Weak Headlights - Contact Volvo

[MacV50]

Originally Posted by craigblues

But where? The Volvo dealer I went to told me that they couldn't do it and no way of doing it. ��

When I bought mine in 2012, the headlights were set dangerously low. Arnold Clark Volvo in Aberdeen adjusted them to the max allowed but had to get permission from Volvo UK to do it!

So they can do it, you just have to push them.

[Sasha94]

My local dealer adjusted mine up to the top without my even asking when they did the MoT on the XC, I hope they do they same on the 50. I'm finding the lights better than my old 40 already but the throw of light is still poor so I'm eagerly awaiting upward adjustment!!

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by daveyonthemove

....

My point is, I haven't seen headlights of this age being as bad as this on any car, even if they do degrade.

Just to add 2 cents to this before adding a more helpful comment - I agree in 100% with you on that. The whole reason on this is combination of 2 things that are really just a flaw in design.
1) in principal, is using a halogen bulb in a projector lens - projectors in their design are taking so much from any light source, that you need a serious lumen output to compensate for it. Projector lense on its own, PLUS the metal pattern stutter that obstruct big part of the outgoing light.
2) materials used prone to degrade easier than other - so lens that is prone to getting mist/dirt after years of use and the outside plastic shield that is incredibly easy to scratch.
Just to compare this to my previous 2003 S40 that had normal reflector lights, outputting 100% of the bulb power to the ground, trough the classic GLASS outside shield that was not even close to being so damaged as my current plastic one.
The only sensible solution in this case for me was cleaning the components from the inside and installing HIDs and focusing the light with a little bit of common sense. One more thing I will try in near future is to polish the outside of the plastic shielding using a fine polishing compound.

I also wanted to give a tip to anybody trying to clean the lenses and having a trouble with removing one screw from underneath the light levelling motor. During the weekend I finally managed to clean the P/S headlamp that I previously failed miserable with - twice! On both attempts I was unable to remove that one screw, to the point where I almost broke the mountings. Yesterday I decided to try again but this time I cranked the horizontal levelling screw maximum towards the middle of the road (counterclockwise on the adjuster 11 times in my case). By doing that, that pesky screw alligned itself a little bit in angle, just enough to safely force-feed it underneath the regulator. Cleaned the lens, screwed it back, set the horizontal back to default position, victory!
hope that helps if somebody have so much trouble with it as I had.

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom

I also wanted to give a tip to anybody trying to clean the lenses and having a trouble with removing one screw from underneath the light levelling motor. During the weekend I finally managed to clean the P/S headlamp that I previously failed miserable with - twice! On both attempts I was unable to remove that one screw, to the point where I almost broke the mountings. Yesterday I decided to try again but this time I cranked the horizontal levelling screw maximum towards the middle of the road (counterclockwise on the adjuster 11 times in my case). By doing that, that pesky screw alligned itself a little bit in angle, just enough to safely force-feed it underneath the regulator. Cleaned the lens, screwed it back, set the horizontal back to default position, victory!
hope that helps if somebody have so much trouble with it as I had.

That's a good tip mate! Might be worth adding that the cleaning lenses thread if you haven't already?

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

That's a good tip mate! Might be worth adding that the cleaning lenses thread if you haven't already?

didnt think of that, might be useful
done

[Clan]

another useful thing to check , probably best check it first and that is the little reflector , on the top surface the silver falls off after time as heat rises , and this is the part used for dip beam .. check those reflectors otherwise all your work is wasted ....

[efcbluepete]

Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom

...
The only sensible solution in this case for me was cleaning the components from the inside and installing HIDs and focusing the light with a little bit of common sense. One more thing I will try in near future is to polish the outside of the plastic shielding using a fine polishing compound.

...

not sure if this is true, but a good friend has warned me away from polishing exterior lenses. his argument was that the polycarb lenses have a UV filter applied over them. if an abrasive polish is used, then the UV filter is scrubbed off. initial results are great (I did it to my GF's previous car and was really pleased with the result), but within a few months the cloudiness appears again, but will come back quicker and degrade to a higher degree. it did seem to be getting cloudy quickly, but she has just sold it in order to get the current C30.

anybody else have experience of this?


Pete

[iainmd]

I've heard that's true as well. It takes off the UV coating. Anti-oxidising solution such as this http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/ca...LW-1&0&cc5_761 is probably safer.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by iainmd

I've heard that's true as well. It takes off the UV coating. Anti-oxidising solution such as this http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/ca...LW-1&0&cc5_761 is probably safer.

Thanks guys for the warning! You are 100% regarding that coating, but I have done my homework and ordered this. I will do only slight polishing using compound (no sandpaper) and drill attachment, and then coat it with this lens sealer in the kit. This should be enough for a couple of years, and after that I may need to reapply it again but I hope it will be worth the effort.

[Sasha94]

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=220427

From when I did my S40