Nov 23, 2012
ibcs Just a general question. I've had my Model S for 3 weeks. Every time I drive at night I get flashed by other drivers to turn off my high beam. I'm wondering if it's an adjustment on my car or if other owners are experiencing the same issue.
Please let me know your experiences.�
Nov 23, 2012
jerry33 It should be pretty easy to tell if the beams are too high. When you're behind another car, if your lights shine inside their car they are too high. If they shine about half-way between the top of their trunk and the bumper they are about right.�
Nov 23, 2012
kevincwelch Flash them back.
Sent via Tapatalk.�
Nov 23, 2012
Oyvind.H You should really get this checked. Xenons are powerful, and if there`s something wrong with the angle they can be a real pain to people you meet on the road! Several people flashing would indicate that there`s something wrong. How about letting someone borrow your car so you can see for yourself?�
Nov 23, 2012
NigelM Flashing them back is not a good idea; if your lights are shining in someone's face the last thing you want to do is blind them completely when they're driving towards you at speed!
To the original question: I haven't had this issue at all. It would be helpful if someone could measure the approximate height of the lights shining on a wall from a distance of say 30', then you could do a quick comparison. If no-one else gets to it, I'll try to do a measurement tonight.�
Nov 23, 2012
Discoducky In general, if you stand in front of your car, do the low beams seem like high beams? And do the high beams seem like way more than high beams? Relatively speaking of course.�
Nov 23, 2012
stevezzzz I think you've got an alignment issue: I've never been flashed when driving at night with the headlights on low.�
Nov 23, 2012
NEWDL Never had an issue here either....�
Nov 23, 2012
steve841 Did a long drive last night on the highway .... not one issue.�
Nov 23, 2012
ibcs Anyone know how to adjust the headlights? They are extremely high compared to my other vehicles, but my local service center is 300+ miles away until March. I'll contact Roadside Assistance if nobody knows the answer.
Thank you for all your input.�
Nov 23, 2012
NigelM Call whatever service number you have and Tesla will send a Ranger.�
Nov 23, 2012
dsm363 I've never seen that as well. Is there any way the car is stuck in high even though it's telling you it isn't? For example, are you able to turn on your high beams and tell they are turning on or does the light pattern not change? I'd imagine that would be fairly obvious so it's likely misalignment like other people have said.�
Nov 23, 2012
ibcs They are not stuck in high. My high beams shine at the top of road side signs. It's not a problem with low / high beam it's just an adjustment problem. I will contact Tesla.�
Nov 23, 2012
strider If you're handy I'm sure there are adjustment screws in the light assembly. Don't have my car yet to investigate though.�
Nov 23, 2012
Velo1 Assuming there are adjustment screws, which I'd expect, then any reliable mechanic or shop can likely make the proper adjustment. However, I would still ask Tesla first if they have advise or will send a ranger to fix it. Don't want void any warranties.�
Nov 23, 2012
EV_de ...?? shouldn't the xenon headlights not auto adjusted , since the car high can vary due to the air suspension ?�
Nov 23, 2012
CapitalistOppressor Maybe other cars are just saluting you after recognizing the intense glow of awesome that surrounds every Tesla.
As to the technicals, Xenon's are very bright and can easily be mistaken for highbeams. If you are concerned you can get a Ranger to check it out and re-adjust it the next time you have the car looked at.�
Nov 23, 2012
KingKitega �
Nov 23, 2012
jerry33 Yes, but there are two settings: One for the height adjustment because of the suspension and the other for aiming the headlights. The air suspension keeps the body level so that's the adjustment for the suspension height. When the standard suspension comes out Tesla will have to add another mechanism to adjust the lights as the car's level changes due to loads.
- - - Updated - - -
Properly adjusted HID lights shouldn't glare any more than halogens. However, there are many improperly adjusted HID lights and the aftermarket add-on HID bulbs are always misadjusted because the reflector is wrong for HID bulbs.�
Nov 23, 2012
William13 The Tesla rangers can adjust or you can adjust the low beams verticle projection. I had mine adjusted while watching. I know how to adjust but will likely not change them myself in the future.
