How to Adjust a Mercedes' Headlights
by George Chavez
In the U.S. the type, adjustments, and illumination factors of all automobile lighting devices are regulated by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. The headlights must function and be adjusted correctly. Your high beams must disperse their beams straight forward and low beams down and to the right while safely providing illumination without too much or too little glare. It is wise to check the headlight adjustment on your Mercedes at least every year. Doing it yourself will save you time and money. It will also make driving safer for you and others you may meet on the road at night. All it takes is time, some basic tools and a little patience.
Step 1
Open the hood and prop it up.
Step 2
Remove components if necessary to allow access to the left/right and up/down adjustment knobs. They are on top of the rear side of the headlight. The upper knob adjusts the beam to the left and right. The lower knob controls up/down adjustments.
Step 3
Park with the passenger side of the car parallel to a solid fence or wall and about four feet from it. When there is dim light or darkness, turn on the lights and use your screwdriver to adjust the up/down knob on the passenger-side headlight until the light beam is parallel to the ground (you can see the beam of light against the surface of the wall).
Step 4
Turn the car so that it faces the wall approximately one car length away. Adjust the up/down knob on the driver-side headlight until it is at the same level as the passenger side headlight. Then adjust both sides until the small groove on top of the beam cutoff is directly in front of the light.
Step 5
Reinstall any components that you removed. Close the hood.
References
Tips
- This is method is generic for Mercedes models. Some may differ, as there are many models out there.
Things You'll Need
- ratchet set
- 1/4-inch screwdriver, at least 8 inches long
- flashlight (if needed)
Writer Bio
George Chavez is a writer with expertise in emergency room care and general health issues. Chavez has written for Rateitall.com and various other websites. He attended the University of New Mexico where he majored in journalism and the University of Albuquerque where he majored in radiologic technology.
