XC60 Active Bending Headlight Failure

[iandoot]

The active bending function of my offside headlight has stopped working with a warning message on the display. Taken into Volvo dealership who advised that the unit needs to be replaced at a cost of £1,500. No problem I thought, my extended Volvo provided warranty will cover that. Dealers called me today saying that the warranty claim has been refused as 'lamps' are excluded! I have now spoken to the warranty dept and they have confirmed this to be correct. Anyone made a similar claim?
After further discussions, they have agreed to send a claims engineer out to review. Failing that they say I should contact Volvo customer services to see whether they are prepared to help.

[Turnwood]

This is why I can't be bothered with extended warranties - it seems like they will try and come up with any excuse not to pay, even if it is a proper Volvo provided warranty it seems! My argument would be that joe blogs would quite rightly assume that 'lamps' refers only to the normal failure and replacement of the bulb and not the mechanical failure of the whole headlight unit. Lets hope they come to their senses, but if not then I suspect you would have fairly strong grounds from a legal perspective. Can you post a copy of the precise policy wording?

[iandoot]

Originally Posted by Turnwood

This is why I can't be bothered with extended warranties - it seems like they will try and come up with any excuse not to pay, even if it is a proper Volvo provided warranty it seems! My argument would be that joe blogs would quite rightly assume that 'lamps' refers only to the normal failure and replacement of the bulb and not the mechanical failure of the whole headlight unit. Lets hope they come to their senses, but if not then I suspect you would have fairly strong grounds from a legal perspective. Can you post a copy of the precise policy wording?

I completely agree. It would be reasonable to exclude bulbs but this is a mechanical failure of the motors that turn the headlight.

[Turnwood]

Hmmmm.... Interestingly it lists 'lamps' and 'bulbs' as separate items which somewhat weakens my argument. However, this is precisely the type of expensive non-wear and tear failure that should be covered by this type of policy. It will be really bad form if they do repudiate your claim.

[iandoot]

It seems ludicrous that they will pay the cost of replacing Bi-Xenon bulbs but not the cost of replacing an entire Bi-Xenon unit where there has been mechanical failure. Just doesn't seem right to me. If they refuse, Volvo will have lost a customer when I come to change cars next year.

[Turnwood]

Originally Posted by iandoot

It seems ludicrous that they will pay the cost of replacing Bi-Xenon bulbs but not the cost of replacing an entire Bi-Xenon unit where there has been mechanical failure. Just doesn't seem right to me. If they refuse, Volvo will have lost a customer when I come to change cars next year.

Not right at all and just confirms in my mind why I would not touch these policies with a barge pole. In these circumstances you realise why PCP deals that include servicing and then a change of car every three years have become so attractive to those looking for hassle free motoring.

[xco]

Originally Posted by iandoot

I completely agree. It would be reasonable to exclude bulbs but this is a mechanical failure of the motors that turn the headlight.

First part of the warranty details you put up says electrical and mechanical are covered....therefore you are covered.

Has the bulb failed or still working and is it an LED unit or BI-XENON?

Something you may want to check ,,,,,,,,Last year I had the near side bulb fail in my Active Bi xenon unit and unbeknown to me when i bought the car THE WRONG TYPE OF BULBS WERE FITTED.

There are BI-XENON UNITS fitted to Volvo's which are static XENON lamps and do not bend and ACTIVE BI-XENON UNITS which are the bendy ones. (but I am talking regards to XC90's it maybe different for your XC60. My XC90 has Active Bi Xenons)

They both have a different part no. bulb fitted but both will work in the bendy type headlamp unit but whereas the proper bulb for the none bendy type unit will not turn the lamps when steering but will illuminate,..... the body of the bendy type Xenon Bulb has a lug on it which i think causes the lamp unit to turn when steered.

The point i am trying to make is that until 2 of the correct bulbs were fitted last year (always best to fit in pairs) i didn't even realize i had ACTIVE units i thought they were just the static fixed BI-XENONS. but you can see both the headlights turn when steering now.

