Dipped Beam, Aligning

Information Source

I have used information from this link motuk.co.uk Manual to work out how to align your own dipped beams. It is entirely your own responsibility to ensure that your car is legal and roadworthy.

Theory

It says that for cars where the headlights are lower than 850mm from ground, as are the Mondeo's (in all incarnations) that the beam angle is permissible from 0.5% to 2%. Dipped beam cut offs outside this will result in a fail.

It's important to realise just how large this bracket is. If we assume level ground and the Mark III Mondeo as having a headlight cut off height at the source of 645mm (a rough reading from my car), then a 0.5% dipped beam results in a 129m dip beam reach. At 2% the beam reach is merely 32.25m, both these extremes should theoretically pass an MOT.

0.5% is the same as 1 in 200. 1 in 200 = 0.1 in 20 = 0.05 in 10.

In 10m we should see a reduction of cut off height equal to 5% of cut off height at the source for a 0.5% beam angle. In 10m we should see a reduction of cut off height equal to 20% of cut off height at the source for a 2% beam angle.

Practical How To

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