The proceedure:
1 open frunk.
2 note there are four large black plastic pieces of trim. The ones on the sides covering the wheels are covering the adjustment screws. ( Phillips head ). The adjustment screws are very near the rubber bumpers on either side. You will need to unsnap these rubber bumpers then unsnap the plastic trim.
3 with headlights turned on and visible, use Phillips driver to turn silver adjustment screw until lights move down incrementally. A little translates into a lot. Think Archimedes.
4 replace trim and rubber bumpers.
I would not do this myself even after watching it being done. I am concerned that I will break clips and have a rattle being unable to resecure the plastic. Years ago I replaced a car window motor and have sworn off similar endeavors.
The ranger said I was his first headlight adjustment. I had a similar issue as the OP. I hate to have people's lights pointed in my eyes. Thus I had this adjusted.�
Nov 24, 2012
artsci I've made headlight height adjustments on several of my cars. First step is to measure the height from the ground of the headlight bulb/beam. This can be approximate.
The actual adjustment should be done at night with the car on a level surface parked about 20 or 30 feet from a plain vertical wall. Park the car perpendicular to the wall and turn on the headlight low beam. The light image on the wall for each headlamp should have well-defined horizontal lines that angles up on the right. Measure the height from the ground of the each horizontal lines. They should match the height of the headlight bulb/beam on the car. Make any necessary adjustments until they're the same. It's simple to do.�
Nov 24, 2012
wshepherd I had to have my headlights adjusted by a ranger too - they were set almost undriveably low. Not user adjustable. The fact that three of us have needed this tells me the factory doesn't (yet) have a proper process for setting them/checking them.
Only time people flash high beams at us is when they're behind us trying to get a better look at the car...:biggrin:�
Nov 24, 2012
ibcs That's so funny wshepherd. Last night, I was stopped at a traffic light and the car behind me kept flashing their brights and inching closer to the back of the car. I flipped on the backup camera and could see the guys lips saying Tesla. I turned when the light turned green and he came up beside me with a big thumbs up.
I made a call to the service center to find out the proper solution. Sounds like it will be a ranger visit from other posts.�
Nov 24, 2012
NigelM If it's 3 out of ~300 then I'd put that 1% rate down to start-up/ramp-up issues.�
Nov 24, 2012
Velo1 With at least a handful of ranger calls for this issue, I would anticipate that Tesla would add to, or update, their final quality control inspection for the headlights prior to delivery of future cars. Certainly these ranger calls will not be cost efficient over time should a 1% adjustment rate indeed be the demand, and those are the owners noticing the problem.
OT: does the ranger drive a Model S?�
Nov 24, 2012
Doug_G This is not uncommon. I've had this happen with an ICE. Dealer prep is supposed to check this. Wondered what the heck the PDI fee was really for after that...�
Nov 24, 2012
Robert.Boston This issue sounds like something that (a) Tesla should add to its pre-delivery checklist and/or (b) we should add to our delivery walkthrough lists (provided that it's not too sunny where/when you have your car delivered).�
Nov 24, 2012
jerry33 No idea. Because they can't do a dealer prep in Texas, they should refund the fee.�
Nov 24, 2012
Jrhodesmd Don't get flashed by brights (thinking mine are on) in the city, but did 200 mile trip 2 days ago and got flashed no less than 15 times on back country roads. I think the lights are just brighter than most cars.�
Nov 24, 2012
digitaltim I had someone flash their brights at me once in the first week, but that is it.�
Nov 25, 2012
Ceilidh Can someone point me to the thread with these lists of things we are recommended to double check at the time of delivery because they have been common issues at the time of delivery?
Search is failing me.
