Fog lights not worth a damn. Ideas on driving lamps?

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 06 Feb 2011, 07:06

Yes I said it the Volvo fog lamps are mince. I drove through snow in New Mexico and the fog lamps didn't help me one bit. I've installed driving lamps on all my other cars and they fire out a laser beam of light down the road that won't dazzle oncoming drivers.

My question is has anybody replaced the lower fog lamps with projector driving lamps? or has anyone installed Rally lamps on the front of the Volvos? I wanted to mounted the roof racks and put some WRC lamps on there but I think the wife would have something to say about that

Post by **JRL** » 06 Feb 2011, 07:59

Many have
You can install an HID fog kit or an HID driving light lit
DAMN straight!

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 06 Feb 2011, 08:01

Do you still have the stock DOT headlamps?

Post by **mikealder** » 06 Feb 2011, 12:24

Consider a set of projector headlights and you won't need the rather useless driving lights below the bumper.

As for driving in snow and fog, roof mounted lights are not a good idea, you want the light source as low as possible to reduce the back scatter - Mike

toddv850glt · Post by **toddv850glt** » 06 Feb 2011, 13:17

I installed a set of H.I.D bulbs in the stock lenses and was a great change in vision. I have an NA 850 without foglights but put in my own with costom bracketing in the place where they usually would be. I got a set of H.I.D lights for that too. Wow what a difference and will never go back to halogens. Piaa offers a nice bulb replacement for the headlights and a HID light system too. I also took the time to install all LED bulbs throughout the car. I put them in the stock tailights ect. and they are brighter and respond quicker. I also put LED super whites in the interior lights with a little wiring and resistors you can totally see alot better inside.

Post by **jblackburn** » 06 Feb 2011, 13:21

E-code lenses and/or Silverstar bulbs.

My S70's headlights were awful before; I fitted some Silverstars, and my nighttime vision was MUCH improved.

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 06 Feb 2011, 15:24

jablackburn wrote:E-code lenses and/or Silverstar bulbs.

This is what I was getting at above. Replacement e-code lenses for the 850 are dirt cheap, and will revolutionize your night vision. This is the first thing I'd do, bar none. With regular bulbs, my high-beams are better than the HID's on my previous Audi, and better than my wife's much more modern Subaru.

Post by **thecheat** » 06 Feb 2011, 17:07

Can you use the e-code lenses with the original DOT reflectors? I thought they needed to be changed as well?

Anyone bought the real HID retrofit kits with the ballasts? There are some dirt cheap kits on Ebay... like $50 shipped!

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 06 Feb 2011, 19:53

You just need to replace the lenses. You still get the nice, sharp cut-off that is the trademark of e-codes. I wouldn't touch those HID kits with a 10 ft. pole.

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 06 Feb 2011, 20:12

I shouldn't post threads at 6am. Dam:lol:

I don't want fog lamps but driving lamps which have a narrow long throw beam. In the UK and Europe its normally illegal to have driving lamps below the bumper as bad alignment can blind oncoming drivers. Driving lamps are or should be installed above the bumper and the higher up they are mounted the better the light angle is for road illumination.

I have been looking for driving lamps that will mount above the bumper but ones that won't look tacky?

Maybe installed into the grille each side of the Volvo badge? I just don't have the time or a dremel to customize my grille or make mounts. Has anyone here done something similar to the below pictures?