Brighten your headlamps, for free!

[Dr Jekyll]

Does look good. I vowed not to spend a lot of money on this car.....

What size do i need? haha.

[Hadrian]

These I think, you'd best check though.... https://www.retrofitlab.com/en/30-inch-zkw-r-1.html
They really do improve the sharpness of the cut off and stop any scatter of light as per the standard lenses. Plus you get a nice rainbow/ prism effect at the cut off if that's your thing��
The replicas are longer by a mm or so, you will have to move the cut off towards the rear of the headlight. All from memory as I said so it could be the other way!!

[Tony500]

Done this today and by looking at them makes a real difference! They look more sharp, and you can see the beam pattern more clearly! Easier than I thought it would be.

Bad thing is.... I snapped both height adjusters for both lights
Had to heat a screwdriver up and make a slot so I can take the headlight off and adjust like that.

[Dr Jekyll]

How did you break the adjusters?

[Tony500]

Was setting the beam as my right light has been sitting a little lower then the left one. I dont think they have been adjusted before, or in a long time......

[StatusRed]

Thank you very much for the guide! I've just done this today, so I thought I'd post my pictures!

Before (right), after (left)


More finished pics

[Bungo]

Bright lights and brakes, you're good to go

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Bungo

Bright lights and brakes, you're good to go

Yep

Driving the other night I did notice the lights are brighter, but there's still not much coverage on the road itself but that seems to be an underlying problem with the S40's light design - but still an improvement and worth doing

[StatusRed]

After sorting out my beam angle (which was way too high when I first put the lenses back into the car - used my Dad's car to check where my beam should be) I can say that this is definitely worth doing! One of the torx screws is a pain to get out but by applying some force you can angle the screwdriver enough to get it out

My lights seem brighter now and are visibly cleaner if you look at the headlight unit. Well worth the effort!

[v70stu]

The more I read about the lights on these cars, the more I am convinced that the ideal solution (aside from a cost no object upgrade to HID - properly done to avoid failed wiper motor issues) is a clean of the lenses, a decent set of high quality upgraded bulbs and the level adjustment being set to the maximum allowable level, avoiding dazzle.
The light from many car headlights seems to form "hotspot" areas on the road, which gives the impression of better light output. However, with my V50 I notice the light spread, whilst not stunningly bright, is very evenly spread and has a good reach into the distance. It's more dissipated. Whilst it isn't, on first appearance, as "bright" as some car headlights, I actually find the output is perfectly comfortable on unlit country roads and unlit motorways.
High quality upgrade bulbs (Osram etc), plus a clean of the lenses and a height setting, is the best way with these.