Hi there, I haven't had any luck finding information on how to adjust the focus of my headlamps.
During a recent inspection, I discovered that the focus of my dimming lamp is too low.
I can only see one adjustment dial (each side), but I expected there to be more. If I adjust this dial, will it also affect the height of both lamps?

I thought each lamp might have separate adjustments, including both horizontal and vertical options. I couldn't find any help for this on YouTube, so I was hoping someone might have a diagram for the dual headlights. Even better, if anyone has experience with adjusting the headlight beam—particularly the main dimmed headlight beam—that would be great.

I have a rough idea of how the adjustments should look, but I want to avoid adjusting the wrong side.
The outer headlights need to be focused higher, so I assume they have separate adjustment dials.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

Additionally, while I was looking at the setup, I reconnected a plug with green wires to the back of a black box situated behind the lights,
which has a larger round dial. This plug was also disconnected on the other side. I wonder if the previous owner disconnected them for some reason,
though I'm not sure why. I reconnected them on both sides, hoping it might change the beam focus somehow. However,
I don't know what the function of these connections is or what I might gain or lose by reconnecting them.

Again, any help from someone with experience would be really helpful!

 

i can't remember all the manual adjustments since i have upgraded mine.
but those motor boxes are for electronic headlight levelling.

all headlights came with those as they make up part of the mounting and adjustment.
but only some cars have the switch inside and the ability to electrically adjust them.
the dial on those might be what allows for manual adjustment.

 

Thank you Spud Maat ,
That sounds most likely ,its interesting that I discovered they had been disconnected, I'm not sure why still
but this may be where I can attempt to adjust the focus, thanks for pointing that out ,

So if this is the case there may not be any manual adjustment, as the control box appears to be connected to the lamp side I want to adjust
(on each side) then I shouldn't need to worry about altering the other beam lamps as they are in the right spot,
( as opposed to) the possible manual adjustment I was looked most likely to effect both lamps.

Adjusting them may be easier than I expected

 

Black Box with a dial mystery solved (Thanks to Spud Mat )

JAGUAR XJ8 X308 XJ6 X300 XK8 XKR HEADLIGHT ADJUSTER ACTUATOR LEVELLING JLM12117 ,

So I guess this is where how I can adjust my Dipped Beam, as its directly on the back it looks like plugging the unplugged (for some odd reason) plug
into the back & a bit of fine tuning via the dial , I have not attempted adjustment yet because I don't have an indoor space so I waited for night
and because of my OCD I wanted to research ,get an understanding & have all the tools I need before I start ... I will need to get some tape to mark the wall,
hopefully tomorrow night I will make this adjustment as despite now plugging in the electronic headlight adjuster, its still focused too low.

by taking my time to learn what i need to know is (& has been) worth it

(Btw , I have been reading that there should be a headlight levelling dial or switch near the headlight controls which is interesting as I'm sure I don't have one,
according to the VIN it was originally LHD but as its in NZ its RHD so maybe there was a conversion, maybe the wiring harness was swapped or something, either way maybe the missing
console side adjustment dial (said to be near the headlight switch on the left side of the steering column (right-hand-drive layout, post-conversion).*

maybe that's why the previous owner had these disconnected? ... Still I am going to hunt around, it would be frustrating to find out I should have been adjusting the lamps
from the console rather than around the back of the light frame, but I'm used to old manual light focusing systems ... I will continue researching before I start messing with them) ,
if I'm missing a console dial for this then maybe the sytem wont work & I'll be back to trying to find a manual adjustment solution

* = The headlight switch (part JLM12059 or LNA6005AA) is a rotary knob controlling off, parking lights, and low/high beams. The levelling dial is typically below or beside this knob, integrated into the dashboard fascia or a small panel.

I think despite having the electronic headlight levelers, they probably wont work if the circuit is not complete , as I don't have the internal console dial
which probably means that I don't have the (shock absorber) Sensors either

Picture below is What I would need, but sadly my car does not have this

So I need to figure out how to Manually Adjust ... such a shame, I was hoping it would be easier when I discovered the Electronic Headlight Leveling dial
I see a single manual looking adjustment screw which I will play around with tomorrow after more research & I get some tape to mark the wall

 

thats what i was saying. all cars had these but not all had the adjustment knob on the dash.
m 2 cars both have these on the headlighs.
none were specced with electric headlight adjustment feature.

