MiniStiGuy Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 The DOT standard for headlamps alignment is as follows: (this is the california standard which I'm sure is more then fine for everywhere else considering the stiffness of rules and regulations we are faced with) The standard states that a vehicle's headlights must be at 25ft away 2 1/2 inches below the given height of the headlight. To accomplish this I have written out a guide for you guys that just are new to this or for those of you that have been wanting to do this but aren't really sure how high or low you should go. Ok to start here's some stuff that will be needed. You'll need to have a flat surface with a flat wall and plenty of flat ground to back up 25ft away from the wall. Tools needed: Tape Measure Tape 8mm wrench or ratchet phillips head screwdriver to remove snorkus.(intake section) (tape works good for all the markings you'll be doing). Cliff Notes: Mark 1 = Center of the Vehicle. Mark 2 = Height from the ground to the center of the Lens. Mark 3 = Height from 25ft away that lower arc of beam should be at. (See 2nd Arc Picture) Mark 4 = Distance from center of the Vehicle to the center of the Lens. NOTICE: If you follow these instructions you will have a DOT approved alignment and will not be blinding oncoming drivers. 1. Pull up to the wall and mark the center of your car on the wall and your car. Mark 1 In the Diagram. 2. Measure the height from the ground to the center of your headlight (the center of the projector lens. Measure from Ground to Mark 2 and put Mark 2 on the wall. 3. Measure from the center of the car to the center of the Lens. Mark 1 to Mark 4 and put Mark 4 on the wall. 4.Measure from Mark 2 down 2 1/2 inches. Mark 2 Measure down 2 1/2 inches and put Mark 3 on the wall. Your tape on the wall should now look like that of the diagram in the picture. 5. Use your tap measure and measure back 25ft from the wall and mark the ground at 25 ft away. 6. Put the tap measure right up next to your tires and proceed to back up until your front tire is at the 25ft mark. IMPORTANT!!! Be sure to keep the center of your car aligned with the center mark on the wall if you don't do so then your marks are now useless. I find using the tap measure helps you back up straight because you can use it as a guide with it extended out for you to back up next to (sort of like a curb) 7. Now adjust your lamps as needed as to align the lower section of the arc to line 3. 8. If your horizontal aim is off to much you can remove the cover that is on the bolt for the horizontal alignment and adjust as needed. (see picture of bolts location. The bolt is on the outside section of the lens cap towards the fender at the top of the headlight.) Thats it your DONE!!!!!! being that you have now aligned your headlights to the DOT standard you can drive around worry free of blinding your fellow motorist. UPDATED PICS: The lower arc is the lower section of the light beam as opposed to where it arc's upwards to the top arc section. Here's a diagram I drew up of how your's should look on the wall and how the lights should be aimed to that diagram. NOTE: The higher arc is not what you are trying to aim here its the lower arc that you are trying to aim to the correct height. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/garrett804/Picture2copy.jpg __________________ yeah their are bolts on the back of the headlight that can adjust the horizontal aim and the vertical aim. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/garrett804/IMG_0343.jpg If there is any questions or concerns just feel free to PM me or post them up. OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted February 16, 2007 Author Share Posted February 16, 2007 STICKY REQUEST.... I got tired of people asking the same question on aligning. PIC of Horizontal alignment bolt included. OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTS Jeff Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Just to clarify, we can now aim our headlights up and down as well as left and right? Why would Subaru specifically say in their FSM that horizontal aiming is not possible? And then go to the trouble to hide the bolt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legasee Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 great info! mod meet! In Taiwan now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 STICKY REQUEST.... I got tired of people asking the same question on aligning. PIC of Horizontal alignment bolt included. Done Click Here everyday:redface: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted February 19, 2007 Author Share Posted February 19, 2007 thanks magic.... For everyone's clarity the answer to the question of the millenium for our cars. Question: Do our Legacy's that being the 2005+ have horizontal alignment capability? Answer: Yes they do have the ability to be horizontally aimed. The main reason why a manufactorer would not allow for its customer's to have the knowledge of the horizontal aiming is because some people could cause for there alignment to purtrude into oncoming traffic in an effort to light up the lane line more. With the cutoff of our headlamps consisting of a european style arc in the beam pattern it would be a major problem if that higher arc beam were to be constant in the eyes of oncoming traffic. To solve the problem of having customer's aim their headlights in such a way a cap was designed and installed on the headlamps as to not allow for such adjustment. I'll take better pictures when I do my Rx330 swap of the alignment bolts and how they work and how to get access to them. OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolbluelb Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 subscribe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 I will be posting up my Rx330 Swap this weekend. You'll have pictures of the following: - Horizontal Adjustment bolt - Washer