My 2006 XC90 came from the factory with Bi-Zenon headlights which are okay on low beam but very poor on high beam. They are the type of headlight that only tilt up the bulb for high beam so it is always one intensity for low and high. I like really good light for highway travel. Has anybody replaced these headlights and if so what did you use - any other ideas?

 

You might be able to upgrade to a higher power (55w) setup as I think the OE is 35w. That would involve replacing the ballast and bulb. I am not sure if the onboard computer would play nice though due to the higher amperage draw. Maybe someone has done this kind of conversion and wants to respond.

Another option is to add auxiliary driving lights like PIAA or Hella.

The other thing to consider is perhaps the headlight housing has hazed. I don't know about yours but I have seen many XCs with clouded headlights.

 

Thank you for your feed-back. I have been told the difficulty is the onboard computer not programmed or able to be re-programed for the higher draw (55w). In a perfect world I do not want to add auxiliary lights just to keep it with the stock look. There must be a way to swap out the entire housing with a new housing that has a better reflector and specific high beam not just a tilting low beam. Has anybody been successful in this type of modification.

 

Uh... all XC90s have specific high beam bulbs... The xenons are just tilting up in addition to them... Are you sure your bulbs are working, and did you turn the light switch to the 12 o'clock position?

Bulbs: 2005 VOLVO XC90

 

I see that you are referencing the 2005. I have the 2006 which is a completely different headlight setup. There are the daytime running lights which turn off when the light switch is in the 12 o'clock position or it is dark enough. Once the headlights turn on due to darkness or the switch at 12o'clock the outside light in the housing (bi-xenon) turns on and it is the only light for night time driving which only tilts up for high beam. There are the 2 additional lower fog lights that cannot stay on with high beam. I am trying to determine if the same light setup was used in 2007 but definitely not 2008 - I can see clearly why they stopped using it. Nobody seems to know about an alternative but I am going to contact Volvo Canada to see if anyone there is aware of an option or even aware of how poorly the 2006 lights perform.

 

Here is the 2006 manual...same thing 2006 VOLVO XC90

From 2002 to 2012 there have been 3 different types of headlamps:

Halogen (2002-2012): http://cdn0.autopartsnetwork.com/ima...m9075150-1.jpg (black housing)

Bi-xenon (2002-2012): http://www.webcarnews.com/ressources.../11964-1-5.jpg (silver housing)

ABL (2007-2012): http://www.njuskalo.hr/image-bigger/...a-11850279.jpg (active bending low beam projector)

Check your owners manual. There are high beams, low beams, parking lights and blinkers in all of these lamps.

 

I've noticed this with my 2005 also. The inner bulbs do not seem to go on (even when high beam is activated).

I noticed other similar threads on this site: https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...97/#post336960

Is this as designed? Or a problem with the high beams?

Attached is a pic of how my headlights look as both high and low beam.

 

Are you sure your bulbs are working?

 

mrgreen, my lights look exactly as your photo. The inner light is on as a daytime running light so, in answer to your question andreasb, the bulb is functioning. In fact the inner light while on during the day is not super bright so I can not see it assisting as a high beam. I would like to see if this thread can get a response from a dealer or Volvo tech as I am sure they have seen this before. This is likely a design flaw but how can it be improved?

 

Hmmm...could be some differences between US and EUR spec cars then...? Sounds a bit strange that they don't have seperate high beams, as the xenons won't generate enough light output by themselves... I would check this with your Volvo dealer.

 

For those that DO have separate halogen high beam lamps, the solux upgrades are amazing for high beam...and they're street legal.

 

If my high beams included the inner light I would upgrade to Solux bulbs in a second. I do not have that luxury so does anyone out there know of an upgrade option for just he Bi-Xenon part of the headlights or can the daytime running lights (inner headlight) be modified to accommodate a better light. Alos to consider - is the upgrade compatible with the computer so the additional electrical demand does not run an error?

 

MPC, Did you ever get an answer? I have the same problem, one light that just shifts up when high beams are activated, and smaller running lights. Thanks in advance.

 

No I have not had any replies with a solution. I am also on the Swedespeed Forum and have not received any workable ideas. It is hard to imagine that with such an obvious flaw there has not been someone (including Volvo) with a solution. Even an outright replacement of the entire headlight component would be an option for me. My wife has the 2012 XC70 T6 which has amazing headlights which only furthers my resolve to find an alternative to my current setup. I am surprised that a company such as Volvo that has its reputation based on safety would not search for a solution for what is an obvious deficiency and safety issue.

 

I have a 2006 XC90 and noticed the same thing. One small thing to add... The position of the light switch matters.

If left in the "full auto" mode, Xenons come on when dark, otherwise the DRL's come on. High beams will not stay on, but will automatically default to low beam. I'm assuming this is to save wear and tear on the Xenon bulbs.

If left in the "on" mode, Xenons stay on all the time, DRL's never come on. But at least the high beams will stay in the up position.

I too am puzzled with this functionality.

 

the US and EU have totally different headlight rules. generally the EU spec lights are more effective and the US are designed to be more idiot proof (example, EU lights have to be cockpit adjustable to adjust for different loads but this is not allowed in US because they think people will aim them wrong). and in the US fog lights have to be wired so they only come on with low beams (you can't independently turn on fogs only). it used to be even more different (example, US for a time required sealed beams where you had to replace the whole housing not just bulb, and Euro allowed glass lenses which don't cloud while the US requires them be plastic).

 

mpc - I have the same exact set up on our 2004 as you have. I didn't see a response from you to the question 01_fast_ride posted about hazed covers, and I ask only because Ive noticed on ours the towards the top of the lamps, its becoming cloudy, but hasn't seriously affected the lighting......yet! Ive seen a ton of lamps on e-bay, just not sure about the modification part

 

Yes they are cloudy (mostly on top) which would reduce light somewhat. This has a minor affect but the real problem is the complete design. You can purchase a kit to polish the lens back to the original condition.