I got a S80 D5 56-reg.

Drivers side dipped beam blew a while ago, and I in my naivity thought it would just be a blown bulb. Man, am I wiser now. I called Volvo who told me the 35w dipped beam XenArc bulb for my car comes in at £120. I couldnt quite believe it, so didnt order one. I then checked on eBay and found a guy selling the exact same bulb much cheaper, and I bought 2, just in case.

This morning I decided to replace the bulb. No big deal in terms of work, but the new buld didnt sort the problem. I then tried the old bulb in the passengers side, and it worked just fine. I then swapped the two lights (left/right) around just to see if the fault were in the car, or in the headlight casing, and it was the latter.

Starting to invesitgate what else is part of the headlight assambly, I found the power cable from the dipped beam enters an aluminium box from Mitsubishi with a part no of either 6 948 180 or W3T13271. Both are on the label. Studying the matter closer, it looks like I had found the dipped beam ballast. The box is sealed, but as there was no other component involved in the dipped beam configuration, the fault HAD to be inside the box. I managed to open the box, and true enough a diode on the PCB has been incredibly hot and has finally burned out.

I consequently need a replacement ballast, but have been 100% unsuccesful in finding a replacement unit anywhere. Anybody else here who have had the same issues, and who can advise the best (or cheapest) route to have my dipped beam issue sorted ??

Any advise hugely appreciated...

 

i too have had this problem...it required replacing the entire headlamp unit; they just snap in and out..you can see the clips from the engine compartment. I also thought it was the lamps...that would have been to easy come to find out as there is no quick fix for volvo...
I found a guy, Joe, on ebay who sold the authentic volvo parts for a very reasonable price; domestic. his email is ebayparts@volvo-oc.com.
I have purchased MANY volvo items from him and have always found him helpful in getting advise, instructions, and correct parts.
hope this helps. not sure why the parts are repairable, but it is job security...