LED Conversion to headlamps.

[Splunge]

Hi all, I've just had a warning come up on the dash saying a bulb is out. I have to fart about under the bonnet to change the H7 bulb anyways and I was looking at LED Conversion kits. Now it seems I can pick a half decent set of 2 up for about £50 and they are supposed to enhance vision at night. My question to you all is this: I have a V70 (2005 D5 163) so will a kit work, or will it mess with the Canbus and not work?

Thanks for reading, Alan.

[Georgeandkira]

Guessing from these products' market trajectory, I'd bet they would work within the CANBUS monitoring parameters. There are so many LED automotive lamps which feature an "OK with CANBUS" notification, one has to assume they 'have it down' by now.

Of course, cheap "white box" junk can be another matter.

What you may learn the hard way is that the LEDs location may not match that of the H7's filament. That's when you get a sloppy, ineffective light pattern. Out of focus beams can also blind oncoming drivers.

There's a case pending in New Jersey at the moment where an "outdoorsman" with heavy LED conversions was dragged out of his Jeep and beaten to near death by an oncoming motorist. Public sentiment is heavily against the Jeep owner.

[ASt85]

Unless you can source LEDs specifically designed for the Volvo V70 2004 headlamp reflector you'll find there is a much increased level of dazzle for other drivers.

It is worth bearing in mind that the changes to the MOT in May 2018 mean a tester will fail the car for various LED/HID related issues that hinge on levelling, washing etc. Go to section go 1.7 at this link

https://www.mot-testing.service.gov....4s01000001.htm

For what it is worth you get a much better, broader spectrum result by using the correct wattage (55W) higher light output filament lamps such as Osram Night Breaker Unlimiteds or Lasers or Phillips X-treme or Racing Vision - its worth noting that genuine CE marked LEDs are likely to costs well over £120 a pair - if they're not marked CE they can only legally be used off-road - I'm told that if the tester checks and finds non CE marked headlamps of whatever type fitted it becomes an automatic MOT failure.

[rickydg]

So what was the outcome OP? Considering some of these for my S80, but no point if they’ll just fail on MOT.

Here’s the ones I was looking at; H7 LED Car Headlight Bulbs Kit - Safego 3200lm H7 COB Chip Car LED Headlight Kit Bulbs Auto LED Conversion Kit 12v 1 Year Warranty Replace for Halogen Lights or HID Bulbs C6S-H7 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AG3I9..._.BtIAbNY5EZXR

As an alternative; CAR H7 55W Canbus HID Xenon Conversion Kit 6000K, Headlight Bulb https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HOAZ7..._SCtIAb16FR8XS

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by rickydg

So what was the outcome OP? Considering some of these for my S80, but no point if they’ll just fail on MOT.

Here’s the ones I was looking at; H7 LED Car Headlight Bulbs Kit - Safego 3200lm H7 COB Chip Car LED Headlight Kit Bulbs Auto LED Conversion Kit 12v 1 Year Warranty Replace for Halogen Lights or HID Bulbs C6S-H7 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AG3I9..._.BtIAbNY5EZXR

As an alternative; CAR H7 55W Canbus HID Xenon Conversion Kit 6000K, Headlight Bulb https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HOAZ7..._SCtIAb16FR8XS

NB - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AG3I9..._.BtIAbNY5EZXR are quoted as Socket Type: H7 (without Canbus) these would generate a warning message and fail the car at MOT

However https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HOAZ7..._SCtIAb16FR8XS quotes with "CANBUS Technology Eliminates Most Errors Codes Commonly Found with HID Kits, Can Compatible 95% Car"

£ to p I've a feeling the Volvo CanBus system will throw the error message - earlier forum discussions suggest that the only way around it is to alter the shunt values apparently - I'm not sure whether you can buy Volvo replacement/upgrade shunts to get around the CanBus problem so might well end up having to achieve the required balance with a series of trial resistors to "spoof" the CanBus to see the LEDs resistance as that of the original filament lamps.

