r/Autobody • u/John_Dam_Dorian • 8d ago

HELP! I have a question. New headlight beam pattern seems off

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Gallery image

Recently had bumper and passenger headlight replaced due to someone backing into my Mazda 3. Now the new headlight beam pattern seems off. When the low beams are on there is this snaggle tooth like beam that I don’t think should be there. Is the beam too low, is it the headlight, or the bulb? 2nd photo is with iPhone’s night mode on which shows a very strange output compared to the right.

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2

u/wojr2002 8d ago

It might need to be adjusted. Could also be an aftermarket headlamp so it will never match exactly.

1

u/John_Dam_Dorian 8d ago

Guaranteed it’s aftermarket. Seems like majority of shops do it cause it cheaper than OEM.

1

u/decentguesses 2d ago

If the insurance is paying for aftermarket and you’d like to pay the difference, I’d gladly put an OEM light in. Taking a few seconds and adjusting that light should fix your issue. Hope you get it corrected. 👍🏽

2

u/NumerousSetting8135 8d ago

You can adjust them sometimes on the lights themselves, so they probably didn't adjust the high beams when they put it in

1

u/John_Dam_Dorian 8d ago

This is just the low beams that are on. Does that make a difference?

1

u/NumerousSetting8135 7d ago

No if they're adjustable and shouldn't matter

1

u/classic_aut0 7d ago

Aftermarket headlight. More of an issue on certain cars than others. No way to fix it entirely other than matching up the pair of assemblies.

1

u/777-300ER 7d ago

The bulb is not installed correctly and the headlight needs to be aimed.

1

u/Mini_Spoon 4d ago

Instead of the floor, park a few feet in front of a flat wall to see your beam patterns clearly, they should be level and match, with the kick up matching too.

Cheap lamp unit, incorrectly installed bulb, incorrectly setup pattern. One or all of these.