Help with Bi-Xenons needed!

JRS81 · Mar 5th, 2019, 09:40

Hi All, I've been having problems with my bi-xenon headlights on my 2011 V50 Drive for a while and want some advice before I start spending a small fortune fixing them. A little while ago, the headlights started pointing up and illuminating trees/signs/oncoming drivers rather than the road which was a rather dangerous situation especially when angry oncoming drivers started putting on their full-beams in revenge! My local dealer was pretty much useless, and whilst they made a bit of an adjustment that helped briefly, they didn't actually find the problem and fix it despite returning 4 times with the same issue!

After a bit of playing around myself, I found that the front level sensor was knackered with the arm stiff to move and feeling like it was full of grit. I replaced this myself as it was a pretty easy job and then took the car to the dealers to recalibrate the sensors. They did this for me but have said that it has not fixed the problem and they think the headlight units themselves are the problem. They claim that because the lights get hot and they use plastic gears on the levelling motors, they eventually melt and stop working. It will cost me about £500 per side to replace these so I am a little reluctant to do so unless I'm certain that this is the problem. I am also a little suspicious about this as operating the arm of the sensor moves the lights up and down as you'd expect which implies to me that they are working as they should. Also, having trawled the forums, I have not seen any reference to this melted gear problem!

Does anyone have any advice they could give about this as I really don't want to have to shell out over £1000 on new headlight assemblies if I can possibly avoid it!!

SwissXC90 · Mar 5th, 2019, 11:44

Test it in VIDA and you will know for sure.

LizardOfBodom · Mar 5th, 2019, 12:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Test it in VIDA and you will know for sure.

OR if you dont have it, can you observe if lights do an initial "dance" up&down on startup? Park close to wall (like 20ft) and switch off the car, then start it up again and turn lights on - light beam should go up&down (maybe left&right ) a substantial amount and then settle on even position. It is very visible and will tell you straight away if levelling works or not.

Mar 5th, 2019, 09:40	#1
JRS81 New Member Last Online: Mar 5th, 2019 09:44 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Poole	Help with Bi-Xenons needed! Hi All, I've been having problems with my bi-xenon headlights on my 2011 V50 Drive for a while and want some advice before I start spending a small fortune fixing them. A little while ago, the headlights started pointing up and illuminating trees/signs/oncoming drivers rather than the road which was a rather dangerous situation especially when angry oncoming drivers started putting on their full-beams in revenge! My local dealer was pretty much useless, and whilst they made a bit of an adjustment that helped briefly, they didn't actually find the problem and fix it despite returning 4 times with the same issue! After a bit of playing around myself, I found that the front level sensor was knackered with the arm stiff to move and feeling like it was full of grit. I replaced this myself as it was a pretty easy job and then took the car to the dealers to recalibrate the sensors. They did this for me but have said that it has not fixed the problem and they think the headlight units themselves are the problem. They claim that because the lights get hot and they use plastic gears on the levelling motors, they eventually melt and stop working. It will cost me about £500 per side to replace these so I am a little reluctant to do so unless I'm certain that this is the problem. I am also a little suspicious about this as operating the arm of the sensor moves the lights up and down as you'd expect which implies to me that they are working as they should. Also, having trawled the forums, I have not seen any reference to this melted gear problem! Does anyone have any advice they could give about this as I really don't want to have to shell out over £1000 on new headlight assemblies if I can possibly avoid it!!

Mar 5th, 2019, 11:44	#2
SwissXC90 Premier Member Last Online: Mar 20th, 2024 18:26 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Cross Country	Test it in VIDA and you will know for sure. __________________ XC90 R-Design MY2009, Black Sapphire Metallic. HP-Sound, RSE, Nav, Tel, ParkingCam, BLIS, ParkingHeater, RestHeat, Removable Towbar, Summer: CRATUS 20x8 on Pirelli Scorpion Zeros 255/45, Winter: NEPTUNE 17x7 on Continental WinterContact 4x4 235/65.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)