6 replies to this topic

[trackhappy]

Hi, can any one help? I want to know if there is a manual way to adjust the headlights on our Morris Mini Deluxe?

[gsms]

Is it not the screw adjustment like on the later minis?

[Pandora]

Surely the garage will do that on MOT?

[trackhappy]

She's fully registered and doesn't need a MOT but has just been painted. I was hoping there was a way to make the adjustment without having to take her to the garage. It is a screw adjustment.

[Pandora]

Well you risk blinding other people, i would go get it done at a garage as they have the right equipment.

[Dan]

You can do it roughly, but not accurately without the right equipment. You need to drive up to a flat and nicely vertical surface (back wall of your garage or garage door for example) with the vehicle on a flat level floor, using a car which has properly adjusted headlamps. Park about 4 feet back from the wall. Put the dipped beam on and use electrical tape or similar to mark where the beam pattern lies on the wall. You should be able to clearly see where the dipped beam strikes the wall. Now you need to take that car away and replace it with the Mini. The important thing is that the headlamps are the same distance from the wall as they were before, not the wheels or the bumper. Measure the height difference between the Mini lamps and the other car and apply the same difference from the original markings on the wall when adjusting the lamps. Obviously the spacing between the lamps will be different, but it's the height of the beam that's important so ignore the spacing. If the first car had adjustable level headlamps then they should be in the right position for the loading in the car, which is the highest position if the car is empty. If the original car has complex reflector headlamps, that is lamps with clear glass lenses then it may be harder to see the beam pattern and you can't really use a car which has HID or projector headlamps.

This is only a very rough way of setting the height and it should be checked at a garage but it will get you through if the MOT is coming up soon. If your MOT is a long way off then I'd say get a garage to do it now.

[trackhappy]

Thanks, I appreciate the replies. (I'm actually doing the research for hubby) but will pass on the information and advice