Well what a week!
Replacement ebay headlamps fitted, adjuster mechanisms looked good, went for the MOT, I knew the nearside beam was too low as it was obvious but offside looked about right.....
MOT man snapped the adjuster and refused the re-test
Back at home I had to faff about with marker tapes on the garage door, tiny washers (don't ask) and a home-made adjuster bodge.....headlamp on and off the car about 12 times
got the nearside beam pattern looking 'about right'..........meanwhile the MOT had expired properly.....went back for a pre-arranged 2nd retest and it passed! I got the beam spot on lol.
Only now have a slight issue with moisture inside the headlamps where I've had them open so much, oh well IO can sort that.