Xenon Headlights

[Driver911717]

Hello new member here sorry if this has been posted in the wrong area I’m still trying to navigate the forum

I own a 2011 V50 DriveE. Love the car.
When I bought the car it came with the Xenon headlight kit which compared to my old car headlights were amazing. I have read that my Volvo has the automatic headlight alignment for the dipped beams, no manual adjustments. The first few months I was having people flashing me at night and I could tell my dipped beams were far to high and find the lights dip up and down even with the slightest movement of the car.

I’ve read up about the sensors on the axles at how they determine which level the beams sit at depending on the cars load. My questions are:

1. Is it worth getting new sensors to see if that makes a difference (I’ve unplugged them for now so they don’t move about)
2. Can I get bulbs that are not so bright?
3. Is it worth changing the headlights back to normal bulbs?

Sorry if that questions seem stupid, this Volvo is the newest car I’ve ever owned so still new to all the fancy stuff

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Driver911717

...
1. Is it worth getting new sensors to see if that makes a difference (I’ve unplugged them for now so they don’t move about)
2. Can I get bulbs that are not so bright?
3. Is it worth changing the headlights back to normal bulbs?

Sorry if that questions seem stupid, this Volvo is the newest car I’ve ever owned so still new to all the fancy stuff

Hi
1) it may be not case of damaged sensors (as you stated those work and car tries to compensate) but not properly calibrated. OEM xenons should be calibrated in dealership (or using VIda+Dice) so car knows where the "default" height is. Its possible that once calibrated, it will work perfectly.
2) yes, but, why would you want to do it, defies whole purpose of xenons. Also, "worst" xenon bulbs are still much brighter than best halogen ones so you will still dazzle.
3) not possible, cant just put halogens into OEM xenons.

also 4) - even auto levelled lights have manual adjustments on them - read manual if you have it - allowing to up/down the beam using hex screws on actual headlamps, maybe those are lifted way too high so even the auto-levelled "minimum" position is too high?

[Missing Lincs]

Originally Posted by Driver911717

When I bought the car it came with the Xenon headlight kit

Are you saying your car has Volvo Xenons as in factory fit or an after-market replacement kit?

[paddyred]

Also check that your headlights aren't in the European driving mode. There's a little lever inside the headlight which changes the alignment to drive on the right. There's the instructions of how to change it in the manual. Sometimes it can be knocked when changing bulbs etc.

As far as I was aware though, there is manual adjustment on them. At least I think there's manual on mine and I have active bending xenons.

When you say it came with a "xenon kit" do you have factory xenons or do you have regular headlights with an aftermarket kit installed by the previous owner?

[Driver911717]

Originally Posted by Missing Lincs

Are you saying your car has Volvo Xenons as in factory fit or an after-market replacement kit?

I’m not 100% sure if they are after market I’ll have to check the paper work that came with the car

[Driver911717]

Originally Posted by paddyred

Also check that your headlights aren't in the European driving mode. There's a little lever inside the headlight which changes the alignment to drive on the right. There's the instructions of how to change it in the manual. Sometimes it can be knocked when changing bulbs etc.

As far as I was aware though, there is manual adjustment on them. At least I think there's manual on mine and I have active bending xenons.

When you say it came with a "xenon kit" do you have factory xenons or do you have regular headlights with an aftermarket kit installed by the previous owner?

I’ll check that thanks I didn’t know about the switch for euro driving. I have the active bending ones too. I’ve found where to adjust them manually but when I turn the ‘screw’ for the vertical adjustment it just clicks and doesn’t seem to move the bulbs

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by Driver911717

I’m not 100% sure if they are after market I’ll have to check the paper work that came with the car

if you have no manual levelling dial in cabin (as you said earlier) and lights are active bending ones then its 100% factory ones.
as for vertical adjustment screw - did you try both ways (does it click when you try to rotate it left/right the same?). If the system for adjustment is similar to halogen ones, its the white screw that is connected to 90degree black plastic cog underneath- the mount on those snap very often and you end up rotating in in place or just cogs skip over itself.
If possible - take lamp out, inspect it for similar adjustment type and try to adjust it directly on lamp itself (black hex as circled below), maybe it will budge (but be very gentle)

[Driver911717]

I’ll try looking at the weekend or if I get a chance before work whether the cogs clicked both ways I cannot remember but I think they did. If not I’ll tinker about and take the headlight out at the weekend and have a good nose about. Appreciate the help

[Driver911717]

Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom

if you have no manual levelling dial in cabin (as you said earlier) and lights are active bending ones then its 100% factory ones.
as for vertical adjustment screw - did you try both ways (does it click when you try to rotate it left/right the same?). If the system for adjustment is similar to halogen ones, its the white screw that is connected to 90degree black plastic cog underneath- the mount on those snap very often and you end up rotating in in place or just cogs skip over itself.
If possible - take lamp out, inspect it for similar adjustment type and try to adjust it directly on lamp itself (black hex as circled below), maybe it will budge (but be very gentle)

Finally had time to take the lamps out (so easy) as a previous user stated about checking whether the lamps are set on right Lane driving, my near side lamp was indeed set for right lane driving but my offside was set for left lane driving. Would that effect the self levelling ?

As for the white cogs for verticals adjustment when I turn the cogs they turn very little and then I hear a click. I have a feeling the adjustment mechanisms are broken.

[Quarryscapes]

[QUOTE=Driver911717;2761301]
Would that effect the self levelling ?{/quote]
No, but will affect beam pattern. Both headlights should kick up to the left.

As for the white cogs for verticals adjustment when I turn the cogs they turn very little and then I hear a click. I have a feeling the adjustment mechanisms are broken.

They're not broken, they're just ****. The plastic is too flexible for the force required to actually move the mechanism, so instead of turning it just skips a tooth. Stick an allen key in the black part below it and turn that instead. Had to do this on mine - very slow going, turn it a bit, headlight back in car start up, check aim, switch off, headlight back out, adjust some more....repeat ad nauseum.