XC40 Reversing Lights.
 

Does anyone know how to upgrade the reversing lights on my XC40.
Despite having a top of the range, all singing, gadget crammed car with a 360 reversing camera, the reversing lights are abysmal.
In any dark place the reversing aids are not fit for purpose.
Do I really have to get an auto-electrician to fit me a couple of cheap lights after spending 40K ?

Reversing lights are to indicate to people behind that you are reversing , rather than to see where you are going .. A lot of cars are going that way now with the led lights . I'm sure they can still pick out the corners of walls etc though . if not why not outline the sharp edges with a strip of white paint?

An interesting argument. Has anyone told Volvo that they have CUSTOMERS. So take what want they offer and buy a pot of paint!
To the OP. My V90 reversing lights are ****. as well.

Perhaps the law has changed , worth checking it out ... as I said, a lot of new cars are like this now .

Headlights are basically provided to help see where you are going not to tell other people that you are coming.
Reversing lights should help you see where you are reversing.
How can you put marks on walls in a poorly lit public car park ?

I have just done some searched on google and cannot find anything relating to the law and brightness of the reversing lights, plenty regarding, how many, what should work and since when, but nothing about lumens etc.

I do believe their primary role is to alert other users and from what i would class as common sense, any white light should not be so much as to dazzle or confuse other road users, i think this will be the reason for them not being so bright. Also i find nothing in the MOT standard referencing lumens (brightness), just that there must be at least one and where however many are fitted, should all be working.

Being able to see going backwards is a must in my book, even more so when you just come from a straight door to extra bulge lark, i never did like it when they added that, its even worse when trying to close quarter park in reverse :rolleyes:

headlamps are there to warn people that you approaching just as much as to be able to see , that is why it is illegal to drive on side lights alone in poor weather conditions .

I'm with you on this one, I have a V90 and the reversing lights are pathetic. Yes, I'm aware that under 'construction and use' and 'type approval' regulations, reversing lights are primarily to warn others that a vehicle is reversing, but if a manufacturer has to fit them anyway, why not make them a useful aid for the vehicle's driver too?

There is a SPA XC90/S90/V90 facebook page which has a lot of American followers, many of them have resorted to fitting additional reversing lights under the rear bumper. Sadly the kit they've used is only available in America, having said that, I'd not want to disfigure the rear of my car to overcome a situation that the manufacturer has caused.

It'll be interesting to see if forthcoming facelifted SPA variants have brighter/larger reversing lights as I'm told that Volvo are aware of this customer dissatisfaction.

Xc40
 

I COMPLAINED ABOUT MY REVERSING LIGHTS ON MY XC40 BEING VERY POOR.
AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.
THE FACT THAT YOU CANT SEE A CAR PARKED EVEN WITH 360 CAMERA SHOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CLARETY OF THE LIGHTS.
:confused_smile:

Actually reversing lights are only meant to inform people behind that you are reversing .. Just about all cars are like this today with small LED reverse lights , much brighter to the car behind than the old ones but not designed to illuminate buildings etc .

In who's eyes? Who wants to illuminate buildings?. I'm in the 'they're **** camp. Not everything car manufacturers do is wonderful as some seem think. Maybe they're not 'designed' but customer expect better than they're getting.

Just put your rear fog light on if it's a massive issue.

Those suggesting alteratives are missing the point. Small LED reversing lights are not fit for service.

well they are , they comply with the construction and use regulations .. not sure on the exact specifications but maybe they can't be as bright as the old days?

I have just found that they should not exceed 24w thats probable incandescent,
therefore an LED with the same wattage should be around 80w equivalent and be plenty bright enough and keeping in the legal requirements

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1...hedule/14/made

Who is this "New European Champion" who's shilling for Volvo?

On an XC40 Volvo only put a reversing fog light on the driver's side - the cheap ****s - the probably saved $50!

I drive an XC40 myself and have never noticed a particular problem to be honest...

If I need a bit of extra light then I just lightly touch the brake (the car is an Auto which kind of means you need to cover the brake when reversing anyway) and the rear brake lights give plenty of light....

If you were having issues with rear visibility then maybe a rear parking camera may help, as even in pitch black these seem to be able to work pretty well just with the standard rear lighting....

So have most other manufacturers for the last 25 years ...

The volvo 343 won the European Rallycross championship in 1980 :-)

He is a Volvo techie who whilst he is obviously very knowlegable about the marque seems to think Volvo have never been anything other than perfect.Sorry Clan but it's true and someting I've wanted to say for a long time

well i have been involved a long time since before you were born probably in the days they were perfect .... in many ways they still are .

If only I were as young as you suggest. How much were Volvo involved in the UK motor industry 73 years ago?.:laughing-smiley-011:laughing-smiley-011

well they were building the P1800 up in Linwood around then and took the shells down to the midlands for assembly .
In the 70's Volvo were spending £50 million a year on parts from uk manufacturers . When zinc coated steel became available in the 1980's it all came from South Wales .