Cheers, and thanks.�
Nov 25, 2012
mknox If a Ranger was able to adjust them on-site, they must be "somehow" adjustable. Did you happen to see how the Ranger did it?�
Feb 8, 2013
DanSB Got flashed last night as well.�
Feb 8, 2013
ibcs Very easy to adjust the headlights. First you must take off the plastic/rubber shield on both sides. After you have it removed beside the headlight you will see a phillips screwdriver spot. Turn slow to adjust beam up or down.�
Feb 12, 2013
DriverOne Picked up my car today - lights definitely aimed too high.�
Feb 12, 2013
hans If you have another properly adjusted car (or a friend with one) then you can just drive up to a wall and mark the correct height. Then adjust the Model S to the benchmark height. Done.�
Mar 1, 2013
Dysong1 My headlights are aimed high as well, so I opened the frunk and found rubber mushroom-shaped stoppers, 1 on each side that hold lateral panels in place . I gave them a pretty good pull but can't get them off and afraid I might tear or break something if I pull harder. Just want to make sure I'm pulling on the right ones before I pull harder. Anyone who's done this already confirm that I've got the right ones? They're rubber, tops are about size of a half-dollar. (I saw some other plastic ones that are inside the frunk well, don't think they're the ones.)�
Mar 1, 2013
Elshout I've never been flashed. As compared with my Mercedes S550, Model S xenon headlights are not nearly as powerful if that is an appropriate term. In particular high beams are anemic as compared with the S550.�
Mar 1, 2013
Dysong1 Never mind, I figured it out. They are screws that turn (by hand). After that, you just pry off the protective covers and then look for a philips screw surrounded by a small beige-colored plastic flange. Took a little trial and error (with some driving in between) to get the level just right, but now they're good.�
Mar 5, 2013
Zapped Adjusted my lights lower by about 3 full screw turns�
Mar 24, 2013
Daniel Scherer Great advise. Got them adjusted down in 15 minutes. Constant flashes from on coming traffic.�
Mar 26, 2013
Daniel Scherer Has anyone attempted adjusting the fog lights yet. Mine are way off.�
Mar 27, 2013
Zapped I haven't checked those. Pointing too low ? left/right ?�
Mar 28, 2013
toto_48313 After the first night trip... I stop by the service center, they made the adjustement, and it's fine now.�
Mar 29, 2013
Daniel Scherer Passenger side is way low compared to drivers don't see any access from the back. May adjust from front. Haven't looked that close yet.�
Jan 31, 2014
AmpedRealtor Sorry to revive this old thread, but in case others are reading...
DO NOT REMOVE THE RUBBER STOPPERS! The service center showed me how to do this, and it's incredibly easy. There are two plastic covers on either side of the frunk. Gently pull back on the plastic sections closest to the frunk hinges. As you pull it back, it should slide out from underneath the rubber seal around the frunk tub. You do not do anything to the rubber stoppers! Simply pull the plastic up and the rubber stoppers fold up and slide right through the hole. Those rubber stoppers control your frunk hood alignment, so if you adjust or mess with those, you might end up with a misaligned frunk hood.�
Jan 31, 2014
lloyds I've had this problem with my other cars as well, so I do not think it's an alignment issue. I think that some people are just more sensitive to bright lights (LEDs, Xenons, etc.)�
Jan 31, 2014
NJS1207 I have had my Model S for about 14 months now and never had an issue about getting flashed at night until about a month ago. At first I thought it might be a night-time version of the Tesla thumbs up, but in light of this thread and the sudden frequency of the gesture, I will get it checked by a ranger.�
Feb 2, 2014
radinator I just had my headlights realigned at the service center, as I would occasionally get people reacting like I had my high beams on. They said the were set too high. Glad this will be less of an issue.�
Feb 2, 2014
jerry33 I'm still trying to get it so that driving over 30 mph on a dark road doesn't overshoot the lights. Service Centre keeps saying they are perfect, but that just can't be right as I just had a loaner where the lights were adjusted correctly.�
Feb 3, 2014
AmpedRealtor Having service adjust your headlights is asking someone to simply guess. Service has no specifications for beam height or any scientific way of adjusting your lights. I watched them do it in Phoenix. They park your car facing the garage door which has red tape on it. They aim your headlights so that the the top of the beam cutoff lines up with the red tape. The red tape represents the headlight level from another car, but there's no way to know if that other car was adjusted property, had coil or air suspension (height differences), etc. So that is why I ended up doing it myself, and to my satisfaction. When the service center did it, I couldn't see past 20 feet in front of the car. They had the lights aimed right into the ground.�
