Since 2018, stricter conditions for the area of light adjustment have been legally binding for all establishments where general inspections are carried out. For example, the area of 4 times 2 m, in which a passenger car stands during the test, must not deviate more than 1.5 percent from the horizontal, i.e. less than 6 cm over 4 m. The area in which the measuring device moves from one headlamp to another is moved, only 1 mm per m.

If the workshop floor does not provide this, rails must be fitted with a tolerance to be observed. An existing wheel alignment stand can also be used for light adjustment which in any case makes the workshop more economically viable. The setting devices are then placed on correspondingly higher rails. They should be checked and, if necessary, recalibrated, and the overall structure every two years.

The authorisations for these tightened guidelines are derived from the technology of the new devices, which of course also drive up prices (450 - 4,000 € according to the Internet). They will probably be purchased by all workshops in the longer term. If you then also consider that the autumnal light setting is usually free of charge . . .

One speaks of integrated computers with touch screen and USB or at least tablets together with printers. Only the very inexpensive ones do without them and work e.g. via Bluetooth with Computer and printer together. High- quality Fresnel lenses, digital lux meters, cross lasers and CMOS cameras have been added in recent years.

Not only the most modern light setting devices need electricity and do not have a direct cable connection to a socket. That is why it is recommended to charge their battery before first use and every night to recharge. It is not always necessary to have an already existing customer vehicle in the data or to enter it beforehand for light adjustment.

It can also be selected from extensive lists. As in the past, it is important to read and enter the forward tilt on the headlamp. The same still applies to any existing Fog lamps, which are usually positioned much lower. And then the tester also wants to know whether the light is directed for right-hand or left-hand traffic.

The other details, such as country, region, language, date, time and company data are also only required during initial configuration. It is possible to create a user file for checking purposes. Clear, that at least all customer- related data is password protected. We do not explain the adjustment of brightness and display, calibration of the touch screen and e.g. WLAN.

Level compensation is possible automatically or manually. Before the actual test, it has always been necessary to check the correct tyre pressure, the load on the driver's seat of 75 kg and a possible existing manual luminaire adjustment to zero. Of course, more modern lighting systems have to be adjusted via a diagnostic device in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.

. Special safety regulations apply to the use of the laser, which are usually marked in the operating instructions with a black warning triangle on a yellow background. For example, you should never look directly into a laser beam. This is usually only activated for a short time, so it is soon deactivated again and would have to be switched on again and again for further use.

This may be the case if, in a free-moving adjustment device, a line drawn by the laser sight on the car is intended to ensure that the car is at right angles to setting device located. If this is not the case, of course, you change the device and not the car. If there are no tracks, the procedure must be repeated on the other headlamp.

If finding the adjusting screws has sometimes become more difficult, finding the wrong settings and the aids for correction are not, because the tester itself indicates what is wrong and in which direction to correct. And this then has to be done separately for both sides and each type of headlamp. With matrix and adaptive headlamps, the adjustment is unspectacular because it is basically guided exclusively by the diagnostic software.