Headlamp lighting very poor on my '98 S70

[FlyingVolvo]

Here is the ABM link. Way better than TYC, but WAAAAAY more expensive.

https://www.ipdusa.com/products/6956/11 ... 70-s70-v70

I had the ABMs for a while. Eventually ended up using the clear lenses to do a projector retrofit on some TYCs. PSA for those who get the ABMs: they are projectors, but there are NOT HID projectors. Don't put HID bulbs in there.

[nickelghandi]

PSA for those who get the ABMs: they are projectors, but there are NOT HID projectors. Don't put HID bulbs in there.

Agreed. I tried HIDs in mine at first. They were bright, but had bad flickering and tended to get hot in the housing. I run LEDs now and modified the dust boots to accommodate the heat sinks. The ABMs look a bit too "custom" for my taste. Do you have a thread with your retrofit? I'd imagine it isn't too bad on these larger housings. Did you keep the H7 bulbs? What projectors/kit did you use? So many questions. I don't want to hijack this thread, but that is a very appealing idea.

My LED bulbs of choice:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L1 ... UTF8&psc=1

They are relatively cheap, very bright, and I have had them for over a year without any problems.

[Mr. Detail]

Thanx much guys. We will see how the budget looks next week.

[Mr. Detail]

nickelghandi,
That link you included for those "LED" bulbs on Amazon, state in the description title "fog lights".
Will those work in the low beam lamps as well as the high beam lamps?

[FlyingVolvo]

PSA for those who get the ABMs: they are projectors, but there are NOT HID projectors. Don't put HID bulbs in there.

Agreed. I tried HIDs in mine at first. They were bright, but had bad flickering and tended to get hot in the housing. I run LEDs now and modified the dust boots to accommodate the heat sinks. The ABMs look a bit too "custom" for my taste. Do you have a thread with your retrofit? I'd imagine it isn't too bad on these larger housings. Did you keep the H7 bulbs? What projectors/kit did you use? So many questions. I don't want to hijack this thread, but that is a very appealing idea.

My LED bulbs of choice:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L1 ... UTF8&psc=1

They are relatively cheap, very bright, and I have had them for over a year without any problems.

I had HIDs in my ABMs for a few years and the light output got progressively worse. I took them apart one day and found the HIDs had basically disintegrated the reflectors.

So the way I went was definitely pricey, but unfortunately is one of the few ways to properly go to HID lights. I basically took the glass from the ABMs, put them on new TYC assemblies, and then use a TRS HID retrofit kit (linked below). I now have H1 bulbs. TRS provides very clear instructions for everything and it was a pretty smooth process. I also put in LED H7s in the high beam position.

The result is amazing. When you flick on the high beams now, not only do the LEDs come on, but because the HID kit is bi-xenon (high and low beam in one), a small motor moves the shroud in the projectors and then you get full light from the projectors as well.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/compl ... age-3.html

A few pics. Can't find one with the high beams on... though it is quite impressive. Also yes my bumper was really bad. it's since been painted and is a deep black now.

[nickelghandi]

nickelghandi,
That link you included for those "LED" bulbs on Amazon, state in the description title "fog lights".
Will those work in the low beam lamps as well as the high beam lamps?

Yes they will. I believe those are just tags for the title of the listing. H7 bulbs can be used in different ways. They do work for both high and low beam, but require some modification to the dust boots via a dremel, drill bit, file, knife, pencil, whatever you have that can get through the plastic. I will try to get a picture today (though I am good at forgetting to do this) of my setup.

[nickelghandi]

ecbsykes, that looks clean and like it is supposed to be there. Nice work! I might have to try that. I have heard/read good things about that site.

[theWIFES_S70]

Just in case anyone wants to see the difference between the TYC assemblies available on Rockauto vs the original 20-year-old assemblies. We're pleased. We can finally see again.

TYC_S70_assemblies.jpg (96.33 KiB) Viewed 1276 times

[jvl]

Thanks for sharing, I've been pondering about replacing my headlights for a while, your picture helps seeing the actual difference!
The cornering xenon headlights available on the P2 and also on the C70's always make me jealous but I find them a bit too expensive...

[theWIFES_S70]

Thanks for sharing, I've been pondering about replacing my headlights for a while, your picture helps seeing the actual difference!
The cornering xenon headlights available on the P2 and also on the C70's always make me jealous but I find them a bit too expensive...

Me too. I really wanted to spend $300 on headlamps. And have been hemming and hawing for over a year! (I couldn't see anything on the highway anymore.) In the end I think it was an article my brother forwarded me about faded headlamps being a safety issue that made me finally commit to seeing. I think they'll last. (And anyhow, I need to start saving for the "Wife's S40"... I think that's coming in 2019... )

Happy New Year, my friend!