Elite Max cutoff

[Idlethunder]

I took advantage of Diode Dynamics early black Friday sale and ordered a set of their Elite Max headlights. They came in on Wednesday, and I installed them late yesterday. All the features work just as described so I assumed I had installed them correctly. I drove around a little after dark to test them out and found out very quickly that the low beams were way too low and the upper cutoff was not level. At that point I decided to properly aim them today and try them again. This afternoon I got the height dialed in and waited until dark. The cutoff is now razor sharp but still not level. Attached is a picture from last night when the beams weren’t even and one from tonight after both lights were adjusted to the same height. The only negative I’ve seen about these is that they need to be removed to set the height correctly, nothing about the beams being staggered. This is my first experience with a complete LED light. For the last few years I’ve been using LED bulbs in halogen housings and that has always worked for me but after reading such good things about these so I decided to give them a try. I talked with Diode Dynamics on Monday when they were ordered and I have no doubt they will be able to help but they were closed yesterday and today for Thanksgiving and won’t open again until Monday. I’ve read several posts on here from people who have them installed and I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction for a quick fix. My first thought was that as tightly as they fit, one side or the other was not squared up when tightened but I've had them in and out more than a dozen times and that stair step in the middle never changes. Anyone have an idea?

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[Minty JL]

Pics?

 

[Idlethunder]

Pics?

They are showing on mine, you can't see them?

 

[Idlethunder]

How about now?

 

[69charged]

I think that’s how they are. I have the rough country ones, and they have the same cutoff. I’ve always assumed it’s because it’s on the not oncoming traffic side, and lights up the highway signs and ditch a bit more. All the other high quality LED headlights I’ve seen have the same cut off as yours and mine.

 

[Idlethunder]

I think that’s how they are. I have the rough country ones, and they have the same cutoff. I’ve always assumed it’s because it’s on the not oncoming traffic side, and lights up the highway signs and ditch a bit more. All the other high quality LED headlights I’ve seen have the same cut off as yours and mine.

That's a great point that I hadn't thought of. With LED bulbs in the old housing, the cutoff was fairly level so I thought I must have screwed up somewhere

 

[bd100]

Similar Z-shaped cut off on our HID lights in another car.

And I wish all these lights had more bleed above the cutoff, especially in hilly country. The halogens have a bit of an advantage there, but other lights could do the same.

 

[XraytecH]

My Oracle Oculus does the same and that is intended. Adjust the left beam to not glare on coming traffic then line up the right beam with the cut off line of the left.

https://www.auxito.com/blogs/news/headlight-cutoff-line

 

[Idlethunder]

My Oracle Oculus does the same and that is intended. Adjust the left beam to not glare on coming traffic then line up the right beam with the cut off line of the left.

https://www.auxito.com/blogs/news/headlight-cutoff-line

Thank you that was very helpful

 

[ErrngeElise]

I did this a couple weeks ago and I found that the easiest way to align them was to align the left one because I could just barley reach that one without having to pull the headlight out. Then after I was satisfied with the alignment of that one and drove around the block to verify it, I just took a couple of attempts to make the right one match the height of the left when pointed at a wall

 

[Minty JL]

How about now?

That first pic is how mine look, I still need to adjust them

 

[69charged]

I do notice though, that if you drive a lot of 2 or 3 lane highway, the raised portion of the light really gets into the vehicle your passing. Especially if it’s a smaller car. They really blind those little guys!

 

[MojaveChuck]

I think that’s how they are. I have the rough country ones, and they have the same cutoff. I’ve always assumed it’s because it’s on the not oncoming traffic side, and lights up the highway signs and ditch a bit more. All the other high quality LED headlights I’ve seen have the same cut off as yours and mine.

This is correct. The "step" allows you better visibility on the passenger side so you don't blind oncoming traffic but still can see things like deer that may be on the side of the road

 

[Idlethunder]

Today I used a tape measure and set them up according to instruction. Once I had a target set up at 25’ they were too high from yesterday’s adjustment, but it didn’t take long to get them lowered. Using the method that ErrngeElise suggested didn’t work for me, arthritis in hands, but it should for most people. It only took a couple of tries to line them up and they are now as close to perfect as I could manage. Thank you all for the help!

 

[ATL_Rubi]

Z shape is standard on led/hid lights. It allows illumination of signs while not blinding other drivers. Rhd vehicles have an opposite stagger.

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