Feb 3, 2014
jerry33 I'm going to have to do that too, but I really shouldn't have to.�
Feb 4, 2014
TheAustin I've had my car for over a year, and I too have drivers in the opposite direction flash me, usually at least once a night. I thought it might be due to the fact that I drive with my fog lights on (I like the extra bit of light). I guess I should turn them off and still see if I get flashed...And if I do, then I guess it's back to the service center...�
Feb 4, 2014
Forty Creek My car goes in for service today and headlight adjustment is on the 'to do' list. Sure hope they don't aim them too low. I recall watching one of my previous ICE vehicles while the dealer worked on the lights (don't recall what car). They had a dedicated tool for the job that allowed for specific calibration of each side.�
Feb 4, 2014
bluetinc I went through this after I received my car. I worked with the service center to have the lights properly aimed. At that time there was two ways to align the headlights. One of them (From Tesla) included setting the car on level ground ~30 feet from a wall, marking the wall at a specified height, and then re-aiming the lights to that mark. This is almost identical to the aiming instructions I've personally used before from the factory service manuals from Honda and Nissan, I don't think there is anything wrong with it as long as it is followed correctly. M
Many shops also have a headlight aiming device that is placed in-front of the headlight to help adjust the light. It does the same thing, but without the need for the long space, level ground, or the wall.
Whichever they use, they do have to know what they are doing, and both should result in the same headlight aim.
Peter�
Feb 4, 2014
jerry33 The Service Centre in Dallas says they use a dedicated tool. It aims the lights way too low. Adjusting the ride height--as part of the annual service--and then setting the headlights didn't make any difference. The bottom line is that I'll have to adjust them myself.�
Feb 4, 2014
palmer_md According to this paper, the cutoff should be 2" below centerline of lights at 25'.
http://www.coolbulbs.com/HID-VISUAL-HEADLIGHT-AIMING-PROCEDURE.pdf�
Feb 6, 2014
Tslagrl OK add me to the 'flashed' list. I assumed it was because the Tesla lights are more powerful (WAY more powerful than the headlights on my old ICE) - I can actually see where I'm going at night now! But I don't want to be blinding oncoming traffic......�
Feb 7, 2014
ddruz Have had my lights adjusted at least 4 times now by SC since getting my car 9 months ago. The official light-height-at-X-feet our SC uses results in frequent flashes. Needed to set it lower than spec not to get flashed so much. Lights now seem well positioned, not too low, not getting flashed so much as at spec height.�
Feb 7, 2014
Gizmotoy My last car had adjustable-height HIDs you could dial in while in motion. The zero point as factory spec, and you could lower them as desired. I got flashed regularly.
So I decided to do a (decidedly non-scientific) test: start with the highest setting, progressively lowering it over a period of months until the flashes stop. I had Mitsubishi correct my lights to the manufacturer's spec before I started.
Long story short, the flashes didn't stop until the hot spot was pointed at the ground at a distance of 20'. At that distance, that's roughly 2-3' lower than stock. So, huge. Notably, the flashes were ALWAYS from drivers with halogen lights. When your eyes adjust to dimmer yellow halogens, bluish/white HIDs look unusually bright.
So I gave up trying to be accommodating and use the legal height that provides the best visibility for myself.�
Feb 7, 2014
Duckjybe I just adjusted mine, which is really quite simple.
I was on a long trip, taking small town rural roads and was getting flashed by every 3rd car it seemed. In my home town, where BMW's and Audi's are common I hadn't been flashed ever. So I think it is a combination of the lights being a little too high and certain drivers not used to the very bright low beams. I ended up checking them against my Volt and they were indeed a touch higher. Before adjusting, my high beams were actually not adding much distance because they pointed so high. I think you need to find the sweet spot so that when you switch from lows to highs it does improve your visibility significantly.�
Feb 28, 2016
Lon12 Well I was following another Model S this weekend and he (Footbag) mentioned that one of my headlights was brighter than the other. Tesla had replaced one of them but did not adjust the beam to match. Thanks to this thread I was able to adjust the beam down.
Here is a picture of the adjustment screw if anyone is interested in it:
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