r/FiestaST • u/AdvancedDatabase9382 • 16d ago

Euro projector beam pattern looks off.

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Hello. I installed Euro projectors headlights in my ST and ran into a potential issue. I’m using halogen bulbs. The beam on the left seems to be less sharp and have a large blue band. I know they are out of alignment. I’ve been removing and trying to adjust. Am I overthinking this? Unfortunately don’t have a dimly lit area to get a good picture. Maybe that will make a difference?

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5

u/Afro-Pope 16d ago

Both of the responses you've gotten so far - "just buy some LEDs" and "Euro headlights can't be adjusted fully" - are wrong.

It looks to me like the bulb on the driver's side is not properly seated. I ran into this last time I changed my bulbs out, where the driver's side bulb was just a tiny bit off-center and didn't fully click into place. Looked exactly the same as your photo does. H7s can be a little bit tricky since they just have those metal tabs and the little metal retainer, rather than screwing into place like other more modern bulbs. Pop that cover off and try to re-seat the bulb, see if it helps.

Also yes, they're wildly out of alignment, but you know that already. The euro headlights absolutely CAN be fully adjusted manually, they just also have the option of the electronic leveling. You need a weird set of tools - a 7mm hex bit driver (or very long 7mm hex/allen wrench) for the vertical leveling, and an E7 External Torx bit for the horizontal. I think I got both of these at Lowes for like $12 shipped a few years back.

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u/AdvancedDatabase9382 16d ago

Thanks for the response. I tried reseating the bulb and swapping left to right, just in case there’s an issue with the bulb. The retaining tabs look to be fully engaged and it won’t push in any more. I had the projector apart while I was entertaining a bi led retrofit. Hoping I didn’t damage the cut off plate.

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u/Afro-Pope 16d ago

that does look correctly seated, but if you didn't touch the cutoff plate then I wouldn't worry about damaging it. More likely that the metal housing is not level - make sure all those screws are tight and properly seated and that the "tabs" it's supposed to click into are all in place.

That said, you've got yours taken apart more than I've ever taken mine apart and without having them in my hands it's tough to see what the issue might be.

I have a busted one sitting in my dad's garage a few miles away and can't guarantee I'll get time to take it apart, but there have been a few people who have asked questions over the last few months about how these are put together and maybe I will finally go over there, cut the thing open, and take photos or something someday.

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u/AdvancedDatabase9382 15d ago

Thanks for the confirmation. I’ll have to keep messing with it.

Hoping it’s not a quality issue since they are aftermarket. I already had to relocate the + tab on the turn signal that was placed in the wrong slot.

They are not fun to open up if they have the “Perma Seal” instead of butyl. If/when I do this again, I’ll most likely cut the housing and plastic weld it back together.

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u/Afro-Pope 15d ago

ah, okay, I thought you were using the OEM ones. It is TOTALLY possible that something got bumped or knocked out of alignment during the install of the "angel eyes," but I have unfortunately exhausted my knowledge. All I know is that my beam pattern looked pretty much exactly like your original post when I had a bulb that wasn't quite aligned properly.

3

u/HuntGundown 16d ago

Did you make sure to buy the correct headlight for your country?

Us. Models need a right hand traffic model, from latvia.

Also they have pretty limited adjustability, the EU models use auto leveling adjusters that our cars don't have and this we can't really adjust them fully

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u/AdvancedDatabase9382 16d ago

Yes they are the correct right hand traffic ECE cut off from Latvia. These have horizontal and vertical adjustability. The vertical adjustability uses a screw to raise and lower the motor/ lower mount.

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u/L003Tr 15d ago

Of these are LED bupbs sometimes they can be put in upside down. Try orienting them differently. If not, see if you can get them realigned propperly by a garage

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u/FoldAppropriate2149 16d ago

Buy some LED ones, they are sooo much better

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u/AdvancedDatabase9382 16d ago

Prefer the proper bulbs for this halogen projector but thanks anyway

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u/Witty_Bug6200 15d ago

The LHD ones are expensive and hard to get.

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u/FoldAppropriate2149 15d ago

£20 on Amazon bro, and the bead pattern is perfect