I got a warning of a low beam failure on my '07 S60. The low beam light is completely out but I have high beams. These headlights have Xenon bulbs and the auto-turn feature. I put in a new xenon bulb and the light still does not work. I'm thinking I might have a failed ballast but I went to the FCP Euro site and nearly choked. I think I need the Headlight Control Module (Valeo 30784923) at a price of $276. There is a cheaper ballast (Valeo 88794) but I think that is for the HID headlight and not mine.

Has anyone had this problem and have you replaced the Control Module? Does this module have to be programmed to the car or is it plug and play?

Thanks.

 

There are two styles of headlamps - H11 incandescent (there's a filament in the bulb) with a H9 high beam Or D2R HID bulbs with a daytime running lamp.

For H11 failures the connector melts at the bulb, a replacement connector fixes that. (or you have a blown fuse or a CEM that's turned the power off due to a short in the bulb)

For HID failures it's either the bulb, a connection at the bulb or a bad ballast. Swap the bulbs and ballasts side to side to see what moves.
With HID the outer bulb is both the low and high beam. The bulb changes angle for high beam. The inner bulbs are the Daytime running lights.
If the outer turn with the steering you have HID

All HID headlamps have a ballast - They are like neon or fluorescent bulbs - there are no filaments and the light is created from gasses excited by high voltage. Ballasts are plug and play.

The H11 incandescent bulbs do not have or need a ballast - they have a filament and run off of 12 volts.

 

Thanks Hoonk. From your info I definitely have the HID headlights. When I look on FCP Euro I see a headlamp controller that looks similar to what I have. Those are $276😲😲. The driver side is working so I’ll swap controllers between them and see if the problem follows. If that is the problem, does anyone know of a cheaper source for these?

 

HID headlight components are expensive and valeo is fairly cheap to begin with. I see a price of $150 for the ballast on fcp. A headlamp controller is not the same thing as a ballast. SKU: VAL-88794 (confirm fitment)

EDIT: I am also blind, it says headlight control module "aka ballast"

 

Here's a page from the parts catalog

 

Thanks for the parts breakdown. After tonight I'll know for sure, but I'm guessing most likely the controller is dead. The pic below is the device on the passenger side headlight. There are markings on the headlight that look like salvage yard writing so my guess is this car had a fender bender (or dead headlight) in it's previous life and at minimum the headlight was changed out. By the looks of it, I'd say this is an aftermarket controller and without a full history I have no idea what has gone into this.

Assuming my problem is the controller the next question is what should I get to replace it? Do I go with FCP Euro and pay $276 for the Valeo part? I'm seeing Ebay auctions for "good used" OEM units for $30 like this one --> Ebay used part . Do I take a chance on that? Now that I've had the bumper off once it's not the hardest thing I've ever done. I could buy several of the used units and just keep them on hand if (when?) it goes out again. I don't prefer to do the same work over and over, but it's hard to justify nearly $300 for a headlight PART when a used one is 10% of the cost of a new one.

I'd love to hear any success or nightmare stories with new and used parts to help me decide.

Thanks.

 

What bulbs you do have in both sides? d2r or d1r/s? That parts page says d2r bulbs are used - your picture is a ballast for a d1r/s with a 2019 date on it. With a d2r the igniter (part that attaches to the bulb) is sold by itself and a d1r/s has the igniter built onto it. I have replaced bad igniters before also.

 

The passenger side is a D1S bulb. I'll have to pull the driver side and see what it is.

 

Parts catalog calls for this igniter (#7) with a d2r bulb

 

That is true but there is a headlamp control module - It's part of the active bending lights - Mounted near the left front seat.

 

this car has definitely had used parts installed. The sticker on the driver side assembly is Volvo P/N 30698578 and the passenger side is P/N 31217050. Both lamps are D1S. The driver side assembly has a ballast, P/N 89035113. The date of 9/5/06 makes me think it’s original. I removed the sticker on the passenger side ballast and found P/n 89032335. The pins on the ballast/controller were heavily corroded and so was the headlight assembly side. I don’t know which is correct for this car and I don’t have the time or money to track down the OEM assembly.

It was working fine then failed which I’m assuming is due to the corrosion. I think I’m going to buy the used unit off EBay and see if that works. I need the car back on the road and out of my garage at limited cost.


Passenger side ballast

D1S bulb

Corroded passenger side ballast

Driver side ballast