Headlights

swedishandgerman · Aug 10th, 2010, 09:02

Drove my S40 in proper darkness for the first time last night. Love absolutely everything else about the car, but those are the worst headlights I've ever experienced.

silestanix · Aug 10th, 2010, 09:35

Agreed, lol. My V70's headlights aren't much better...though one of my bulbs did go kaput last week, so I replaced it with a Bosch Premium one from a petrol garage, and now one headlight is miles better than the other...so might be the bulbs?

jasonb · Aug 10th, 2010, 09:52

There are many discussions on here about which bulbs to use or whether to upgrade to a HID kit!!!
If you need me to point you in the right direction, shout and I'll add a threat link or two.

alfiembra · Aug 10th, 2010, 12:55

Yep done to death on here cheap fix for me was a set of Osram Nightbreaker bulbs £15 off ebay huge improvement over standard but still not great.

swedishandgerman · Aug 18th, 2010, 13:40

Got the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs and took the S40 into my local Volvo who fitted them and adjusted the beam up. Fabulous improvement..

Also got a whizz in the new S60 which was nice

Jonnieb2009 · Aug 18th, 2010, 16:30

Piccys please!

swedishandgerman · Aug 18th, 2010, 20:57

The thing I like about these bulbs is that they don't change the appearance of the car - so photo's won't really show anything! I didn't go for the blue tinted ones because I don't like them.

Just for interest, here's a photo of my new motor though:

http://

I think the big improvement is that fact that the beams are now set correct. It's a weird thing that every brand new car I've had has had to have the headlights adjusted with the exception of my last car ( a hated Peugeot 407). They were all well below the limit. This S40 was by far the worst; very low indeed.

I put the same bulbs in my crapety Peugeot 407 (hatred car) which used to blow bulbs for a past time (as well as everything else that used to go wrong on the thing). They were good on that one too. I have the same bulbs in my V70.

Dave Z · Aug 19th, 2010, 23:10

My 2004 V50 had terrible headlights. My new one has the HID's and what a difference. Maybe Volvo deliberately made them crap so people would fork out for the Xenon option. Worth it though imo.

t5_monkey · Aug 19th, 2010, 23:13

Osram Nightbreakers are the way to go for the Dip beam.

the stock items are awful!

Aug 10th, 2010, 09:02	#1
swedishandgerman Premier Member Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2023 21:39 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: EXETER	Headlights Drove my S40 in proper darkness for the first time last night. Love absolutely everything else about the car, but those are the worst headlights I've ever experienced.

Aug 10th, 2010, 09:35	#2
silestanix Returning Member! Last Online: Apr 24th, 2023 07:49 Join Date: May 2010 Location: East London!	Agreed, lol. My V70's headlights aren't much better...though one of my bulbs did go kaput last week, so I replaced it with a Bosch Premium one from a petrol garage, and now one headlight is miles better than the other...so might be the bulbs? __________________ 2003 BMW 325Ci - Turbo build in progress 2002 Honda Civic 1.4i - Daily runabout Project thread - https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=330004 Closed - Sold.

Aug 19th, 2010, 23:10	#8
Dave Z Junior Member Last Online: Apr 10th, 2024 12:56 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Market Harborough	My 2004 V50 had terrible headlights. My new one has the HID's and what a difference. Maybe Volvo deliberately made them crap so people would fork out for the Xenon option. Worth it though imo. __________________ Current: C70 2.3 T5 GT (Non-Swedes: Kia Sportage PHEV, Kia Optima SW PHEV) Past: V50 1.8 SE, V50 2.5 T5 SE Sport

Aug 10th, 2010, 09:52	#3
jasonb In the mood for change! Last Online: May 8th, 2017 10:56 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Manchester	There are many discussions on here about which bulbs to use or whether to upgrade to a HID kit!!! If you need me to point you in the right direction, shout and I'll add a threat link or two.

Aug 10th, 2010, 12:55	#4
alfiembra Member Last Online: Sep 3rd, 2010 15:02 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edinburgh	Yep done to death on here cheap fix for me was a set of Osram Nightbreaker bulbs £15 off ebay huge improvement over standard but still not great.

Aug 18th, 2010, 13:40	#5
swedishandgerman Premier Member Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2023 21:39 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: EXETER	Got the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs and took the S40 into my local Volvo who fitted them and adjusted the beam up. Fabulous improvement.. Also got a whizz in the new S60 which was nice

Aug 18th, 2010, 16:30	#6
Jonnieb2009 Master Member Last Online: Nov 23rd, 2011 15:19 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Helsby View Photos By: Jonnieb2009	Piccys please!

Aug 18th, 2010, 20:57	#7
swedishandgerman Premier Member Last Online: Oct 23rd, 2023 21:39 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: EXETER	The thing I like about these bulbs is that they don't change the appearance of the car - so photo's won't really show anything! I didn't go for the blue tinted ones because I don't like them. Just for interest, here's a photo of my new motor though: http:// I think the big improvement is that fact that the beams are now set correct. It's a weird thing that every brand new car I've had has had to have the headlights adjusted with the exception of my last car ( a hated Peugeot 407). They were all well below the limit. This S40 was by far the worst; very low indeed. I put the same bulbs in my crapety Peugeot 407 (hatred car) which used to blow bulbs for a past time (as well as everything else that used to go wrong on the thing). They were good on that one too. I have the same bulbs in my V70.

Aug 19th, 2010, 23:13	#9
t5_monkey Monkeying Around Last Online: Mar 13th, 2016 20:05 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York	Osram Nightbreakers are the way to go for the Dip beam. the stock items are awful!

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