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Date:         Sun, 18 Sep 2005 18:12:06 -0700
Reply-To:     David Marshall <mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Marshall <mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA>
Subject:      Re: adjustable headlights
Comments: To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <1e.4dccf01c.305e429d@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

My 1990 Golf Country (Imported from Germany) has adjustable headlights, as do every vehicle in Europe from 1990 on I think. On the dash there is a rotary switch that has the numbers 0 through 5 on it, this switch looks almost identical to the headed seats switch. The numbers represent the "additional grade" of the angle for the lights. On the radiator there is a picture of a light with "3%" next to it. So, with the switch set to "0" the lights will be at their highest in the air setting and the light should be aimed manually (at a shop) to 3% down, so for example if the headlights are 1000cm (10m) from a wall, the center of the beam on the will be 30cm lower than the center of the lights on the car. If you move the switch to "1" then the lights will be dipped to 4% down (40cm at 10m), 2 is 5% etc. The reason for these adjustable lights is to compensate for additional load on the vehicle, if your fat friends sit in the back the lights will go up in the air... if you put a trailer on, the lights go up in the air. The switch is so you can bring them back down and not blind on coming drivers.

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc. 4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca mailto:sales@fastforward.ca Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160

- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions - Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation - European Lighting for most Volkswagen models

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-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Jeff Oxroad Sent: September 17, 2005 9:10 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: adjustable headlights was.Re: rare LLE vanagon for sale on samba

Yeah I'm all for the slow down a little for some of us slower folks, and even slower for me. I've rented cars in Europe with the adjustable headlights, but can't quite remember the deal. The lights or reflectors can be adjusted to do what? They allow you to focus more light on the road right in front of you or down the road a bit, is that ?

What's the downside: You have the potential to blind on-coming drivers if you're not conscientious?

Why are the illegal in the USA?

And Why are the hella H4 without sealed beams illegal? What could the beam being sealed possibly matter?? I've gotta say my H4s are far less offensive than a Benz with halogens or whatever the bluish beam is, as the Benz pops over a speed bump blinding every on-coming driver for 100 miles. Although I think my H4s are only 55w/65w.

And while we're on it, seems to me yellow headlights were all the rage in europe about 20 years ago. What happened to them and why was yellow better than "white".

Illuminate me.

Thanks, Jeff 83.5 Westy LA,CA

In a message dated 9/17/2005 8:48:25 PM Pacific Standard Time, kimbrennan@MAC.COM writes:

Roll that one by me again? My Corrado's Euro headlights don't have adjustment motors. What are you talking about?


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