V50 Electrics : what's the deal with blowing headlight bulbs?

[Crazy L]

Exactly that. Drivers side headlight bulb has gone again, for the 4th time since buying the car. This will be the 4th bulb in 2 and a half years. It's always the drivers side and always low beam, never high beam.

I've put more headlight bulbs in this thing than I have any other car I've had put together.

Suggestions or facts please. As simple as it gets for electrical problems but I'm curious.

[Simmy]

i had this exact same problem on my v70. headlight bulbs constantly failing .the soloution was to replace the front shocks. on removal ifound the shocks had virtualy no compression damping but rebound was fine . since fitting new shocks i have not bought a headlight bulb in 5 years . a fairly cheap soloution to a simple but annoying fault.

[mlyno]

Make sure you get the long life bulbs.
I tried more powerful bulbs but the lasted a matter of months, because they're on all the time.
I normally get several years out of the long life.

[Crazy L]

Originally Posted by Simmy

i had this exact same problem on my v70. the solution was to replace the front shocks.

Bloody hell, sounds extreme, but if it works.

[iainmd]

My solution was as follows...
link

[Simmy]

its the impacts when the shocks are worn out that kills bulbs . not sure if led are any more resilient . my replacement shocks cost £ 70 per side. not very cheap but far less hassle than replacing headlight bulbs once a month.

[iainmd]

I replaced my shocks and springs all round at 100k miles with decent sachs ones. For all of it's life until I fitted the LEDs at about 130k miles it blew bulbs constantly. Probably 4-6 sets a year. Since fitting LEDs I've had no failure.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Crazy L

Exactly that. Drivers side headlight bulb has gone again, for the 4th time since buying the car. This will be the 4th bulb in 2 and a half years. It's always the drivers side and always low beam, never high beam.

I've put more headlight bulbs in this thing than I have any other car I've had put together.

Suggestions or facts please. As simple as it gets for electrical problems but I'm curious.

You aren't using the correct Volvo Long-Life H7 bulbs are you. High beam wont ever go, its not on long enough... also it is a different type of bulb.

[Simmy]

hi clan i tried the long-lasting volvo bulbs same thing lasted abt a month the replacement shocks were the answer to my bulb problem iv not replaced a single bulb since .

[Crazy L]

Originally Posted by Clan

You aren't using the correct Volvo Long-Life H7 bulbs are you.

Narp

Who makes these bulbs for Volvo? Are they French like the cars electrics? lol.