Adjusting headlight beam angle

[kdcold]

I didn’t like how high my R1S low-beams were pointed from the factory, shining into the cabins of oncoming cars and compelling some to flick their brights at me.
So thanks to a tip on another forum I learned how to adjust them myself using just a 12mm wrench and about 10-15 minutes.

There are 12mm adjustment bolts under the plastic panel that runs along the frunk above the headlights.

Steps I took:

Removing the plastic frunk panel was just a matter of raising the hood and pulling up from one of the outer edges of that panel with my hands. Four pushpins hold it into place, 2 outer and 2 inner, roughly along the centerline of that boomerang-shaped panel. Some early Rivians actually have magnets rather than pushpins here.

Then there they were. With labeling “D <—- U” above each headlight adjuster bolt, presumably for Down and Up. There’s even a little “viewfinder” hole where you can see “marks” which move with turns of the bolt and may represent 1 degree up or down for each mark.
I’d start with turning 5 or 10 marks on each side, which is maybe a 1/4-1/2 turn of the bolt behind each headlight. Then leave the panel off, close the hood, and go for a night test drive.
Or do the whole thing in an open space where you can mark how far out the upper edge of the low-beam light moves as you adjust each side.

Here are a few pics:

Ignore that socket, it won’t fit down in there. You’ll need a 12mm wrench.

EDIT: Putting the plastic frunk panel back on...
During a Rivian Service visit, the technician noticed my plastic top center panel was not re-installed correctly. My bad.
Under the front of each end of the plastic center panel, there is a tab dropping down a little and then pointing outward. Each of those 2 tabs should fit into a slot on the plastic panel that runs up that side of the frunk where the front and side panels come together.
I didn't take my panel back off, but here are a few pics to show the tab and how the center and side panels should line up if installed correctly.
Apparently this install mis-step I originally made has caused some to have trouble getting their hoods to close reliably.

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[Zoidz]

I had similar concerns and several people flash their high beams at me. I could see that at normal level driving, my headlights on low beam were directly hitting the rear view mirror of cars in front of me. I lowered mine as well. There is another way you can make this adjustment. You can use a long shaft flat blade screwdriver. Stick it in the hole you refer to as the "viewfinder" and use the screwdriver to turn the index wheel one notch at a time.

 

[R1Tom]

Interesting that your panel is held down by push pins....mine is held down by magnets. The magnets must have been Munro'd out.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Interesting that your panel is held down by push pins....mine is held down by magnets. The magnets must have been Munro'd out.

Just like the 12V outlets and high-tone horn. ?

 

[Riviot]

Thanks for this! I have the opposite problem, they seem really really low to me.

 

[W1SE]

Interesting that your panel is held down by push pins....mine is held down by magnets. The magnets must have been Munro'd out.

Yeah, magnets for the panel were only the first R1s. It went to clips somewhere around a year ago. I feel fortunate because I got it all: 12v in frunk, working tonneau, even two magnets to hold up trunk shelf.

 

[dleepnw]

I also see “L —-> R” in your pic. presume thats exactly what that means?

 

[kdcold]

I also see “L —-> R” in your pic. presume thats exactly what that means?

Good eye! I didn’t even notice that, but I bet you’re right. I already have my panel back in place or I’d confirm for ya.

I wasn’t looking for horizontal adjustment, and honestly at the time that “1,0%” opposite grabbed my attention like a squirrel gets my dog’s.

 

[redantpile]

I didn’t like how high my R1S low-beams were pointed from the factory, shining into the cabins of oncoming cars and compelling some to flick their brights at me.
So thanks to a tip on another forum I learned how to adjust them myself using just a 12mm wrench and about 10-15 minutes.

There are 12mm adjustment bolts under the plastic panel that runs along the frunk above the headlights.

Steps I took:

Removing the plastic frunk panel was just a matter of raising the hood and pulling up from one of the outer edges of that panel with my hands. Four pushpins hold it into place, 2 outer and 2 inner, roughly along the centerline of that boomerang-shaped panel.

Then there they were. With labeling “D <—- U” above each headlight adjuster bolt, presumably for Down and Up. There’s even a little “viewfinder” hole where you can see “marks” which move with turns of the bolt and may represent 1 degree up or down for each mark.
I’d start with turning 5 or 10 marks on each side, which is maybe a 1/4-1/2 turn of the bolt behind each headlight. Then leave the panel off, close the hood, and go for a night test drive.
Or do the whole thing in an open space where you can mark how far out the upper edge of the low-beam light moves as you adjust each side.

Here are a few pics:

Ignore that socket, it won’t fit down in there. You’ll need a 12mm wrench.

So did you turn counter clockwise to go down? The image seems opposite of what it does. I turn mine to the left-counter clockwise-towards the U and the light moves further down.

I are confused.

 

[Riviot]

I finally got around to playing with this, but I'm confused... There's identical adjustment on each side, presumably for each headlight, right? But when I adjusted one side, the other went up or down as well. I tried both sides, it made the other move too. I was very confused and gave up.

 

[Bklyn29]

Check this out to properly aim your headlights. Even though these are for HID same purpose.

 

[Zoidz]

I finally got around to playing with this, but I'm confused... There's identical adjustment on each side, presumably for each headlight, right? But when I adjusted one side, the other went up or down as well. I tried both sides, it made the other move too. I was very confused and gave up.

I adjusted mine on both sides because they were a bit too high. I did not see the behavior you are seeing. Each side adjusted independently, I would be very suprised if they were linked. With that said, the projected beam patterns do overlap in the middle, so you might notice some change center left when you move the right beam and vice versa.....

 

[jerseyff]

Someone have a photo of their headlight beam pattern against a wall or something? Mine hasn't been the same L vs R and I am betting I can fix it with these adjustments.

 

[DRJ564]

Seeing these high aim issues makes me wonder if this is more of a leveling issue in the suspension.

 

[Glembi2]

Seeing these high aim issues makes me wonder if this is more of a leveling issue in the suspension.

Good point. I originally expected R1s to have to auto-leveling headlights but now see that they are not needed based on the auto-leveling suspension. All is good as long as the suspension levels itself.

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