Just worth checking maybe......Somebody like Tannaton or Clan can confirm that for you in which case the bill for 2 bulbs will be in the region of £400.00 plus labour not the £1500 you've been quoted.

I was very lucky in that i have a very good indie tech who looks after my car and he got them for me at cost £85.00 each.... Bargain.

Hope this helps

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by xco

First part of the warranty details you put up says electrical and mechanical are covered....therefore you are covered.

Has the bulb failed or still working and is it an LED unit or BI-XENON?

Something you may want to check ,,,,,,,,Last year I had the near side bulb fail in my Active Bi xenon unit and unbeknown to me when i bought the car THE WRONG TYPE OF BULBS WERE FITTED.

There are BI-XENON UNITS fitted to Volvo's which are static XENON lamps and do not bend and ACTIVE BI-XENON UNITS which are the bendy ones. (but I am talking regards to XC90's it maybe different for your XC60. My XC90 has Active Bi Xenons)

They both have a different part no. bulb fitted but both will work in the bendy type headlamp unit but whereas the proper bulb for the none bendy type unit will not turn the lamps when steering but will illuminate,..... the body of the bendy type Xenon Bulb has a lug on it which i think causes the lamp unit to turn when steered.

The point i am trying to make is that until 2 of the correct bulbs were fitted last year (always best to fit in pairs) i didn't even realize i had ACTIVE units i thought they were just the static fixed BI-XENONS. but you can see both the headlights turn when steering now.

Just worth checking maybe......Somebody like Tannaton or Clan can confirm that for you in which case the bill for 2 bulbs will be in the region of £400.00 plus labour not the £1500 you've been quoted.

I was very lucky in that i have a very good indie tech who looks after my car and he got them for me at cost £85.00 each.... Bargain.

Hope this helps

You are right - just to clarify some early XC90 that had Xenon lights were reflector based and take D2R bulbs (note - R at the end). Some later models with ABL (Bendy) lights were projector based units with D2S bulbs. D2S and D2R are similar but have different optical characteristics.

[xco]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

You are right - just to clarify some early XC90 that had Xenon lights were reflector based and take D2R bulbs (note - R at the end). Some later models with ABL (Bendy) lights were projector based units with D2S bulbs. D2S and D2R are similar but have different optical characteristics.

Mine is running on D1S' s (35w) and H9 main beam (65w) See MY08 User Manual for list of bulbs .(PAGE 245) ACTIVE BI XENON. (turn when steering)

The D2'S on that year are fitted on the (static) BI-XENON (not moving) units.

The point I was trying to make was that having changed my bulbs ( because one had blown ) from D2's to D1S's the units then turned when steering (Active)(bendy) where-as prior to the bulbs being replaced they had not (or if they did I had not noticed it LOL).

The body shape of the 2 type and 1 type bulb differ also and I assumed that the D1s type which i have ( which has a lug on the side ) pushed against a micro switch or something in the lamp housing to activate the motion part of the unit.on turning the steering wheel.

If that being the case is the same with the XC60 and a new correct type bulb was not fitted then that would aggravate the diagnosis of a faulty head lamp unit when in fact it may just have been wrong bulb.

[volvo for ever]

Originally Posted by iandoot

The active bending function of my offside headlight has stopped working with a warning message on the display. Taken into Volvo dealership who advised that the unit needs to be replaced at a cost of £1,500. No problem I thought, my extended Volvo provided warranty will cover that. Dealers called me today saying that the warranty claim has been refused as 'lamps' are excluded! I have now spoken to the warranty dept and they have confirmed this to be correct. Anyone made a similar claim?
After further discussions, they have agreed to send a claims engineer out to review. Failing that they say I should contact Volvo customer services to see whether they are prepared to help.

That's a shame which warranty company you got?i believe Volvo car care would have covered this

There was a code that was logged in this and according to tj then new headlamp required

Does the head lamp in question work?? Please advise and we can go from there