Weak Headlights - Contact Volvo

[jepho]

Originally Posted by Volvorforlife

I used the projectors from a lexus LS430 they are bi xenon and I used the hole projector combined with Denso ballast boosted to 70w with Densoa 35w and 55w switch so I can choose between 35w 55w and 70w and the bulbs I use are five5 bulbs.

It was easy enough to do but cost over £1200 for the parts.

The difference is night and day.

It sounds as if you have found a good answer. My projector headlamps are for the dipped beam and contain single H7 halogen bulb. I wonder if there is sufficient space in my light unit to take the bi xenon projector lens. I would also need a convenient place for the ballast units... There is no space avalable in the engine bay of my 2009 C70.

£1200 is expensive but if I could have the conversion done easily, preferably using my existing switchgear, then I think it worth the effort to be safe at night.

[faffi]

After 20,000 miles I still find the standard headlights of my 2011 S40 to be very good, far better than the higher spec Xenons I had on my 2004 Mondeo previously. I like them.

[nbuuifx]

I too have been shocked by how pathetic the volvo headlights are.

I have a 2004 S40 (New style)

When I first got the car (last winter) I could barely light up the grass verge on dip. I dismantled the light units and cleaned the projector lenses which were thick with dust. On putting them back together they were much better but still not as good as most other cars.

The car had Philips +50% bulbs in. I ordered some nightbreaker plus bulbs but never got round to fitting them as the clocks changed and my requirement to drive in the dark was removed.

As winter has come back round, and I have changed jobs I now have to drive about 2-3 miles along unlit country roads which get too narrow in places to pass other cars. I quickly realised that they weren't good enough as they were and put in the nightbreakers. They have made a difference and I feel just about OK - right on the bottom end of 'happy' with them!

My lights are adjusted on the in car adjustment to point all the way up and always have been. Without this they are awful.

At the MOT test a few weeks ago the tester set the dial to normal, then adjusted the lights to the correct position. The lights pass the MOT no problem.

I've only had one other car with such poor lights and that had projector lights too. That was a gen6 Toyota Celica. I did have 2 other cars with projector lenses and don't remember having any problem with the lights on those (2 Ford Cougars).

[Clan]

Originally Posted by nbuuifx

I too have been shocked by how pathetic the volvo headlights are.

I have a 2004 S40 (New style)

When I first got the car (last winter) I could barely light up the grass verge on dip. I dismantled the light units and cleaned the projector lenses which were thick with dust. On putting them back together they were much better but still not as good as most other cars.

The car had Philips +50% bulbs in. I ordered some nightbreaker plus bulbs but never got round to fitting them as the clocks changed and my requirement to drive in the dark was removed.

As winter has come back round, and I have changed jobs I now have to drive about 2-3 miles along unlit country roads which get too narrow in places to pass other cars. I quickly realised that they weren't good enough as they were and put in the nightbreakers. They have made a difference and I feel just about OK - right on the bottom end of 'happy' with them!

My lights are adjusted on the in car adjustment to point all the way up and always have been. Without this they are awful.At the MOT test a few weeks ago the tester set the dial to normal, then adjusted the lights to the correct position. The lights pass the MOT no problem.

I've only had one other car with such poor lights and that had projector lights too. That was a gen6 Toyota Celica. I did have 2 other cars with projector lenses and don't remember having any problem with the lights on those (2 Ford Cougars).

If they are adjusted all the way up and STILL pass the MOT there must be something wrong with the adjusters, meaning they could go higher and give better light coverage .. Usualy if they are adjusted fully up they go quite a bit above the horizon and fail the MOT ..

[nbuuifx]

By adjusted - what do you mean?

I'm meaning just with the in car dial - I adjust them to point all the way up.

However when the MOT tester tested the car they reset the in car dial to 0 - which I believe is normal for them to do. The headlights were then out, the tester asked me if I wanted him to adjust the lights for me free of charge or fail the car (obvious answer but he said he was supposed to ask for permission before altering anything).

He then adjusted the beam - from what I could see he was only adjusting left and right (but I might be wrong). After that they were truely awful under I moved the dial in the car again to point them up again.

Do you mean a further adjustment under the bonnet to move them even higher?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by nbuuifx

By adjusted - what do you mean?

