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xenon or HID headlights

Hi,
My parents have a 2005 XC70 wagon. As they've gotten older, they've been having more trouble seeing at night. I was thinking of buying them a set of bright xenon or HID headlights for xmas. I spoke to our local Volvo dealer, who said that Volvo doesn't make any, and one of his customers cooked his entire headlight apparatus due to one of these kind of bulbs. Does anyone have experience with these types of headlights in a volvo, and can recommend a quality brand? I don't know anything about this stuff, so any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

jtru








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    xenon or HID headlights - long post on vision improvement for older drivers

    Greetings:
    Start with making sure that inside+outside of windshield is very clean and cleaned often, Use alcohol or good glass cleaner frequently. Use and replace wiper blades often. Keep heater on "defrost" setting, many elderly forget and drive with a partially fogged window. Consider Rain-x and Rain-x anti fog, it does add an extra coating of clear wax (bad)but helps with rain and fogging (good)must reapply monthly? after cleaning window.Make sure you have (recent scrip)prescription glasses (if used) that have NO TINT and especially no variable tint, just 100% clear, preferably non bifocal if not absolutely needed and non scratched. Perhaps a cheap pair to keep in car? Perhaps another pair of prescription sunglasses to wear at night at library or wherever an hour BEFORE you drive. Idea is to have eyes adjusted to night vision BEFORE driving, wear them and change after in car so your night vision is started before driving (older eyes don't compensate as quickly).Upgrade headlight bulbs - perhaps to the best Phillips (XTREME VISION, I think, sold in #9007 and other models @ Meijers for $50 pair when not on sale)consider trading them out every 18 months as all bulbs lose lumens. Of course clean the crud off headlight assembly, many kits out there to help, or buy replacement on e-bay if really bad.If euro code are available consider them carefully but probably expensive and better. I don't know if v70 has a HD relay wiring harness standard, if not perhaps e-bay to source them - or Stern's kit, I have seen a $40 assembly for sealed beams, perhaps they could put the right bulb connector on. This might add a significant 20% to lumens, especially nice with the better bulbs. Stay away from coated "super mega brite" Korean bulbs at 2x wattage, although a headlight harness would make them less dangerous to electrical system. Add fog lights set up as always on, drawback being that eye is drawn to brighter area "up close" rather than farther away where you need to look. Use decent fog lights, Hella, Cibie, perhaps Optilux by Hella (oriental Hella low end). Hella used to make a rectangular 500 series aux. light in spot, driving, fog, AND XL auxilary low beam lenses.The XL was aimed at US market (for YOU) AS EXTRA LOW BEAM for people needing better light because of mediocre headlights.Long Discontinued - perhaps e-bay? has, most people in US prefer gold plated script to good lights.The Cibie CSR as per Daniel Stern in external case appears to be excellent but expensive and hard to mount. Cibie always make great products but never low cost.French wine may be OK but auto lights are excellent. If you go that route consider yellow tint to pretend them as fog lights, otherwise cops may wonder why running you are running 4 low beams OR why "real" headlights are off, resulting in lots of traffic stops. And, of course, they stick out in front where park by braille is often in effect. HID kits are not that bad, I am getting ready to install my firstin old Dakota soon, looks very simple, has HD harness, if it works 5+ guys at work want them procured for their cars. Got a special deal and cost $125, although that is actually not that cheap until you look carefully about what doesn't come with cheaper units. Bless the discount Chinese yuan! makes all electronic devices really cheap although kills domestic manufacturers.I have researched 3 months - Dakota 1994 lights are awful and no reasonable priced Cibie alternative or I would have bought them. HID lights sometimes conflict w/ complex light modules, which V70 has? or not.
    Finally, really expensive - if your windshield cracks replace with a CLEAR glass if available. This brings a SIGNIFICANT improvement (having driven 2 identical BMW'S with CIBIE headlights, only difference was windshield, tinted alway seemed like driving in rain year around.Most people will think you are NUTS for not getting deepest tint possible. P.S. WSJ reviewed mail order 39 dollar sun glass place and liked price, if you buy parents several pairs of different glasses. Remember, no magic bullet, combination of improvement help. Here endeth the epistle.








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    xenon or HID headlights

    Getting better bulbs is the best idea. You cannot retrofit xenon headlights to the 2005 without major work and money. HIDs are fine, so long as you add additional relays, but still a lot of electrical work.

    Remind your folks that the car is 5 years old and they should start looking for a new XC70, with xenons. Offer to buy the 2005 for what the dealer would give them as trade in value + the sales tax :) The new ones have 5 years of free service and replacement parts.

    Klaus
    --
    Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.








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    xenon or HID headlights

    Consider a set of PIAA bulbs, available from IPD, TireRack and others. A big improvement over stock and a drop in replacement.







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