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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    138

    Default Is there a ‘better bulb’?

    Both my 06 xc70 and 13 s60 need low beam bulbs. Is there really a ‘better’ bulb? I would love a brighter bulb for both .

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    76

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AlanS View Post
    Both my 06 xc70 and 13 s60 need low beam bulbs. Is there really a ‘better’ bulb? I would love a brighter bulb for both .
    Great question. I put new ones in about a year ago but I’d love to go brighter if possible. I don’t want those blinding ones, but a little more oomph would be nice. I’ll be keeping an eye on the responses here.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    233

    Default

    Yes, there are better bulbs (none of them are LED or HID conversion bulbs - they *all* perform worse in a halogen reflector) - check on candlepowerforums in the automotive section for detailed help.

    Meanwhile, it would help if you could tell us what bulbs you need.

    The next bulbs I'll get my 2006 V70 is the H7s Daniel Stern has listed.
    http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    18

    Default

    I have a set of led bulbs in mine. They are definitely brighter than the halogen bulbs I've tried. They also are not blinding to oncoming traffic, as I checked that by having my wife drive toward me while I was in a second car. You will need to buy a resistor to go with them if you want to avoid a permanent "Bulb Out" message.

    The picture shows the headlights with One of the Led bulbs in the driver's side and a standard halogen on the passenger side.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q24LVDM..._Scvg6uH6O9qLB

    Here is the resistor set I bought with them:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BMWJGGN..._Fdvh5SaHpeKvl

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by K_G_1; 03-22-2021 at 05:31 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    76

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by K_G_1 View Post
    I have a set of led bulbs in mine. They are definitely brighter than the halogen bulbs I've tried. They also are not blinding to oncoming traffic, as I checked that by having my wife drive toward me while I was in a second car. You will need to buy a resistor to go with them if you want to avoid a permanent "Bulb Out" message.

    The picture shows the headlights with One of the Led bulbs in the driver's side and a standard halogen on the passenger side.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q24LVDM..._Scvg6uH6O9qLB

    Here is the resistor set I bought with them:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BMWJGGN..._Fdvh5SaHpeKvl

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Are you aware of any good write ups on performing this upgrade? Thanks!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    18

    Default

    A write up is not really required beyond the normal painful process of changing bulbs in the XC70. Both the LED bulbs and the resistors come with plugs that attach to the factory wiring harness. Install the LED bulb same as a normal bulb, plug the resistor into the pig tail on the LED, and the vehicle wiring harness into the resistor. It's a little bit of a tight squeeze, but everything is plug and play, and fits into the existing bulb housing/lens assembly.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    76

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by K_G_1 View Post
    A write up is not really required beyond the normal painful process of changing bulbs in the XC70. Both the LED bulbs and the resistors come with plugs that attach to the factory wiring harness. Install the LED bulb same as a normal bulb, plug the resistor into the pig tail on the LED, and the vehicle wiring harness into the resistor. It's a little bit of a tight squeeze, but everything is plug and play, and fits into the existing bulb housing/lens assembly.
    My bulbs arrived today. Very dumb question here. These have the Canbus attached directly to bulb, I’m assuming the resistor (arrives tomorrow) just goes directly between the canbus and the factory Volvo connection? Thanks!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    19

    Default

    You can replace the H11 bulbs with H9 ones, its a common "hack" and costs nothing (H9s are about the same price as H11s). You can search for the specific instructions but you basically remove a notch in the H9 bulb's connector socket and it fits fine, just like the H11s. I did it years ago and it was significantly brighter with just standard H9 cheapo bulbs, and have had no issues. But as I was in the desert at the time and the daytime temps could reach 125F and far higher in the direct sun, I also had the dealer remove the DRL setting so that the low beams are not in the "always on" setting, as the wattage for the H9s are 65W compared to the H11's 55W and I feared cooking the wire harness socket.

    H11: 1,350 Lumens, @ 55 watts, runs cooler and has longer life
    H9: 2,100 Lumens, @ 65 watts, runs hotter, has shorter life
    Last edited by A.Lucas; 04-01-2021 at 07:29 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    CT
    Posts
    76

    Default

    Click image for larger version. 

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    What a difference!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Rugby UK
    Posts
    427

    Default

    Daniel Stern. This man is an authority on automotive lighting and he drew up an extensive list for the Volvo XC in particular both for better driving lights and longevity.
    https://www.danielsternlighting.com/

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