I'm meaning just with the in car dial - I adjust them to point all the way up.

However when the MOT tester tested the car they reset the in car dial to 0 - which I believe is normal for them to do. The headlights were then out, the tester asked me if I wanted him to adjust the lights for me free of charge or fail the car (obvious answer but he said he was supposed to ask for permission before altering anything).

He then adjusted the beam - from what I could see he was only adjusting left and right (but I might be wrong). After that they were truely awful under I moved the dial in the car again to point them up again.

Do you mean a further adjustment under the bonnet to move them even higher?

ahh yes , under the bonnet to make them even higher .
All the control does inside is LOWER them from the ideal setting . the inside dial must always be 0 for MOT and when adjusting headlight aim at the headlamp under the bonnet ..

[Volvo6]

I have a 2004 S40 (New style)

Yes the pre-facelift S40/V50 lights were pretty bad...post facelift the light units were redesigned and are a bit better. Mine are OK with Philips H7 bulbs in them.

[Double_Trouble]

On my (04) V50 at least...

My dipped beam has been getting gradually worse - to the point where it has become DAMN DANGEROUS (I live in the country and drive mainly on unlit roads, main beam is good but, dipped is like driving by Braille).

In desperation I tried swapping the bulbs yesterday (for philips "higher output" jobs (still legal wattage but, claim to have higher efficiency). I hold little hope that they'll be better than stock 50/55w but, I'm desperate by now).

However, when I took the old bulbs out I found a previous owner had fitted 100w jobs (illegal in the UK) - oh dear... A quick spin last night revealed the problem was worse, not much - but I'm now at the point where the foglights are BRIGHTER than dipped beam - seriously they were that bad. Oh dear of dear!

So, today I look on eBay and get a shock at much second hand lights are.

Then I head out in the rain and take the headlamps off the car and have a poke about - only to discover that the silvered reflective surface has cooked off the bowls in a large area above the bulbs - you can only see this from the rear as the projector lens obscures the reflector.

This must be the part that's important to throw the light onto the road in front of the car.... Sigh

I'm not sure if this has been entirely due to the 100w bulbs or if they just speeded up the process. But, those of you who have (or are tempted by) higher wattage bulbs beware!

In desperation I visited the local scrap yard and came away with a pair of Alfa Romeo projectors that looked sort of similar..... (worth a try for £10 I thought).

After a bit of fiddling I was able to swap the volvo ones for the Alfa jobbies - without having to take the front clear lenses off with a heat gun (didn't much fancy that). I was thankful I managed to do it all through the rear opening - with only a bit of a fuss.

A quick drive tonight and.... WOW I CAN SEE! I'm so chuffed I thought I ought to share with the forum.

Now, I should say that the Alfa projectors are not a perfect fit - but, they are pretty close and they throw a good pattern on the road - they don't blind oncoming vehicles and I think they'll easily pass the MOT. I may even keep them rather than just use them temporarily (as I originally planned).

I shall get a few pictures and when time allows post a quick "show and tell".

Probably worth pointing out that the reflector part of the volvo projector is a fair bit smaller than the Alfa - putting the mirrored surface quite a bit closer to the bulb. Makes me wonder if this is quite a common problem in volvos? Especially those (like mine) with dipped beam on all the time (DRL?) and thanks to previous owner "hot" bulbs.

[fenton_jd]

What are Factory HID's like in the PRE-facelift S40/V50?

I installed aftermarket HID's in my S40 a few years ago... The light output was significantly improved, but only to the standard I would expect from any safe halogen headlamp....

Corners must have been cut designing that headlamp cluster.

Oddly enough the Main beam on the S40 is one of the best I've ever seen, even with boggo cheap bulbs in.

[noscralc]

must agree with the comments about the volvo headlights which i find on my 03 v70 to be CRAP.i have a lowly 97reg escort as my daily runabout and must say it will blind (excuse the pun) the volvo on dipped beam, main just acceptable but dip is rubbish,Can't believe volvo can produce such cars with totally inferior headlights, they go to so much trouble with air bags side impact bars etc and pride themselves on safety but surely you need to be able to see where you're going in the first place to be safe at night!!