Being new to Land Rover I have been trying to understand how my headlights adjust themselves, I am used to adjusting them from a dial in the car, low in town, high in the countryside for example. What does my Range Rover do? Have a set height that only adjusts to the suspension level? My vin brings up the below on the build sheet:

Headlamps - Xenon Headlamps [064CO]
Headlamp Levelling - Dynamic Headlamp levelling [064BR]
Light Sensing Headlights - Automatic Low Light Sensing Headlights [064CY] 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

On all models, the headlamps are automatic in that they come on and off depending on daylight, just like the rain sensing wipers are automatic. Both use the same sensor.

There's an EU law that all xenon headlamps must be self-levelled and/or washed (and air suspension constituted self-levelling also). At the time, xenon headlamps were an expensive upgrade on most cars and manufacturers often included both to justify the price. Range Rover xenons are both self-levelled and washed, hence why you have no adjuster in the cabin. They basically just have a levelling sensor and a little motor inside which tilts up and down as necessary, replacing the old fashioned dial to do this manually (which of course hardly anyone ever did, and instead blinded other drivers when loaded). Not sure how effective this is in practice, because the Range Rover headlamps are at the same kind of height as most people's door mirrors and/or windscreen, and have the potential to dazzle other drivers anyway.

Later cars (2011 to 2012) had the addition of both cornering lamps and a dynamic lighting system where the headlights actually swivel with the direction of the steering wheel, to light up the road where you're headed, not just directly in front of the car. If you ask me, this system (also common on Mercedes) is streets ahead of the matrix LEDs we get today, which don't swivel at all, but rather turn on and off different bulbs to simulate the same effect - probably cheaper to manufacture this way.

Hope this helps. 2015 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8

Last edited by garyRR on 22nd Nov 2022 11:15am. Edited 1 time in total

Thanks. I guess I just have to hope the self levelling works after 13 years! What is it trying to sense to then make adjustments? Any way of testing it simply? Have to say I always dreaded coming across a Range Rover at night as more often than not I was blinded by them - now I know why! 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

I don’t think my 2003 with zenon has self-levelling. I assumed it wasn’t necessary as the car has self-levelling suspension. Ron B. VK2OTC
2004 L322 V8 Auto
2007 Yamaha XJR1300
Previous: 1983, 1986 RRC; 1995, 1996 P38A; 1995 Disco1; 1984 V8 County 110; Series IIA

some early l322 was without leveling headlamps. It is described in rave.

KitTheRam wrote:

Thanks. I guess I just have to hope the self levelling works after 13 years! What is it trying to sense to then make adjustments? Any way of testing it simply? Have to say I always dreaded coming across a Range Rover at night as more often than not I was blinded by them - now I know why!

those probably had halogen headlights and not hid xenons.. ... - .- -.




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The whole car is 'self levelling' . 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

I maybe a rare example of someone who uses the height adjuster on headlights quite often so hence my interest. I think I will be driving round in the hope I am not blinding people and will look out for any adjustment at night. Would love to know what the sensor is actually trying to sense in the outside world if it’s the same sensor as the rain one - can’t see how just the light / time of day can tell the headlights what height they should be. I assumed there is a set beam angle that the car tries to maintain no matter its height, but then it won’t need a sensor that reacts to the outside world?! 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

theres probably a description of this in the WM... ... - .- -.




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IIRC from MY07 when the L322 was fitted with the D3/RRS Terrain Response system, headlight levelling is achieved by the air suspension levelling the whole vehicle, with the basic aim set using 2 adjustment screws on each headlight assembly. Vehicles fitted with swivelling headlights also adjust the headlights under hard acceleration and hard braking using motors within the light assemblies.

I have a late 2002 td6 with Xenon and they are 100% self leveling. When you turn on the light and then the ignition you can see the beams going up and down to test the leveling mechanism. You can see it quite easily when you are parked in front of a wall.

Ok thanks. I have noticed the beam moving on start up so I guess my motors are working. I take it now that there is a base setting for the headlights at all times and it is adjusted based on the height of the vehicle to maintain it. So unless I start messing with the base setting via the screws on the headlights themselves the headlight throw is what it is.

Also, reading GaryRR’s message again I now realise the sensor is mentioned in relation to turning the lights on automatically. 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.

Last edited by KitTheRam on 22nd Nov 2022 2:11pm. Edited 1 time in total

The sensor measures ambient light level and just turns the headlights on or off if you have the main switch set to auto. Nothing to do with beam alignment. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Yeah, just realised that as you were typing I think! 2009 pre-facelift 3.6 TDV8.