beam as you drive down a dark country road.

The nightbreakers won't fix this, infact you might notice the light pool even more now, but the light is brighter at least and casts further.

Never realised you'd be taking out the entire cluster, if I had goosed motors I'd have been on the hunt for complete second hand units and do the job off car lol. But then I am lazy and like to keep the car mobile. Restored my mini in 9 months because I didn't want to miss the start of the mini season. Don't like hanging around.

StiloBoy said:

Never realised you'd be taking out the entire cluster, if I had goosed motors I'd have been on the hunt for complete second hand units and do the job off car lol. But then I am lazy and like to keep the car mobile. Restored my mini in 9 months because I didn't want to miss the start of the mini season. Don't like hanging around.

Click to expand...

Lol, I was a case of Hmmmm, Spare motor's, lets give it a looks and try. As I didn't know if it was the motors or a problem somewhere else, so would never have gone as far as getting new units on the off chance

Jon.

Have a look through the front and make sure the bulb is directly behind the silver circular reflector shown here. It's very easy to get it wrong

If it isn't then oncoming drivers will be very unhappy

It is very easy to get it wrong, which is something I did, and it took a week or so before I even noticed

This thread might help

https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/45151-headlight-beam-adjustment-2.html

Deckchair5 said:

Have a look through the front and make sure the bulb is directly behind the silver circular reflector shown here. It's very easy to get it wrong
View attachment 69467
If it isn't then oncoming drivers will be very unhappy

Click to expand...

You can fit the bulb upside down and it won't fit properly in the fitting, but will fit in "good enough" that you might think its ok! Its still behind the reflector but if you look at the rim of the bulb in the fitting you'll see its maybe 1mm out at one side or bottom! This causes you to blind oncomming traffic! So one to watch out for.

Deckchair5 said:

Have a look through the front and make sure the bulb is directly behind the silver circular reflector shown here. It's very easy to get it wrong
View attachment 69467
If it isn't then oncoming drivers will be very unhappy

Click to expand...

Ta for that. I've checked a few times, but will check again.

I've taken some pic's tonight, and drove upto a fence and reversed back. N/S beam seemed to stay in the same place and get wider, and O/S seemed to slowly creap towards the N/S until they met, which would make be thing that the O/S is pointing to the left and needs adjusting to point forwards.

All these pic's are on Dipped Beam

Up the road, do the lights travel forward enough?


Up against a fence. See two distinctive beams on the gate/door


Now I've reversed back from the gate (only by about 2-3 meters) and the two beams have merged into one. On the gate.


Is this normal / what everyone else gets?

Jon.

Doesn't look too bad, although not much light pool from the drivers side on the first pic. Although I mean close to the car, big dark spot infront of the car on OS.

I'll try and do the same for ya and get a pic one night.

StiloBoy said:

Doesn't look too bad, although not much light pool from the drivers side on the first pic. Although I mean close to the car, big dark spot infront of the car on OS.

I'll try and do the same for ya and get a pic one night.

Click to expand...

Ta for that. But you can see what I mean can't you

Not me going dowali

I think it is the O/S unit pointing towards the N/S to much. I'm glad it is in a way, and not the opposite way, as the O/S unit is much easier to adjust than the N/S unit with the side to side adjusters being almost under the wing, so N/S is practically unacessable with the battery unit in place.

Just remember the O/S is supposed to dip towards the N/S, its when the light is badly adjusted away from the N/S that you blind oncoming traffic! Lights should both be biased towards the left kerb so to speak.

StiloBoy said:

Just remember the O/S is supposed to dip towards the N/S, its when the light is badly adjusted away from the N/S that you blind oncoming traffic! Lights should both be biased towards the left kerb so to speak.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's the flick that your on about. The flick that doesn't seem to exist much on my lights at the mo

Well there is a bit of a flick in the fence pic.... I'll do the same pic tonight on my drive and show you!

You need to point the car at a wall (whitewashed would be nice) and then walk in front of each lamp assembly (on dipped) and then it will be very obvious which beam is wrong.

I'd swear from the image you've posted that the bulb is simply not fitted properly - which is covered pretty well in that link I posted.

You should get a clean cut-off on dipped

Not the best pic I'm affraid as my car is pointing down my drive but you definately see the flick on both lights at least.

Argonought said:

You need to point the car at a wall (whitewashed would be nice) and then walk in front of each lamp assembly (on dipped) and then it will be very obvious which beam is wrong.

I'd swear from the image you've posted that the bulb is simply not fitted properly - which is covered pretty well in that link I posted.

You should get a clean cut-off on dipped

Click to expand...

We'll its definatly the O/S lamp unit, so will check the bulb tomorrow and take the cover off that back and twiddle with it as access isn't bad on that side.

Will feedback tomorrow night with the results

Jon.

Well I can't get pics to upload i'm affraid! Site is gubbed! Cant insert into post, or stick them in my gallery!