In any event, I'm not sure whether the ones shown in either of the links would fit inside the covers at the back of the dipped beam reflector. If the covers can't be re-fitted then the reflector is going to get fouled up pretty quickly with moisture and end up as an even poorer reflector as the surface degrades.

I would be interested to know whether they would fit, whether or not they are CE marked and also if the cause a blown bulb warning in a Volvo, so have posted questions on Amazon to try to get an answer.

[ASt85]

First Amazon community answer =

The lamps are high and low beam.
You will probably have to modify your light cover.
It comes with information for fitting.
All check online for tips in fitting and adjusting led globes.
Good luck
Mr S C A S

(https://www.amazon.co.uk/ask/answer/...Mx8ZGE7B1ZPLPX) answered on 18 February 2018

Second answer

"I bought mine for a transporter van and the covers do not go back on. they're a bit crap quality although very bright. i would recommend buying some super bright conventional bulbs that are a well known brand like bosh etc otherwise. beam pattern will be correct, they fit properly and you won't be a bulb fault on your dash."

Third answer

Hi yes the covers can be refitted. They are dipped and high beam replacements

So as yet we still don't know if they are CE marked.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by ASt85

First Amazon community answer =

The lamps are high and low beam.
You will probably have to modify your light cover.
It comes with information for fitting.
All check online for tips in fitting and adjusting led globes.
Good luck
Mr S C A S

(https://www.amazon.co.uk/ask/answer/...Mx8ZGE7B1ZPLPX) answered on 18 February 2018

Second answer

"I bought mine for a transporter van and the covers do not go back on. they're a bit crap quality although very bright. i would recommend buying some super bright conventional bulbs that are a well known brand like bosh etc otherwise. beam pattern will be correct, they fit properly and you won't be a bulb fault on your dash."

Third answer

Hi yes the covers can be refitted. They are dipped and high beam replacements

So as yet we still don't know if they are CE marked.

More answers:-

Amazon Customer answered:
"Hi yes the covers can be refitted. They are dipped and high beam replacements"

Amazon Customer answered:
"when you send a question on here it goes to previous buyers. i bought mine for a transporter van and the covers do not go back on. They're a bit crap quality although very bright. I would recommend buying some super bright conventional bulbs that are a well known brand like Bosch etc otherwise. Beam pattern will be correct, they fit properly and there won't be a bulb fault on your dash."

Mr Shaun C Aitken-Smith answered:
"The lamps are high and low beam.
You will probably have to modify your light cover.
It comes with information for fitting.
All check online for tips in fitting and adjusting led globes.
Good luck"

So in all probability they might well be a bit of a problem in a Volvo!

[prc68]

Originally Posted by ASt85

For what it is worth you get a much better, broader spectrum result by using the correct wattage (55W) higher light output filament lamps such as Osram Night Breaker Unlimiteds or Lasers or Phillips X-treme or Racing Vision - its worth noting that genuine CE marked LEDs are likely to costs well over £120 a pair - if they're not marked CE they can only legally be used off-road - I'm told that if the tester checks and finds non CE marked headlamps of whatever type fitted it becomes an automatic MOT failure.

Is there such a thing as a CE marked conversion kit? I thought, like HID conversions, they were all for off-road use.

[GSTheo119]

Originally Posted by rickydg

As an alternative; CAR H7 55W Canbus HID Xenon Conversion Kit 6000K, Headlight Bulb https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HOAZ7..._SCtIAb16FR8XS

I bought an HID kit pretty similar to this for my XC90, have found it very effective, very similar beam pattern to original, no apparent dazzle (make sure those lenses are crystal clear) and a fair bit brighter than even high output 55w. Absolutely no canbus errors so far 4 months on. kit works well and creates a sealed fit on the light - you have to mod the black plastic covers by drilling a 25mm hole for the gromets. I imagine the V70 is a similar setup.

MOT next month will be interesting though.

Aftermarket LED bulbs will spray light all over the place and are a big no no and are really quite dangerous IMO.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by prc68

Is there such a thing as a CE marked conversion kit? I thought, like HID conversions, they were all for off-road use.

I think you may well be right, certainly one of the adds mentions "for off road use only".