Quote:
Originally Posted by Tannaton
OK....
I have seen and fitted some H7 HID conversions that have worked very well. However you should only convert the dipped beam, and leave the main beams as halogen - this is because HID's can take 4-5 seconds to strike up and reach full light output - which means they are not suitable for signalling (flashing your main beams). On cars with factory HID's - there is usually a halogen bulb to supplement the HID one for mean beam.
Many MOT testers at smaller garages will pass cars with HID conversions if the beam pattern is acceptable, but under the rules they should be failed.
The CEM is the Central Electronic Module which is the "master computer" for the car and controls many functions.
The gearbox is a Aisin Warner TF-80 (SC). Some people say it is sealed for life but the reality is the fluid does need changing every so often - but Volvo for some reason known only to them do not include a change in their service schedule ("arduous use" excepted when it is 36k). Everyone on here who has done it reports improvements, I think when SwissXC90 did it he had a clutch problem anyway. Changing the fluid will improve any gearbox, but it wont fix a broken one.
If you do a sump dump - the easiest method - just remove the drain plug and let the fluid come out into a bowl - when it's stopped coming out replace the drain plug and measure exactly what you have removed by pouring it into a measuring jug. Replace with exactly the same amount of new fluid. If you do this 3 times with a few hundred miles of driving between, you will have around 85-90% new fluid in the box. Each sump dump usually releases around 3.5 - 4 litres. You will need to buy the correct torx bits for the level plug and filler and a 17mm hex drive for the drain plug.
This video shows how to do it - though you don't need VIDA and you don't need to check the level if you replace exactly the quantity that you have removed. 99 times out of 100 you can reuse the washers as well.
With regard to tyres if you are prepared to run 2 sets then full winter tyres will be better than the Cross Contacts - Vredestein Wintrac and Nokian's are very popular on here, but I've just ordered a set of Cooper Discoverer Winter (235 60 18) from Tyreleader for just £335 - these will go on my XC60 but I have the tyre's predecessor (Cooper Discoverer MS2) on my XC90 and they have been absolutely brilliant - I've run them all year round for 5 years. If you go anywhere muddy then you might want to look at a winter tyre with a all terrain tread bias like the Cooper Weathermaster or General SnowGrabber.
Finally - VIDA - if you know what you are doing with a diagnostic tool then it is the must have software for a Volvo. It's what the dealers use and there is nothing you can't do at home apart from software upgrades and security related changes.
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Thank you again, Tannaton, will let the mechanic know. Would it make sense to use the Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited or Laser as a main beam H7 bulb as it is supposed to be a xenon-effect'ish halogen bulb if I am told correctly ?
I have learned that I have to stock quite a few of these bulbs, unlike my old XC70 which had standard Xenon and from 110K - 175K in 6 years never needed any change so I carried a £95 worth of Osram Xenarc D2Rs in my boot for nothing ;-)
Is my assumption correct that the canbus is the cabling network that leads all components to the CEM ? And that if the CEM does not accept a new piece of hardware it will not work ? Almost like Windows ? :-) And Vida is a sort of Explorer that let me do diagnostics, read messages and with that I can set the mirrors on automatically folding when locking the car, switch on the lights after locking the car and all these little things ? Or do I have to be as advanced as members as Swiss XC90 to be able to adjust the personal settings ?
Sump Dump sounds great, the Volvo Indie in Southwick near Brighton alike all dealers and indies adviced not to touch it until I would encounter issues but I still feel I am leaning in your direction: to prevent issues that sump dump method might sound ideal. Might be best once I have returned from the Netherlands in a month.
Am leaning towards the same setup as 4x4 and yourself, the Conti Ecocontacts in summer (if there is sufficient thread on it) and winter tyres for the colder/wetter season, especially with the requirements for Germany and Switzerland. Would you know if the XC90 can have the 235 65 R17 108h alloys ? Used ones are on offer by the dozen in the Netherlands, apparently the size of choice for winteruse over there but I have not seen that here and was wondering if it would be good. They look like they are Camulus yet in 17" and I can buy a used set for as little as EUR 80 so for that I think I like to have a go to have two sets of tyres and wheels, Would not hurt me when reselling, I believe ......
Are the Cooper and General tyres more like semi off road with likewise profile ? I come across the occasional muddy and grass paths and fields around my girlfriend and with the Michelin Cross Climates on the XC70 (they were only a few months old) I got terribly stuck in a muddy field in Herefordshire somewhere in March and they needed a Ford F150 to tow me out. I just wanted to turn and these tyres were not helping at all :-(
Where do I get a VIDA ? And is there any requirement to the specifications of the lappie used or will any couple of year old one do ?