Mod - Beam comparison between a HID kit on stock projectors and a full OEM D2S Rx330 Setup - Detailed instructions on how to do the swap As always their will be plenty of PHOTOS and information OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yies Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u134/yies_photos/housing_mod_1.jpg forward to the pics. especially ones on the color mod with washers. Are the washers placed here? (blue arrows..hijacked pic from VXCL's thread) http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u134/yies_photos/housing_mod_1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 The washer's go between the shield and the lens holder. I had 3 #6 washer's on all 3 of the points where the lens holder is screwed on. Currently on my Rx330 setup I have 3 on only the bottom 2 mounting points. Just start with 1 and go to 2 and so on until your happy. Here's a pic of where you'll want to install them. I just editted VXCL's photo because I don't have my own with me at work. http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7660/washersuc8.jpg OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 Here's a link to what my color modded lights looked like http://legacygt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=865247&postcount=12 Here's tons more shots of them against a wall etc. You can see how the color looks when your lights are up against something. http://picasaweb.google.com/Garrett.L.Turner/HeadlightShots OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yies Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 that color is delicious, definitely something I am aiming for. which bulbs and what kelvin rating? I recently put some d2s bulbs in the stock H7 projectors and the cut off is yellow. I am going to have to open up my headlights once again. Also my cut off doesnt seem correct. Just to double check, is there only one way for the bulb to go in? The base of the d2s bulb + the d2s to H7 adapter was so thick I had to bend the retaining clip to get it locked in. But I am afraid the bulbs may be mispositioned inside the headlight. I'll take pics of the cutoff tonight, how far should I be from the wall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crash Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Here's a link to what my color modded lights looked like http://legacygt.com/forums/showpost....7&postcount=12 Here's tons more shots of them against a wall etc. You can see how the color looks when your lights are up against something. http://picasaweb.google.com/Garrett.L.Turner/HeadlightShots FYI, the first link doesn't work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yies Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 FYI, the first link doesn't work First link doesn't work but the second link works fine for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted March 1, 2007 Author Share Posted March 1, 2007 edit first post works now OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosco Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 nice write up could you explain more of the alignment not quite understanding the lower section of the arc part. thanks bosco 7. Now adjust your lamps as needed as to align the lower section of the arc to line 3. Stay Stock Stay Happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 The lower arc is the lower section of the light beam as opposed to where it arc's upwards to the top arc section. Here's a diagram I drew up of how your's should look on the wall and how the lights should be aimed to that diagram. NOTE: The higher arc is not what you are trying to aim here its the lower arc that you are trying to aim to the correct height. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/garrett804/Picture2copy.jpg OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brack Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Watching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 Watching what? I'm confused.... this isn't tv or a broadcast. OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosco Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 The lower arc is the lower section of the light beam as opposed to where it arc's upwards to the top arc section. Here's a diagram I drew up of how your's should look on the wall and how the lights should be aimed to that diagram. thank you nice work btw. bosco Stay Stock Stay Happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djkxgo0k Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 could you go into a little more detail on how to adjust the headlamps' direction? i noticed my lights are not pointing in the proper direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted March 18, 2007 Author Share Posted March 18, 2007 what do you mean direction? take a picture or something so that I can see what your problem is and then I can tell you how to fix it. OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djkxgo0k Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 i believe one (or both) of the headlamps is facing toward the ground too much, as i can't see too far ahead. seems as if the left headlamp is pointing diagonally away from the car towards the ground. i dont have a camera on me atm so i cant post a pic.. but is there a way to adjust the direction it points? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniStiGuy Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 yeah their are bolts on the back of the headlight that can adjust the horizontal aim and the vertical aim. http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u280/garrett804/IMG_0343.jpg OEM HID's Rx330 Retro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djkxgo0k Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 ahh, 'preciate it! i will try it out as soon as time allows. thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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