S40 (New) General : Does this S40 have Xenon headlights?

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Sean94

I wouldn't bet on it. These headlights are rubbish. They are set too low so you should adjust them up. There are how to's around here somewhere. It's easy, just pull the big pin out of the back and pull the light unit out. You'll see a white adjuster with I think a 6mm Allen key head. Wind them up a few turns to get a better throw of light. If that doesn't do it, try Osram Nightbreaker+ or similar 'premium' bulbs to improve the lights. Pre facelift cars like mine are particularly poor.

Nice car too btw, any other details about it?

Thanks for the advice I'll definitely check that when I get it tomorrow. Any guides on what is considered "too low" and how to go about testing it?

The car itself...

Volvo S40 SE Lux 2.0 Petrol (2009)

• Cream white leather interior
• Nordic Oak wood trim
• Cruise control
• Heated seats
• Dual zone climate control
• Headlamp washers
• 1 previous owner
• Full Volvo dealership service history
• 118,000 miles on the clock
• £4550 (including putting it through an MoT)

It's going to be a huge upgrade from my 2001 Ford Fiesta

I've checked every inch of this car and got the dealership to put it through an MoT and get anything I noticed fixed (got them to fit a new exhaust bracket, old one was rusting and fix the windscreen washer jets). There's not a single dent on it, the person who owned it before me has kept it in really good condition, it's all clean inside too and no scratches on the dash or anything etc..

[XcOM]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

.......Any guides on what is considered "too low" and how to go about testing it?
........

Before you trade in your old car, park against a wall and mark it, then when you get your new Volvo make sure the headlights are the same distance away as your old ones were and try to line them up as best you can, or you could always do what I did and go to a local garage and ask them to set it as high as legally allowed as your max setting, then you can lower till your happy with the throw.

I've also emailed you mate.


In other news, that's a nice sounding car mate!

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by XcOM

Before you trade in your old car, park against a wall and mark it, then when you get your new Volvo make sure the headlights are the same distance away as your old ones were and try to line them up as best you can, or you could always do what I did and go to a local garage and ask them to set it as high as legally allowed as your max setting, then you can lower till your happy with the throw.

I've also emailed you mate.


In other news, that's a nice sounding car mate!

Thanks Also found out it was actually made in 2010 rather than 2009 thanks to you.

[Sasha94]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

Thanks for the advice I'll definitely check that when I get it tomorrow. Any guides on what is considered "too low" and how to go about testing it?

The car itself...

Volvo S40 SE Lux 2.0 Petrol (2009)

• Cream white leather interior
• Nordic Oak wood trim
• Cruise control
• Heated seats
• Dual zone climate control
• Headlamp washers
• 1 previous owner
• Full Volvo dealership service history
• 118,000 miles on the clock
• £4550 (including putting it through an MoT)

It's going to be a huge upgrade from my 2001 Ford Fiesta

I've checked every inch of this car and got the dealership to put it through an MoT and get anything I noticed fixed (got them to fit a new exhaust bracket, old one was rusting and fix the windscreen washer jets). There's not a single dent on it, the person who owned it before me has kept it in really good condition, it's all clean inside too and no scratches on the dash or anything etc..

Wow that does sound nice and nice price too! With regards to headlight aim, I had them adjusted on a beam setter in an MoT bay to have them at max legal height. I had Nightbreaker+ bulbs but in my car they still weren't bright enough, certainly not as bright as my previous Xenon & AFL equipped Vectra and my 407sw. Being a pre facelift this is no surprise so I stripped the ligh units down and cleaned them then fitted 4300k H7R Xenons and they did the trick, I can see now haha



They are white in person, they were just switched on in this pic.

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Sean94

Wow that does sound nice and nice price too! With regards to headlight aim, I had them adjusted on a beam setter in an MoT bay to have them at max legal height. I had Nightbreaker+ bulbs but in my car they still weren't bright enough, certainly not as bright as my previous Xenon & AFL equipped Vectra and my 407sw. Being a pre facelift this is no surprise so I stripped the ligh units down and cleaned them then fitted 4300k H7R Xenons and they did the trick, I can see now haha

.. Pic ..

They are white in person, they were just switched on in this pic.

Looks nice mate. So what was the difference between the pre and post facelift S40?

I want to have nice white looking lights but I'm worried about it counting as a vehicle modification and making my insurance go through the roof?

[XcOM]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

Looks nice mate. So what was the difference between the pre and post facelift S40?
......

Pre-facelift:


Post Facelift:


More of less they look the same, just less black plastic in the light, and the city lights replace the divider between main and dipped.

[Sasha94]

They are also a slightly different shape. If you want a whiter light, try Osram Cool Blue Intense bulbs. They are 4200k colour so very close to Xenons but are still incandescent bulbs so all legal. They are not blue as the name suggests, they are white. I've used them before and they are very good

[StatusRed]

So.. do I have the post-facelift style lights?

What the hell is a city light and a turn light?

[Sasha94]

Yes you do, 2007.5 is the facelift date. It's an American English picture; City lights = Side lights. Turn lights = Indicators.

When they fitted the big grill badge in 2011 ish when they bought out the D3 & D4 diesels they facelifted again slightly.

As far as light output goes, once you adjust your up and fit some decent bulbs you should be good. The lenses are much better on facelift cars. Also better is the centre console layout and handbrake area.

Hope you enjoy the car, it's sounds a stunner!

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Sean94

Yes you do, 2007.5 is the facelift date. It's an American English picture; City lights = Side lights. Turn lights = Indicators.

When they fitted the big grill badge in 2011 ish when they bought out the D3 & D4 diesels they facelifted again slightly.

As far as light output goes, once you adjust your up and fit some decent bulbs you should be good. The lenses are much better on facelift cars. Also better is the centre console layout and handbrake area.

Hope you enjoy the car, it's sounds a stunner!

Ah thanks, that makes more sense now. So the amber light bit, they're just constantly on?

I'll post some pictures of my car after I get it tomorrow!