Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post in this forum for topics relating to the exterior. This includes body, windows, and accessories

Moderators: GRNSHRK, ron, bfons

Post Reply
mattyab
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:36 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by mattyab »

Hi All,

First post here so please be gentle.

I have recently purchased a ‘86 635 - auto RHD UK spec.
The car has clearly been taken apart and not put back together all that well.

Thanks to a very helpful guide on this forum I, just yesterday, managed to get the headlamp wipers working by stripping down and cleaning the relay.
As a result it has become clear that the low beam headlights are both incredibly loose. I have stripped them from the car and can’t see how they are supposed to mount. The adjuster heads are loose in the plastic clips and the pivot post is nothing more than that.
There is a spot on the back of the reflector for a tension spring but no corresponding hole on the backplate.

Help appreciated.
I’ve hopefully attached some photos to show what I have.
Many Thanks
Attachments
0DABCDF8-58BC-40ED-8A5C-261D27954EF6.jpeg
0DABCDF8-58BC-40ED-8A5C-261D27954EF6.jpeg (2.48 MiB) Viewed 1555 times
453A8D62-0A8D-4308-A91D-B5B13759B528.jpeg
453A8D62-0A8D-4308-A91D-B5B13759B528.jpeg (2.18 MiB) Viewed 1555 times
plip1953
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:15 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by plip1953 »

So are you saying that when you locate the headlight unit on to the three round ended posts it's still loose? They should push home and stay there. It's not unusual for the cups to get damaged but yours look ok to me.
Phil
__________________________

1988 Highline 635 CSi
mattyab
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:36 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by mattyab »

Yes, so loose that when the wiper sweeps the lamp lifts off the pivot post!
Are the adjuster heads supposed to go all the way through the plastic clips? I think they must be the incorrect sort if there is no other method to secure the unit as there is no chance of it staying put as is.
plip1953
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:15 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by plip1953 »

Yes, they need to be pushed in firmly and should hold firm. Greasing the ball ends might help.
Phil
__________________________

1988 Highline 635 CSi
User avatar
Ralph in Socal
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 2746
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:32 am
Location: High Desert of SoCal

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by Ralph in Socal »

Phil is correct. Order of assembly is the cups should be on the ball ends first then push the headlight mount into that assembly

The base of the adjusters where they mount to the steel frame is not secure. The plastic extension is supposed to slot in between the 2 raised tangs on the frame

Ball ends look rusty so wire brush them clean and then put a small amount of grease before the cups go on

Wire brush cleaning and lubrication on the threads of the adjusters will make adjustments easier

Ralph
There is a very fine line between "Hobby" and Mental Illness.

85 635csi Zinno Auto
84 528i Euro
83 635 Euro Arktik
81 528i Kastanien 5-speed
88 528e Bronzit (Granpa Car)
86 535i Auto (For Sale)
81 633 csi (retired)
Pod
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 4492
Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:32 pm
Location: usually in the barn, Kent, England.

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by Pod »

Welcome to the madness. Good to have a new UK member joining us. Where are you located?

You must have one of the only UK cars with working headlight wipers. Well done!
plip1953
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:15 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by plip1953 »

Pod wrote: Fri Sep 30, 2022 4:50 pm Welcome to the madness. Good to have a new UK member joining us. Where are you located?

You must have one of the only UK cars with working headlight wipers. Well done!
Mine were working last time I tried them!!! But that was a few years ago lol
Phil
__________________________

1988 Highline 635 CSi
mattyab
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:36 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by mattyab »

Thanks for all the help chaps.
I’ll report back when I’m back on it.
Front brake refresh at the moment.

I’m in Gloucestershire.
And yes, I was pleased as punch when the wipers burst into life, and somewhat surprised given what I’d read on here!

Talking of wipers:
Is there a way to adjust the park position of the windscreen wipers? I’m loathed to move the arms as the sweep is perfect. Park however seems to be a good inch and a half up from the lowest point of sweep
plip1953
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:15 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by plip1953 »

mattyab wrote: Sat Oct 01, 2022 4:42 pm
Talking of wipers:
Is there a way to adjust the park position of the windscreen wipers? I’m loathed to move the arms as the sweep is perfect. Park however seems to be a good inch and a half up from the lowest point of sweep
Should be easy enough. Just flip up the cover at the pivot end, undo the nut, work the arm loose on it's spline and the re-position to give a lower parking position.

And if you like you can use slightly longer wiper blades than OE, and I think they look better.
Attachments
DSCN4264.JPG
DSCN4264.JPG (722.2 KiB) Viewed 1447 times
Phil
__________________________

1988 Highline 635 CSi
mattyab
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:36 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by mattyab »

The trouble with that plan is that the wipers sweep to the bottom edge of the screen already.
They just don’t park there.
As mentioned the swept area is good.
It’s just the park position that’s off.
mattyab
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2022 4:36 pm
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by mattyab »

Ps. Phil your park position looks perfect 👌
plip1953
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:15 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by plip1953 »

mattyab wrote: Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:55 am The trouble with that plan is that the wipers sweep to the bottom edge of the screen already.
They just don’t park there.
As mentioned the swept area is good.
It’s just the park position that’s off.
In which case my guess is that the wiper motor itself is faulty.

Is is any different if you select a flick wipe or intermittent mode?

With the wipers switched on, have you tried turning the ignition off when the blades are at their very lowest on a sweep ie where you would routinely wish them to park. Give it a few secs and turn the ignition back on and maybe they'll stay parked in that parked position until of course you then have need to use them again properly.
Phil
__________________________

1988 Highline 635 CSi
User avatar
Ralph in Socal
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 2746
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:32 am
Location: High Desert of SoCal

Re: Low Beam Headlight Fixing

Post by Ralph in Socal »

For the windshield wipers, the motor has an activation arm bolted to it. Make sure the location of the activation arm puts it at full extension (I think it's full extension) in the park position. The arm and motor shaft are splined for mating. You probable just need to move one spline distance. Good luck

Ralph
There is a very fine line between "Hobby" and Mental Illness.

85 635csi Zinno Auto
84 528i Euro
83 635 Euro Arktik
81 528i Kastanien 5-speed
88 528e Bronzit (Granpa Car)
86 535i Auto (For Sale)
81 633 csi (retired)
Post Reply