also this only adjust the up and down to 3 settings. never adjusted the left and right

that pic you showed with the switch is from an x308 1997 onward model. not the X300.

trying to think back to when i dismantled my headlights.
on the back of the headlight there is a threaded knob for one of the mounts that can adjust IIRC

 

see here.
left hand side clock panel for the switch

 

i upgrade my car to LED light units (big job) and mounted them in a way where i can adjust them however i want.

never known of a LHD to be converted to RHD can you share the infor on this and also a pic of the engine bay.
brake booster is always on factory drivers side

 

#1 Headlight Manual Adjuster for the Innermost Headlight? ,#2 Electronic levelling (was originally unplugged)

I cant see any other adjustment for the Dimmer side (which is the outer headlamp)

No Dial for Adjustment levelling in centre console or near the headlight switches - I just noticed how badly I needed to give my console a good dusting!

No Dial for Adjustment levelling in the centre console or near the headlight switches - 2nd angle

So I was looking at this today, very informative on the automatic levelling (and those without!)

[Secrets of the Jaguar XK8/XKR (Tilt your beams) Episode 80 - https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=suAETwqC1u8
- To the Garage ]

Very helpful, It mentions not all cars came with a leveling dial , I am wondering as I have the correct harness that maybe I might have to find the connection,
If I'm lucky I can plug in a dial (even if I have to have it wired leading into my glovebox ,or once its adjusted maybe unplug it & it may stay?)
still looking at the back of the headlights the only manual looking dial looks like its only for the inner highbeam (marked #1 in the photo) ,
as the outer was unplugged (on both sides, there must have been a reason) it seems the only way to level the dimmer must be electronically,
its all a bit strange as it had not been an issue before , I guess these adjustments get bumped over time & change the levelling,

as an aside my VIN has an L which indicates it was originally LHD !, strange I know ... but maybe there is a reason like the decision changed at some stage on where this care would end up being exported too ,I've previously mentioned on another thread about My Vin being a bit weird, it indicates 97 (at the end) but I think its a 94
but it was registered in NZ as a 95 ... it takes time to get from the factory to NZ and the car dealers often round off the year to suit the market to make it appear new (for current year) , but I'm sure its one of the last steelbodied XJ6's from the factory ever made

 

https://www.carmanualsonline.info/ja...ond-edition/42

I was Looking through an online manual, no answer on how to manually adjust the headlights ,

but good news is its night time, it seems indeed the black dials seem to be making the adjustments
I'm sure this would not work unplugged but for now I think I've figured out a way to adjust the focus
Thanks for your help ,There are not many experienced Jaguar mechanics around and they are uninterested in working on my car,
this forum is great as XJ Jaguar mechanics are a dying breed & here is a wealth of experience + information ,
perfect for a DIYer like myself - I'd rather spend money on the right tools than be bled dry by a mechanic (most wont touch a Jaguar sadly)

 

as i said bro all had the motors but not all had the option for the levelling.
wiring harnesses were standard on all cars. leading to many unused plugs.
doesn't matter if your motor is plugged in or not as you don't have the dial.
theoretically if you plug them in and get a panel it should work as the fuses it uses also controls a few other functions like not in park interlock.

the dial would work if unplugged as right now having it plugged in is irrelevant as it does not have power.
the dial is there so that one can manually adjust on cars that do not have it and it likely can be used also to adjust the range that the electronic levelling will reach.
the dial is just a manual control for the mechanism so it can be controlled manually or electronically.

you will find many many unused plugs around where often if you got the option you can just plug it in.
i just purchased heated glass for my wing mirrors. plugged it in and now have heated mirrors.
build end of 94 compliance in 95 would be very very common.
think about time from build to time shipped, and for rego then time sold.
car could be built 94 and then not even first registered until 96.

maybe there is some confusion in you vin or the chart you used to decode it?

 

Thanks Spud Maat ,
I'm pleased to say it passed the Warrant of Fitness (WOF) check

Problem solved, Adjusting the lights was much easier than I thought after all ...

The hardest part (before getting a new WOF) was replacing the rear pivot bearings
not replacing them but after trying to get the wheel hub carrier to squeeze back into the lower wishbone -
(The tight fit was a good sign as old bearings had gone kaput & were rattling around)

But lots of grease , spring compressors + a scissor-jack under the hub carrier helped me align it without needing to remove
brake calipers or break the axle nut , so that's a relief that with help from this forum I've learned alot more about my XJ
Cheers