Brighten your headlamps, for free!
 

People with S40's V50s C30s....I posted this years ago but seeing as though the nights have now drawn in and these headlights are still crappy.....

Your projector lenses are almost certainly dirty.
Look close and you will see they are covered with a milky film that reduces the light output.

You can easily take the lenses out and clean them... Improves brightness, spread of light and gives a much nicer sharp cutoff.

SIDE NOTE: If you're feeling fruity, you can replace those glass lenses with CLEAR glass lenses for maximum light and amazing cut off (notice the original lenses have a frosted effect). See below link:
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/kno...earlenses.html

As you know, you can remove the whole headlamp assembly just by removing a metal pin (looks like a tent peg) what an ingenious design by Volvo!.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/4535782f...83xo1_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/8faf4432...83xo1_1280.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/5d9cdd9b...83xo1_1280.jpg

https://41.media.tumblr.com/6a9d05a4...83xo1_1280.jpg

https://36.media.tumblr.com/45067c90...83xo1_1280.jpg

I can vouch for this! On my old c30 I cleaned the lenses as they had gone cloudy and milky white. They cleaned up lovely and clear and gave about 50% more useable light afterwards!

I might give this a go when I'm back home at my parents' over Christmas.

Cheers!

From memory on one side the 3rd torx screw is inaccessible due to the tilt adjustment motor being in the way. So you can only clean one side, or am I missing something??

The torx screw is hard to reach but I found that with some perseverance you can get enough movement/flex in the headlight innards to unfasten that screw. Just be gentle.

Thanks for the tip, I've got new bulbs on the way so will try cleaning as I'll have them apart anyway.

Cheers!

It this worth doing or even possible on the bi-xenon version?

Hell yes...... not sure if it's more difficult though.

http://cdn.instructables.com/FMK/T0W...ZAZ.MEDIUM.jpg

Just did this on mine yesterday, it does work as others have said. You are right that the third torx screw is a pain but can be removed with a bit of effort.



Colin.

Did this on my 2007 C70 yesterday evening - not had a chance to try the lights around our dark lanes yet but even sat on the drive afterwards they looked brighter...

So thanks!

David