I'm still confused. If I have my car parked on a hill pointed uphill, and I start up the car, are the headlights going to level themselves and be pointed downward in relation to the road? And then, when I get onto a level stretch of road, are they going to re-level themselves and point straight ahead (rather than downward?) I don't really understand what they mean by self-leveling. I see them move when I start the car, but what good does that do? Why would they level themselves and point upwards when I'm traveling down a steep incline. It seems like that would just direct the beam into the eyes of the people traveling uphill.

 

they continually level themselves out Sam. If you ever stop abruptly at night behind another car, right when your car returns from its small 'dive' you'll see the level click down once or twice.

I found the 'sensor' on my driver side rear control arm (wishbone) (see my mystery part thread) it has a little ball and socket connection to a box that monitors the ***-end of the car. Make sure yours is still connected.

 

Yes they are designed to constantly adjust/level depending on the car's suspension position(not your position on a hill or going down a slope). When I drive into my garage I go over a 2" lip, and the lights drop a bit as I "hop" and come up a bit after I am back in the garage.
Alfred

 

Oh! That makes more sense! I thought they were self-leveling meant that they were leveling themselves with the road.

 

Yeah would be pretty funny if they "Leveled" themselves to gravity like a level does. Was interesting to do some research on how they level in relation to the car/suspension etc.

 

What year did the auto-leveling headlights start? Will a 2000 XK8 model have them?

 

2003 (last 1/2 Vin split) the HIDs with auto-leveling was introduced. Basically, the 4.2 version.