Shim Headlights

9Rockr

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 19, 2012
Location
North Dakota
TDI
2005 Passat Wagon 5-Spd, BSM Delete
The adjustment screws on the original lights had stripped so I replaced both lights with aftermarket ones. The lighting is still terrible, lights the ground 20-30 feet in front of the car.. Has anyone shimmed their headlights? And if so what did you use?
 

Nuje

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Location
Island near Vancouver
TDI
2015 Sportwagen; Golf GLS 2002 (swap from 2L gas); 2016 A3 e-tron
If you need to lift the beam, I've used just some ¼" acrylic cut in 1" squares with hole drilled for (longer) mounting screw.

Helping someone else recently, though, the idea struck me to maybe try some cork - wine bottle might be a little too small, but something around 1" diameter from a hobby supply store might work nicely - slightly compressible if you need to move up/down a little.
 

9Rockr

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 19, 2012
Location
North Dakota
TDI
2005 Passat Wagon 5-Spd, BSM Delete
If you need to lift the beam, I've used just some ¼" acrylic cut in 1" squares with hole drilled for (longer) mounting screw.

Helping someone else recently, though, the idea struck me to maybe try some cork - wine bottle might be a little too small, but something around 1" diameter from a hobby supply store might work nicely - slightly compressible if you need to move up/down a little.
Would you know the mounting screw specs off hand by chance? I realize it just needs to be 1/4" longer but looking for the pitch, diameter and thread.
 

Nuje

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Location
Island near Vancouver
TDI
2015 Sportwagen; Golf GLS 2002 (swap from 2L gas); 2016 A3 e-tron
Oh - they're nothing special. They're not threaded bolts, but more like the fender liner screws.
I just looked at the stock headlight screws
and then dug through the screw bin until I found something similar; went with stainless steel wood screw with Phillips head and a washer. It's worked for years.
 
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