Headlamp beams seem too high

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

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Ron Miel
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Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by Ron Miel » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:52 pm

Despite the MOT pre-delivery of our new Bongo, its headlamp beams (dipped and full) look too high, compared with our other car, and compared with other vehicles on the road this evening. So, I'm not surprised that I'm getting a few indignant headlamp flashes.

Are the two big knurled nuts, on the back of our (new shape Bongo) headlamp housings, beam adjusters or simply cover removal nuts for bulb replacement? Haven't had time to try them since getting back in, so thought I might as well ask before possibly screwing up (pun not intended) the beams tomorrow. Is there a standard pattern one should work to in adjusting beams?

Thanks.
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westonwarrior
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by westonwarrior » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:56 pm

Fit big spots and wire them up to main beam and when you get flashed you can blast them with full on blinders :twisted:
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Ron Miel
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by Ron Miel » Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:26 am

Glad you're not in this part of the country, Westonwarrior! :roll:

MountainGoat has very kindly PM'd the relevant service manual page to me, so I'm OK now everybody. Thanks again M/G, and once again, thanks to a great forum.
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westonwarrior
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by westonwarrior » Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:40 am

As if I would really :wink:
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by cheffy34 » Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:43 am

Lower the van :lol:
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by mikeonb4c » Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:45 am

westonwarrior wrote:Fit big spots and wire them up to main beam and when you get flashed you can blast them with full on blinders :twisted:
Tee hee. Have to put my hands up and say if someone persists in driving at me whilst on main beam at night, damaging my night vision, I'm likely to give them just the briefest blip of main beam + spotlights. Just to get their attention you understand :roll:
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Ron Miel
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by Ron Miel » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:32 am

cheffy34 wrote:Lower the van :lol:
Surely, raise the back - sort of dragster Bongo :D
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by Ron Miel » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:33 am

westonwarrior wrote:As if I would really :wink:
Better not now - we'll all know it's you (or Mike) :lol:
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by cheffy34 » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:24 am

Ron Miel wrote:
cheffy34 wrote:Lower the van :lol:
Surely, raise the back - sort of dragster Bongo :D

And why not :lol: I've heard cabti does a nice line in red stripes aswell :lol: :lol:
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by You've Been Bongod » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:57 am

westonwarrior wrote:Fit big spots and wire them up to main beam and when you get flashed you can blast them with full on blinders :twisted:

[-X [-X [-X [-X [-X
now now rob thats naughty :lol:
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by dandywarhol » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:14 pm

Drive against a garage door, full beam, mark the centre spot with chalk on the door, drive back 25 ft (assuming a level ground) and adjust the lamps to the chalk mark - you'll find it's pretty close for the MOT testers
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by missfixit70 » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:28 pm

Wonder if the MOT was done before the conversion?, Imperials vans are stripped before they get their mitts on them to convert, if it was MOTed when it was stripped - before the conversion? :-k
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Re: Headlamp beams seem too high

Post by trevd01 » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:07 pm

Can you get it MOT'd without it being registered? As a 7 yr old Bongo can't be registered without a conversion, maybe that answers Missfixit's question?
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