Has anyone upgraded their stock headlights to LED? I am still enjoying my new 1998 S70 with almost 140K miles on it (I am the original owner), but my night vision is not what it used to be and the headlights on this car are not the greatest. I was wondering if there is a good relatively easy path to an LED upgrade. I see a bunch of H7 replacement LED bulbs and kits, but it's too confusing. So I am soliciting wisdom and experience here. Has anyone done an LED upgrade they love and think it was worth the effort and money?
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual - his, '93 945 - hers

Hi Vlad,

I converted my 850 to LED low beams a few years ago, and have since tried to
get more powerful replacements. The problem is that with higher power LEDs
there needs to be more massive heat sinks to dissipate the heat. Thus they
become too large to mount in the standard headlight assembly.
I don't know about the clearances in the your model, but here is a link to
an interesting (But pricey) solution where the entire lamp assemblies are swapped out.

http://www.xtralights.com/98-02-volvo-s70-high-energy-led-replacement-headlights-clear-pair

This place offers the HID lamps for $120 cheaper than the LEDs, but I'm not sure
if HIDs are legal in every state.

The good news is the above solution looks very tempting, but the price is up there. I can guess where these lights are made, and some hunting on the web
might find these lights at a fraction of their high price, you might search
www.dx.com, a company that I've found with a huge selection of LEDs and good prices. Here's one of their new offerings that's 1/2 the price I paid 2 years ago and 2-1/2 X more powerful.

http://www.dx.com/p/g5-5hl-h4-40w-4000lm-6000k-4-led-white-car-headlight-foglight-dc-9-36v-2-pcs-414400

The problem is that it may be too big physically. Klaus is right that you may need to modify the bulb out sensor.
(Not a big deal, I disabled the low beam section since LEDs should outlast the car)

Note you can always mount the Silver Star halogens , but they are only a little brighter and they are lucky to survive a year and keep the bulb out sensor busy!

If you do find a good LED headlight option, please post your results.

Bill

Thank you for the info. I am not looking to spend a lot of money on this. The car is not worth the price of that upgrade :) Also, if the LED solution does not include high beams, what do you do for high beams? In my car the high and low beams are in the same lamp, I am pretty sure.

I am thinking more and more that the C70 Jewels is the way to go in a not crazy expensive way. I have owned this 1998 S70 since new and now it is probably going to become my son's car. He has grown up in it and now it will be his first car. Seems appropriate and I think I am getting my money's worth. Will be doing timing belt soon and then some odds and ends before handing it over to him. The car is only 2 years younger than he is.
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual - his, '93 945 - hers

Good day, I went with the 2003-2004 C70 Jewels headlights, the results are awesome! Pickup a pair from Amazon, well worth the upgrade.

Thank you for that info. Are those plug and play replacements? Are they halogens with better optics or HID or LED? Also, if you have a link to Amazon, that would be great!
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual - his, '93 945 - hers

Or, you could replace the lenses with Ecode (European spec). These have a very flat cutoff and shine down the road farther in both low and high beam. You still use the same bulbs and reflector housing.

When I put them on my 1998 V70, I had to re-align them as they were too high. And then I put a 2 inch piece of black plastic electrical tape on the driver's side lens to keep the light pattern completely flat.

I loved them until I got a rock through the left lens glass.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-e-code-headlight-lenses-850-v70ecodekit
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Yes, that seems like the least expensive alternative, but they are probably not legal in most states. I really want to keep the car legal, especially if I am going to give it to a new driver. At this point I am inclined to try the 2004 Jewels. Seems like the best compromise in price and performance. Will I need to buy H7 bulbs for those? Also, the corner lenses will look odd with the clear jewels... More expense to replace those... Darnit!
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual - his, '93 945 - hers

I just looked at 2 newer cars, 2008 and 2012, with halogen lights and there is NO writing on the lenses at all. No DOT, no nothing. I suspect that Ecodes are legal these days.

I had Ecodes in CT a long time ago and passed inspection without a problem, and that was when my headlights were round sealed beam garbage. The bulb style headlights threw a flat beam and were sold as 'off road' only.

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Keeping it running is better than buying new

I could find nothing in the MA law regarding US DOT or E code lights:
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section7

If Canadian specs are OK, then Ecodes should also work. Starting in 2003, headlight standards changed for the DOT, which is why Volvo came out with the 'jeweled' lights. I remember when sealed beam headlights were required, the bulb could not be replaced as it was part of the headlight - those were DOT rules.

How about the 'new' plastic covered headlights that are so yellowed that there is no light shining down the road? I bet they don't have DOT stamped on them.

I expect that inspection stations only verify that the headlights work, ignoring beam pointing, pattern, adjustment, or hazy lenses.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

I believe you are probably right and inspection stations won't care. Still seems the jewels would be a better brighter solution, but a lot more money, especially if I count corner lens replacement...

I will think on it.
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual - his, '93 945 - hers

This is what replaced my Ecodes on my 1998 R:



The made in China were a lot cheaper than 2004 C70 lights, they threw a flat beam, and broke when I tried to bolt them on to the car. A gob of glue to hold the metal to the plastic kind of repaired it. My Ecode lenses were better and a lot cheaper, but didn't 'look' as good.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Are you saying you regret replacing e-codes with jewels? That is significant information. FWIW, the $100/pair lens replacement sold by FCP is also likely Chinese, based on the price...
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Vladimir. '98 S70 base, 5-speed manual - his, '93 945 - hers

My headlights were not 'jewel' lights. The jewel lights have a clear lense and a different reflector.

My lights looked like the modern stuff, with the original bulb. The turn signals were also part of the kit. I needed to replace the entire housing because the reflector material was dirty and no longer in good shape.

The Ecode lenses are just that, replacement glass only. The Ecodes use the same housing and bulbs. Obviously, the turn signals are the same. It is $100 for the glass portion only. If you do decide to go with replacing the lenses only, make sure you do not touch the reflector with anything - it cannot be cleaned without destroying it.

Real jewel lights are from the 2004 C70 and cost upward of $400 each.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

If your reflectors or lenses are dull, then replacements are in order. The Amazon cheapies are made in Taiwan:

http://www.amazon.com/Depo-373-1124R-AS-Passenger-Composite-Headlamp/dp/B006OE1J5G

The emulate the EOM headlights from 2004 and do produce good light and a nice pattern.

There are LEDs you can get as replacement 'bulbs', but only for low beam use. The LEDs require a mod to the 'bulb out' relay due to their low use of energy.

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Keeping it running is better than buying new