Adjusting gas discharge headlights/LED headlights: Audi A3
Step-by-step adjusting gas discharge headlights/LED headlights for the Audi A3: 12 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
Workshop procedure for AUDI — the exact step sequence and torque figures, straight from real workshop data.
🧭 Before you start
Fits: Audi A3 (8V, 2012–2020)
- Also covered elsewhere: Electronic parts catalogue
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- Use canisters filled with water as additional weight (a 5 litre canister filled with water weighs approx. 5 kg).
- With this programme the headlights return to the basic setting.
- Lateral adjuster screw (3) must be secured with a plug after adjustment on USA vehicles. For plug, refer to Electronic parts catalogue.
- The arrangement on the right headlight is symmetrically opposite.
📋 Procedure
- Read off fuel tank level at fuel gauge in dash panel insert, compare with the following table and, if necessary, place additional weight in luggage compartment. [Note: Use canisters filled with water as additional weight (a 5 litre canister filled with water weighs approx. 5 kg).] [Note: The percentage value is for a range of 10 m. Example: Converting a dip setting of 1.0% = 10 cm.]
- Turn light switch to "“dipped beam”" position – not to "“Auto”" position.
- Connect (see the separate procedure).
- Select Diagnosis mode and start diagnosis.
- Select Test plan tab.
- Select Own test then the following options one after the other: [Note: With this programme the headlights return to the basic setting.]
- Continue to follow the instructions on the display of the vehicle diagnostic tester.
- You will be instructed to perform headlight adjustment while running through the programme Operating instructions for headlight adjustment unit. [Note: To make it easier to find the break-away point (2), cover and uncover the left half of the headlight (as seen in direction of travel) a few times. Then check the dipped beam again. If dipped beams have been adjusted correctly the centre point of the main beam should lie on central point (3).]
- Turn adjuster screw (3) for lateral adjustment. [Note: Lateral adjuster screw (3) must be secured with a plug after adjustment on USA vehicles. For plug, refer to Electronic parts catalogue.]
- Before adjusting height of headlight (1), use adjuster screw (2) to position light-dark border below setting line.
- Then adjust light-dark border to setting line from below. [Note: The arrangement on the right headlight is symmetrically opposite.]
- After completing headlight adjustment, end "“Basic setting”", switch off ignition and unplug diagnostic connector.
Other AUDI procedures
- Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
- Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
- Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
- Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures
- Renewing oil seal (left-side), 0BD
- Removing and installing backrest cover and padding - rear seat backrest with load-through hatch
- Removing and installing exhaust manifolds – Audi CFSA
- Removing and installing headlight range control motor V48/V49, halogen headlights - vehicles up to model year 2011, USA vehicles up to model year 2012
- Removing and installing headlight range control motor V48/V49 - gas discharge headlights up to model year 2011
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix → · How these pages are made →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.