I'll probably finally be replacing my X300 headlights with X308 headlights this weekend. Most owners simply snap-in the X308 lens assemblies into the X300 brackets, but I'm changing the brackets out as well.

After much stitching together of several donors, the adjustment of the lenses will undoubtedly be wrong.

Is there a guide that tells how to align/aim (to what vertical and horizontal cutoff) the headlights after installation... say by parking a distance from a wall and measuring/marking with tape as I've done with other cars in the past?

.

 

Probably just have to eyeball it .

 

I have an X300 CD that came with the car that has dimensions for lining up the seams in body panels, the trim moldings, etc. etc. Can't believe it doesn't also have headlight aiming specs. I'll try to remember to dig it out and have a look when I get home this evening.

 

Thanks. If there is anything specific about our cars, that would be helpful.

Also found the following after thinking about it a bit more and realizing it shouldn't normally be anything car specific though:

How to Adjust Car Headlights: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

How to Adjust Your Headlights - Aim Your Headlights

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=967086



.

 

Sorry, not very helpful: Just tells you newly fitted assy's must be aligned. Couldn't find an alignment procedure anywhere.

 

Thanks Al , Since I played around so much with mine trying to clean them up and lub the adjustments and getting lost on reinstall orientation mine will need reaiming . It's probably cross eyed now . Now that I'm retired I'll be looking for some 308's with brackets ( both of mine are broke anyway and wrong as you said for 308's ) as I can now go forward with the midlife overhaul . It's my retirement present to myself since I didn't get a watch for 25 years of service .

 

Al,

I've always used the 25ft method with our Jags with good results:

Park about 1ft. from a vertical wall and put a + of tape in the center of each low-beam's light spot on the wall.

Back up exactly 25ft from the wall.

If the fuel tank is full, I adjust the headlamps until the light spots are at the same vertical height as the tape +'s, and their horizontal alignment is either on the +'s or slightly to their right (never to their left). If the fuel tank is half-full or less, I adjust the beams so their vertical height is just below the +'s.

I test the high beams and if there are any obvious issues I confirm the bulbs are properly mounted in the lenses and if necessary tweak the low-beam adjustment slightly to improve the effectiveness or coverage of the high-beams, which I use frequently on our rural backroads.

Cheers,

Don

 

Do you adjust the high beams to the same "+" target as the low beams?

 

.....Yep

 

Make separate + marks for the high beams - if you aim them at the low beam + marks they'll be toed out.

Cheers,

Don

 

Aim them by hand and then secure with duct tape (seriously) watch this video to see that I'm not making this up, lol:

 

Hi :-),

Welcome to the Jaguar Forums.

Please visit the New Member Area - Intro a Must and post a required introduction so we can learn something about you and your Jaguar and give you a proper welcome.

Cheers,

Don