Body/Trim: 2013 LED tail light upgrade / installation

[HK XC90]

2013 LED Tail light upgrade / installation
Having researched a lot of information online - I finally made the upgrade to 2013 LED tail lights. Wanted to share my findings to help others interested in the mod.

Tools required
2013 LED light 31335506 + 31335507
VLR6 resistor x 2 + harnesses or 6 ohm 50W gold resistor
10mm socket + extension
alcohol wipes
plastic Pry too
pliers
mirror
torch
zip ties

General info
If upgrading from phase 1 (twin circles early lights) you will also need to upgrade the upper rear lights as there is a tab that prevents phase two or three lower lights fitting. Those upper rear lights can be bought new or used online. You may also need to get new fog light lenses and harness to retro fit to the bumper (may not fit to phase 1 rear bumper) or upgrade to phase two rear bumper.

In my case, going from phase 2 to phase 3 rear lights the only issue you will face is the need to fit a resistor on each tail light wiring harness to prevent brake light warning coming on the dash (the brake lights work, but the warning keeps showing).

All bolt holes align directly between phases, the light unit itself is the same shape, and the wiring harness was included with the new rear lights. I bought mine from USA, but you may source as you like, interestingly one was made in Spain, and one in Slovakia.

the 2013 LED light units cost approx 2-250 GBP each excluding shipping.

Installation
give yourself an hour or so - or in my case tell your wife your going out to wash the car.
open the boot / tail gate for the americans, and remove the triangle sound insulation panel and ventilated panel covering access to rear lights.

use the 10mm socket wrench to remove the 2 hex bolts that secure the lights. Be careful not to drop them in the bodywork. I recommend you loosen bolts with the tool, then do the rest by hand slowly. If you drop bolt in the body grab a metal coat hanger with a magnet masking taped on the end, and insert to the body work to retrieve the bolt. Best not to drop the bolts, this really sucks.

The old lights come straight out, with a little wiggling. I suggest lowering the lower tailgate, and placing the old light carefully on there while you sort the wiring. Inside the body you will notice the wiring connection is hidden away, you can use a mirror with a torch if you can't find it. careful the body panels can be very sharp.

this is secured to the body with a plastic pop rivet, which you pop out, and then disconnect the old wiring.
Pull out through the rubber bung hole.

Before the tail light an be fully removed, the panel below the light needs to come off to unclip the fog lights, one side of which is a dummy, but still connected.
Use the plastic pry tool to help pop the panel off, it goes straight toward the rear. careful not to damage the paint or clips.

once removed, unclip the fog connector and plastic rivets.

Now grab your new LED light, and reverse the process - clip in the fog connector, plastic rivets, reinstall the lower panel, and place wiring through rubber bung, install rubber bung, and connect the new light.

Test the new light once you connect it, and ideally before securing the bolts in case something isn't working. the brake light warning only comes on if the engine is started.

I chose the VLR6 resistors as they are 9x4x1cm (90cm sq surface area), nearly 5x larger surface area than the 5x1x1 (20cm sq surface area) of the gold resistors - so their claimed to be 50% cooler. They have one cable in and out, so the installation is very simple. fill the harness with dielectric grease which is included, and insert the yellow and black wires from the new light cluster (the wires that are part of the car are thicker, and it won't work - so do it on the cluster wires near the connector). Once these are inserted carefully, clamp shut with pliers. Then connect to the resistor. use alcohol wipes to clean the lowest recess below all the wiring and near the seam weld on the metal surface. IF you install higher up it can be dangerous, as the resistors get as hot as the light bulb they are simulating during braking. So i installed mine far down almost at the lowest part of where we removed the triangular shaped sound panel from. Easy to do, but do not place it anywhere near plastic, wires etc, they do get hot when in use during braking. They are supplied with 3M heat tape to stick to the metal.
feel free to use cable ties to tidy up the wires leading up from resistor to the tail light. The gold resistors are commonly found, I just preferred the idea of something running at a lower temperature with a larger heat sink surface area.

