V40: Xenon headlight problems

[andy_d]

it might seem brighter but in terms of visablity at night, it wont be as good as the "white one"

go for 5000k for a "white" white light, and the optimum light output,
6000k's will drop the light output by 5% min, and have a blue cast to the colour (not good for driving at night, despite what all the chav's in corsa's with badly fitted ones think)
8000k drops 20% + in brightness over 5000k's ,,even worse.

[Baffler]

I believe the OEM bulbs are in or around £90 each from the main dealer

The previous owner of my 2003 S40 fitted aftermarket Hella HID lamps. I'm not 100% sure on the bulb rating, as I've not had them out, but on the back of the ballasts are marked 6000k.

[matt182]

colour temperature ( measured as kelvin as this is the temperature the bulb burns at) and brightness (lumens) are two different things. colour temperature is what colour the bulb is and lumens is the light output. the higher the temperature the bulb the lower the output brightness is. as the one is purple it could be as low as 700 lumens where the blue one is most probably around 2400. standard philips d2r bulbs are 4300k and 2800 lumens

[velocitysurfer]

Originally Posted by matt182

it's easy to tell if they are factory fit if there is doubt. if you look at the headlight while off, the bulb will have a chrome cover over the front of it, where as in the halogen bulb set up the bulb is visible.

Don't forget the "danger of death" sticker on the back of each headlight!!

As already said, it's best to change as a pair even though having different "colours" isn't an MOT failure.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by pete soulby

thanks again guys, ive got the chrome cover there so they're definately factory fit. My blue light seems brighter than my purple light though? would that be normal even though the purple light has a higher rating? or does it not work like that?

the lower the number the more yellow and more actual light output ..

be wary of non volvo bulbs , the volvo ones are printed on the glass with a mask to match the reflector . Non volvo may well be plain so you will get unwanted light . glare .. Volvo bulbs are just over £100 each ..

[Dandle]

The standard bulb will be either a D1R or a D2R (R is for reflector). If the bulb has a square metal housing on the back its a D1R and they are slightly more expensive than the D2R which is just the light tube and holder. The 1R is slightly more expensive but you should be able to source either for under £70 if you buy a decent make like Philips or Osram. Its more than likely one of those two makes that make the 4300k OEM bulb for Volvo anyway. You may well find after fitting one lamp that the light wont match with the other one as over time the HID lamps output deteriorates.

[allandwf]

Yes they are expensive, very from volvo. I was about £70 for the bulb. Discovered someone had botched the self leveling in the headlight, £250!! for a new one, and the transformer/ballast failed another £250!!! Please do not underestimate the warning of death.

[T4FLY]

Originally Posted by allandwf

Yes they are expensive, very from volvo. I was about £70 for the bulb. Discovered someone had botched the self leveling in the headlight, £250!! for a new one, and the transformer/ballast failed another £250!!! Please do not underestimate the warning of death.

Mine are the same, levelled towards the ground, full beam is next to useless.

[command]

i think this not problem.

Because you car have oem xenon

The reason why you see the light color is different, that is because there is projector inside your headlamp assembly. And the light is refracted through the lens of the projector, then you see different colors of light. This is normal, you do not need to change the bulbs or ballast.

PS. The OEM ballast and OEM bulb for your car is like following:

http://www.oemxenonpart.com/Volvo-S4...1S-Ballast.htm

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by command

i think this not problem.

Because you car have oem xenon

The reason why you see the light color is different, that is because there is projector inside your headlamp assembly. And the light is refracted through the lens of the projector, then you see different colors of light. This is normal, you do not need to change the bulbs or ballast.

PS. The OEM ballast and OEM bulb for your car is like following:

http://www.oemxenonpart.com/Volvo-S4...1S-Ballast.htm

I don't think they X40s use projector headlamps they have reflectors designed for hids on the xenon equipped cars. Anyway one light outputting a reddish ting is nearly always a lamp on its way out and not anything to do with the projector lens on cars that are equipped with them.

EDIT: Just checked and they do indeed use a reflector lens rather than a projector for factory HID equipped cars.