Active bending headlights retrofit.

[Onewheel]

Hello all.
New on this forum.
I am from the Netherlands.
Drive a V70-D5 2007 for a lot of years.
Done some retrofitting.
My car came from the factory with xenon with reflector headlights.
Did not like the look of them, so fitted the abl-xenon headlights after a few months.
Recently I got the bending part working, only have to go to the dealer to get a software download for the switch in the middleconsole to work properly.
When you have a V/Xc/70 or S60 facelift model after 2005, the connector for the Hcm is lying under the carpet, just connect the Hcm module and the bending part works, download the correct software and put the switch in the console and all works like it came of the factory....

[Millie20]

Subscribe. I absolutely love everything about my 06 v70 except the headlights. I live in the middle of nowhere in Oxfordshire and find it down right dangerous driving at night. Plus, and this is only minor for me, the reflector headlights really date the car. Can you share some more about your setup? Are these just newer stock headlights or retrofit? Pics would be much appreciated.

Ps - Welcome. This forum is filled with gold for the driveway mechanic.

[Onewheel]

These are stock headlights. The abl type. I retrofitted them and put new lenses one and cleaned them on the inside, the reflectors/Chrome and the eye, glass lens.

[simonwedge]

Originally Posted by Millie20

Subscribe. I absolutely love everything about my 06 v70 except the headlights. I live in the middle of nowhere in Oxfordshire and find it down right dangerous driving at night. Plus, and this is only minor for me, the reflector headlights really date the car. Can you share some more about your setup? Are these just newer stock headlights or retrofit? Pics would be much appreciated.

Ps - Welcome. This forum is filled with gold for the driveway mechanic.

Check the aim of the headlights you have first - they're often aimed way too low. It's a dead easy job to lift the beams (loads of videos on YouTube about how to do this) and it can make a massive difference to their effectiveness.

[Symes]

This ^^^

Although I still find the dipped beam poor in comparison to more modern xenon or LED units, and as I like to run with DRLs I don't think higher output bulbs would last and potentially cause problems with the polycarbonate lenses due to increased heat. Maybe decent LED replacements might be a way forward, but thern I think there are issues then with 'modification' as far as MOT and insurance are concerned.

One other thing, keep the exterior of the lenses clean and fix any clouding, it's amazing how a thin film of dirt at this time of year can have a negative effect.

Once on main beam I find the lighting acceptable though!

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by Symes

TI think there are issues then with 'modification' as far as MOT and insurance are concerned.

Modifying headlamps revokes their compliance with the relevant standards and regulations, which revokes the vehicles compliance, and ultimately means the vehicle is not permitted to be on the roads.

This is true for every country in the world

However, enforcement varies hugely....

[T5R92011]

The biggest issues on these cars is the AIM of the dipped lights is a little too low. This is the same even on cars with the aforementioned Active Bending lights.

My previous S60 had the Active Bending Xenon lights and they were also aimed too low so a few turns on the white adjustor knobs sorted that out. Apart from that they were very good.

I now have an older V70 with the original glass halogen headlights and to be honest, they're fine.. The spread of light and brightness obviously isnt as good as my previous S60, but I dont stuggle to see where Im going.

[BlueRubber]

Originally Posted by T5R92011

My previous S60 had the Active Bending Xenon lights and they were also aimed too low so a few turns on the white adjustor knobs sorted that out.

How can you check to make sure they aren't aimed so high they blind oncoming drivers / fail MOT?
Do you need to find a friendly MOT tester?

[V8XCV]

My method for headlight aiming is trail and error, park facing a wall at a set distance and mark the wall at the cut off, adjust the lights up an inch, go for a drive, adjust again, go for a drive... etc etc. 99% of the time the MOT tester will fiddle with them anyway, they seem to love setting them super low.

[Onewheel]

Today finally got my specialist to crack my cars Cem, checked the option for the abl-xenon headlights and now the button in the console works and the ability to switch the bending off, and adapt the headlights for lhd or rhd.