Test your lights, and be please with the cool modern looks of your XC90 now with signature Volvo style LED lights. I love the curved shape and the 4 small LED side markers.

The brake light seems much brighter than the old halogen, and certainly faster to operate - which is great for safety. I also fitted high power LED reverse lights, with no warnings coming up. LED indicators would complete the look, but they will need another resistor to stop hyper flashing, so for now, I won't bother.

Not a cheap upgrade, making a subtle difference when off, and a massive difference when the lights are on. Enjoy flicking the lights on as you walk to the car day or night with the yellow button on your remote!

[Gerry Kilsby]

Is it safe to assume that XC90's did not have LED tail lights - prior to 2013 ?

I need to replace the nearside rear cluster on my 2012 model!

Tks

[HK XC90]

According to the ever reliable wiki, the LED were introduced in 2012 on some models, and standard from 2013 onwards.
You can fit them, and they will work, but without a resistor, the computer will not sense the LED brake light and warn you about it. All other elements are easy about the install, same bolts & the kit includes the silvered indicators, and as I mentioned I used some bright LED reverse lights. The other hard part of the install is deciding to get your credit card out and do the purchase. Keep looking at the photos online, and it really will transform your car.

I have some other install photos and advice to share soon.

[SwissXC90]

Whilst I agree they look good, I struggle to see the point of insvesting a lot of money for an upgrade which I, as the driver, cannot see, touch, or feel.

Nav maps? Yes.
Interior improvements? Yes
Headlights? Yes
Bluetooth? Yes
Car maintenance? Yes.

But taillights? I never see them...

[AngryScot]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Whilst I agree they look good, I struggle to see the point of insvesting a lot of money for an upgrade which I, as the driver, cannot see, touch, or feel.

Nav maps? Yes.
Interior improvements? Yes
Headlights? Yes
Bluetooth? Yes
Car maintenance? Yes.

But taillights? I never see them...

Don't buy them then, simple as that. If others want to then why complain about it?

[albysenior]

they look fantastic.well done. i get its an expensive mod but that's your choice.

i want to take the orange out of the front lights but not had the balls yet to separate the headlight glass for access. (one day i will)

[Harley Dave]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Whilst I agree they look good, I struggle to see the point of insvesting a lot of money for an upgrade which I, as the driver, cannot see, touch, or feel.

Nav maps? Yes.
Interior improvements? Yes
Headlights? Yes
Bluetooth? Yes
Car maintenance? Yes.

But taillights? I never see them...

HK's money, HK's choice - I like the look of them.

I fitted OEM LED running lights instead of fogs - I don't really see them (except reflected from the vehicle in front) but I know they're there and I like them.

My money, my choice.

Cheers

Dave

[HK XC90]

Thanks for the debate, its interesting to hear the for and against different upgrades. We all have different ideas for maintaining or upgrading our cars, but are united by our passion for these tanks.

It is indeed not a cheap mod, but for me it transformed the look of the rear and gives me much satisfaction to look at. Whilst its true from the drivers seat I don't see the lights, I do see them as I walk up to the car, or on my drive for example - the other debate is that the LEDs are safer as they react faster and give cars behind more time to react - but thats of course not the major reason for the mod.

The headlight mod is a tricky one, again you will see the last couple years they finally cancelled the silly orange front indicators. The side markers were for the US market, and so that part had to remain orange, but the front indicators - made no sense. I bought LEDs and silver bulbs and then you can see its an integral part of the light. not sure how to solve that.

Cheers

[steve0]

Hi mate, would you mind taking a look at a thread i just posted regarding LED upgrade and let me know if you have any ideas, cheers.

Link - http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=269680

[jessexc90]

hi i have done the led up grade on the back of myxc90 2003 look great and dint need resistors for the brake light as all i had to do is take the shunt fuse out and bend the last pin no more light on dash

i have also fitted projectours in the front and hid and all you have to do is drill 2mm hole in the front dip beam shunt fuse hope this helps anyon
http://volvo.budzynscy.com/myvolvo/i...hack-for-cars/
http://www.xenonvalot.com/xenonfixvolvo.html