2015 V40 standard headlights v new thor headlights
 

Hi guys and girls
Not sure if been mentioned before, couldn't find it as new to site...
I was the proud owner of a 2016 V40 up to last week when someone decided to T-bone me while I was reversing into driveway causing 9k worth of damage and now a write off..
So I am currently looking at another car.. I have seen a 2015 V40 for sale with the specs i like but only has the standard headlights, where my old V40 had the thor hammer lights...
I am wondering if a member has had both and what the standard lights are like compared to the thor? which I must say was incredible lights
Also not sure if anyone has had a accident in them but very safe cars when the 3 side airbags go off 👍
Many thanks
Lee

I had a se lux nav with active xenons they were awesome at night.
They were not thor style car was a 15 plate.

The HID ABL ones on the "LUX" models are absolutely brilliant, among the best of any headlights I've seen.

The "Thor" lamps are LED based so a different technology again, I've not driven one so can't comment but I would be surprised if you are disappointed with the ABL Bi_Xenons.

We have Active Bi-Xenon's on the XC60 and they are as Tannaton says brilliant, the best incandescent bulb lights I have ever used. We have Full Led System 'Thor's Hammer' on the V40 and they light up the road in front just as well.

But on dipped beam the ABL's give off scattered light that dimly lights up the trees, buildings, etc and gives you a sense of where you are. The LED's do not do this as much as on dipped beam as they have a sharp cut off that is akin to someone putting carboard over the top half of the head lights. Fine in towns but in the country, you can miss what is at the side of the road and is likely to jump out at you.

On full beam the ABL's penetrate deeper into the dark but the LED's go more than far enough for you to see and avoid anything even at speed.

The V40 LED headlamps are about £3000 a pair !

The Pre-facelift V40's came with two types of headlamps

Halogen reflector headlamps which took regular halogen bulbs.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/40fc5270...83xo2_1280.png

HID/xenon headlamps (possibly all with cornering "bending" function?)
https://66.media.tumblr.com/c0a062dd...83xo3_1280.png

The HID/xenon headlamps are MUCH MUCH better than the Halogen reflector headlamps and will trade blows with the newer Thors hammer LED headlamps, and in some situations will be better e.g distance.

Personally I think the V40's LED headlamps aren't the best LED lights out there....but later HIDs found in Volvos are really good.

Er.... ^^^^^^^ What he said.....

Since I posted I've drive a VW Passat and Audi A4 with LED headlights and whilst they are notably good, the HID ABL's on my V40 are notably better - especially on full beam.

That's just obscene... that probably doubles the likelihood of cars been written off after relatively minor front end bumps. Also means in that in a few years time - lots of them will be stolen...

I also have a huge dislike for the very blue light emitting from LEDs....

That spectrum of light is proven to disrupt your sleep and tells your body to release a chemical to put you in 'daytime mode'... it's also hard for the human eye to adjust to that colour... so when your driving at night with one set of yellow headlights coming towards you, followed by blue lights, then yellow again, its VERY hard (at least for me) to adjust to. Anyone else noticed this?

Yes... also the higher the colour temperature, the greater the degradation in mist and fog. Blue lights on a police car are much harder to see in fog than orange or red lights on a motorway womble 4x4.